Question 1

Which of the following choices has the highest energy return on energy investment ratio?

Accepted Answer

A)  coal 
B)  oil 
C)  nuclear energy 
D)  natural gas 
E)  wind 
A)  coal 
B)  oil 
C)  nuclear energy 
D)  natural gas 
E)  wind E

Question 2

What is the purpose of the transformer in the electrical grid?

Accepted Answer

A)  to cool the water used in steam production 
B)  to reduce the voltage of the generated electricity 
C)  to increase the voltage of the generated electricity 
D)  to transmit electricity 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  to cool the water used in steam production 
B)  to reduce the voltage of the generated electricity 
C)  to increase the voltage of the generated electricity 
D)  to transmit electricity 
E)  none of these answers C

Question 3

Clean coal technologies are being developed to _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  reduce CO₂ emissions 
B)  store emitted CO₂ 
C)  remove toxins from coal prior to combustion 
D)  A, B, and C 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  reduce CO₂ emissions 
B)  store emitted CO₂ 
C)  remove toxins from coal prior to combustion 
D)  A, B, and C 
E)  none of these answers D

Question 4

How does the use of coal cause acid precipitation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The acid drainage from mining evaporates, which puts the acids into the air. 
B)  The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide, which can combine with water to form acids. 
C)  Acids, which leach into the soil from the mining process, are transpired by plants that have taken them up. 
D)  The equipment used for mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
E)  The transporting of the coal mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
A)  The acid drainage from mining evaporates, which puts the acids into the air. 
B)  The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide, which can combine with water to form acids. 
C)  Acids, which leach into the soil from the mining process, are transpired by plants that have taken them up. 
D)  The equipment used for mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
E)  The transporting of the coal mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 5

The greatest amount of electricity in the United States is generated using ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  coal 
B)  wind turbines 
C)  hydroelectric power 
D)  natural gas 
E)  nuclear power 
A)  coal 
B)  wind turbines 
C)  hydroelectric power 
D)  natural gas 
E)  nuclear power

Question 6

Which of the following regions once held the United States' largest coal reserves?

Accepted Answer

A)  Appalachian Mountains 
B)  Wyoming 
C)  Alaska 
D)  Great Plains 
E)  Rocky Mountains 
A)  Appalachian Mountains 
B)  Wyoming 
C)  Alaska 
D)  Great Plains 
E)  Rocky Mountains

Question 7

The use of coal creates all of the following impacts except ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced water temperatures in water bodies 
B)  emissions of mercury 
C)  emissions of sulfur 
D)  respiratory disease 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  reduced water temperatures in water bodies 
B)  emissions of mercury 
C)  emissions of sulfur 
D)  respiratory disease 
E)  none of these answers

Question 8

Which of the following choices is NOT typical for converting coal to electricity?

Accepted Answer

A)  creating steam 
B)  burning the coal 
C)  converting the coal to a liquid form 
D)  spinning a turbine 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  creating steam 
B)  burning the coal 
C)  converting the coal to a liquid form 
D)  spinning a turbine 
E)  none of these answers

Question 9

Currently, the biggest drawbacks to using the new clean coal technologies are ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the energy required and costs involved in using them 
B)  the negativity of the public and their reluctance to pay more for electricity 
C)  the technologies do not exist and too much energy is needed to develop them 
D)  the facts that it has not been proven that coal is toxic and that there are no alternatives 
E)  government incentives and the public apathy 
A)  the energy required and costs involved in using them 
B)  the negativity of the public and their reluctance to pay more for electricity 
C)  the technologies do not exist and too much energy is needed to develop them 
D)  the facts that it has not been proven that coal is toxic and that there are no alternatives 
E)  government incentives and the public apathy

Question 10

The Environmental Protection Agency's new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are projected to reduce emissions of these toxic substances by how much?

Accepted Answer

A)  10% 
B)  25% 
C)  50% 
D)  90% 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  10% 
B)  25% 
C)  50% 
D)  90% 
E)  none of these answers

Question 11

What are the different types of pollution created in burning coal to generate electricity?

Accepted Answer

The use of coal in generating electricit

Question 12

All of the following are environmental drawbacks to the mining of coal EXCEPT ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the damage to forests caused by mountaintop removal 
B)  the burial and damage to streams caused by the dumping of overburden 
C)  soil compaction causing increased storm water runoff and flooding 
D)  increased risk of cancer for some miners 
E)  the water and soil contamination by acid drainage 
A)  the damage to forests caused by mountaintop removal 
B)  the burial and damage to streams caused by the dumping of overburden 
C)  soil compaction causing increased storm water runoff and flooding 
D)  increased risk of cancer for some miners 
E)  the water and soil contamination by acid drainage

Question 13

Burning coal to generate electricity creates all of the following types of pollution except ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  water pollution 
B)  particulates 
C)  thermal pollution 
D)  mercury 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  water pollution 
B)  particulates 
C)  thermal pollution 
D)  mercury 
E)  none of these answers

Question 14

Overburden is associated with what type of coal mining?

Accepted Answer

A)  subsurface mining 
B)  surface mining 
C)  fracking 
D)  deep mining 
E)  hydraulic mining 
A)  subsurface mining 
B)  surface mining 
C)  fracking 
D)  deep mining 
E)  hydraulic mining

Question 15

Benefits of using coal as an energy source include ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  low-cost electricity 
B)  an established distribution system 
C)  ease of isolation 
D)  simple processing 
E)  all of these answers 
A)  low-cost electricity 
B)  an established distribution system 
C)  ease of isolation 
D)  simple processing 
E)  all of these answers

Question 16

The first form of coal that is created from submerged vegetation, pressure, and heat is ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  peat 
B)  anthracite 
C)  lignite 
D)  bituminous 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  peat 
B)  anthracite 
C)  lignite 
D)  bituminous 
E)  none of these answers

Question 17

Which of the following has coal deposits that rival North America?

Accepted Answer

A)  Norway and Finland 
B)  South America 
C)  Russia 
D)  India 
E)  Western Europe 
A)  Norway and Finland 
B)  South America 
C)  Russia 
D)  India 
E)  Western Europe

Question 18

Environmentalists are especially concerned about the amount of carbon dioxide released from burning coal because it _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  is a significant contributor to acid rain 
B)  depletes the ozone layer 
C)  is a significant greenhouse gas 
D)  clogs lungs and aggravates asthma 
E)  blocks the uptake of oxygen by the hemoglobin 
A)  is a significant contributor to acid rain 
B)  depletes the ozone layer 
C)  is a significant greenhouse gas 
D)  clogs lungs and aggravates asthma 
E)  blocks the uptake of oxygen by the hemoglobin

Question 19

Fly ash can be taken to a landfill that is expensive and not environmentally friendly, or it can be used to make _____________, which benefits both the power plant and the environment.

Accepted Answer

A)  tar paper 
B)  shingles 
C)  sandpaper 
D)  concrete 
E)  glass 
A)  tar paper 
B)  shingles 
C)  sandpaper 
D)  concrete 
E)  glass

Question 20

Peat, the precursor to coal formation, is typically formed in areas _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  of rapid decomposition 
B)  with little vegetation 
C)  with low rates of decomposition 
D)  with highly oxygenated sediments 
E)  none of these answers 
A)  of rapid decomposition 
B)  with little vegetation 
C)  with low rates of decomposition 
D)  with highly oxygenated sediments 
E)  none of these answers

Exam 18: Coal- Bringing Down the Mountain: in the Rubble, the True Costs of Coal

Which of the following choices has the highest energy return on energy investment ratio?

What is the purpose of the transformer in the electrical grid?

Clean coal technologies are being developed to _________________.

How does the use of coal cause acid precipitation?

The greatest amount of electricity in the United States is generated using ____________.

Which of the following regions once held the United States' largest coal reserves?

The use of coal creates all of the following impacts except ____________________.

Which of the following choices is NOT typical for converting coal to electricity?

Currently, the biggest drawbacks to using the new clean coal technologies are ____________________.

The Environmental Protection Agency's new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are projected to reduce emissions of these toxic substances by how much?

What are the different types of pollution created in burning coal to generate electricity?

All of the following are environmental drawbacks to the mining of coal EXCEPT ____________________.

Burning coal to generate electricity creates all of the following types of pollution except ____________________.

Overburden is associated with what type of coal mining?

Benefits of using coal as an energy source include ____________________.

The first form of coal that is created from submerged vegetation, pressure, and heat is ____________________.

Which of the following has coal deposits that rival North America?

Environmentalists are especially concerned about the amount of carbon dioxide released from burning coal because it _________________.

Fly ash can be taken to a landfill that is expensive and not environmentally friendly, or it can be used to make _____________, which benefits both the power plant and the environment.

Peat, the precursor to coal formation, is typically formed in areas _________________.

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Science Literacy and the Process of Science- Science and the Sky: Solving the Mystery of the Disappearing Ozone

Information Literacy:toxic Bottles on the Trail of Chemicals in Our Everyday Lives- Human Populations and Environmental Health

Human Populations- One Child China Grows Up: a Country Faces the Outcomes of Radical Population Control

Environmental Health- Eradicating a Parasitic Nightmare: Human Health Is Intricately Linked to the Environment- Consumption and the Environmental Footprint

Ecological Economics and Consumption- Wall to Wall, Cradle to Cradle: a Leading Carpet Company Takes a Chance on Going Green

Managing Solid Waste- a Plastic Surf: Are the Oceans Teeming With Trash- Ecology

Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling- Engineering Earth: an Ambitious Attempt to Replicate Earths Life Support Systems Goes Awry

Population Ecology- the Wolf Watchers: Endangered Gray Wolves Return to the American West

Community Ecology- What the Stork Says: a Bird Species in the Everglades Reveals the Intricacies of a Threatened Ecosystem- Biodiversity and Evolution

Evolution- a Tropical Murder Mystery: Finding the Missing Birds of Guam

Biodiversity- Palm Planet: Production of a Common Household Ingredient Is Wreaking Havoc on Wildlife Across the Globe

Reserving Biodiversity- a Forest Without Elephants: Can We Save One of Earths Iconic Species- Water Resources

Freshwater Resources- Toilet to Tap: a California County Is Employing a Controversial Method to - Supply Drinking Water

Water Pollution- Into the Gulf: the Makings of a Dead Zone, Far Upstream- Food Resources

Feeding the World - a Gene Revolution: Can Genetically Engineered Food Help End Hunger

Agriculture- Farming Like an Ecosystem: Creative Solutions to Feeding the World- Conventional Energy: Fossil Fuels

Oil and Natural Gas- the Bakken Oil Boom: Is Our Next Big Fuel Source Our Dirtiest- Air Pollution: Consequences of Using Fossil Fuels

Air Pollution- the Youngest Scientists: Kids on the Frontlines of Asthma Research

Climate Change- When the Trees Leave: Scientists Grapple With a Shifting Climate- Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

Nuclear Power - the Future of Fukushima: Can Nuclear Energy Overcome Its Bad Rep

Sustainable Energy for Stationary Sources- Fueled by the Sun: a Small Island Makes Big Strides in Renewable Energy- Sustainable Living in Community

Urbanization- the Ghetto Goes Green: in the Bronx, Building a Better Backyard

Environmental Policy

Counterfeit Cooling: in the Global Effort to Thwart Climate Change, Some Lessons Are

Learned After the Fact

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Mineral Resources and Mining

Rare Earth Elements: a Bevy of Unfamiliar Minerals Are Crucial for Our Everyday

Technologies-But They Come With a Slew of Problems- Soil and Grassland Resources

Restoring the Range: the Key to Recovering the Worlds Grasslands May Be a Surprising One

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