Deck 14: Resource Issues

Question 1

Pollution occurs if

A) there is more waste than a resource can tolerate.
B) there is less waste than environmental capacity.
C) recycling occurs.
D) waste is thrown away.
E) a regulation is passed.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is a nonmetallic mineral used for fertilizer?

A) phosphorus
B) sulfur
C) potassium
D) calcium
E) All of these are nonmetallic mineral sources of fertilizer.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Figure 14.2.2
The amount of energy in fields not yet identified but thought to exist is a

A) nonrenewable energy.
B) potential reserve.
C) proven reserve.
D) resource.
E) future commodity.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Figure 14.1.2: U.S. Energy SourcesGeo Standard: 16. The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

The energy resource shown in this figure to have most decreased in use is

A) nuclear power.
B) wood.
C) petroleum.
D) coal.
E) natural gas.

Question 5

Figure 14.2.2
Based on your knowledge of energy production,this map most likely displays

A) natural gas production.
B) proven petroleum reserves.
C) hydroelectric power production.
D) coal production.
E) nuclear power generation.

Question 6

Which of the following is a pollutant at the global scale?

A) carbon dioxide
B) carbon monoxide
C) sulfur oxides
D) particulates
E) acid precipitation

Question 7

Figure 14.2.2
The United States has relatively large proven reserves of

A) coal.
B) petroleum.
C) natural gas.
D) tar sandstone.
E) all of the above

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true of mineral resources?

A) Metals are not mineral resources.
B) They are found everywhere on Earth that rocks are found.
C) They are renewable.
D) Metallic minerals make up the bulk of mineral resources by weight.
E) They can be metallic or nonmetallic.

Question 9

Which group consumes one-fifth of the world's energy,while only making up one-twentieth of Earth's population?

A) Americans
B) Chinese
C) Indians
D) Europeans
E) Russians

Question 10

At current rates of use,the proven reserve to run out first would be

A) natural gas.
B) coal.
C) hydroelectric power.
D) petroleum.
E) biomass.

Question 11

To protest the United States' support for Israel in its 1973 war against Egypt,Jordan,and Syria,during the winter of 1973-74,OPEC members

A) raised the price of petroleum.
B) refused to sell petroleum to the United States.
C) nationalized American-owned petroleum companies.
D) shut down American-owned refineries.
E) all of the above

Question 12

Before the Industrial Revolution,the most important source of fuel was

A) biomass.
B) coal.
C) natural gas.
D) petroleum.
E) alcohol.

Question 13

Figure 14.2.2
The global energy issue derives in part from the fact that fossil fuels

A) are distributed uniformly across Earth.
B) are renewable energy sources.
C) were formed in the far distant past.
D) have an infinite supply.
E) are too easily contaminated.

Question 14

Prior to the Industrial Revolution,humans relied mostly on what kind of power?

A) animate
B) inanimate
C) nonrenewable
D) proven
E) articulated

Question 15

A substance in the physical environment that has value to human beings is

A) energy.
B) a reserve.
C) a resource.
D) power.
E) a mineral.

Question 16

Figure 14.2.2
Saudi Arabia has relatively large proven reserves of

A) coal.
B) petroleum.
C) natural gas.
D) tar sandstone.
E) all of the above

Question 17

Figure 14.2.2
Fossil fuels are

A) finite resources.
B) unevenly distributed around the world.
C) plants and animals buried millions of years ago.
D) both finite resources and buried plants and animals.
E) All of these are correct.

Question 18

Of the following metallic minerals,which is not commonly alloyed with iron?

A) copper
B) chromium
C) tin
D) manganese
E) nickel

Question 19

Figure 14.2.2
China has relatively large proven reserves of

A) coal.
B) petroleum.
C) natural gas.
D) tar sandstone.
E) all of the above

Question 20

Most sources of energy today are

A) fossil fuels.
B) wind powered.
C) based on coal and coal derivatives.
D) from the developed world.
E) renewable.

Question 21

The combination of sulfur oxide with oxygen and water produces

A) acid precipitation.
B) chlorofluorocarbon.
C) greenhouse effects.
D) photochemical smog.
E) ammonia.

Question 22

Which of the following is a pollutant at the local scale?

A) carbon dioxide
B) carbon monoxide
C) acid precipitation
D) sulfur oxides
E) chlorofluorocarbons

Question 23

A condition in which sunlight causes hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides to react in the atmosphere produces

A) acid deposition.
B) chlorofluorocarbon.
C) greenhouse effect.
D) photochemical smog.
E) ammonia.

Question 24

Major sources of water pollution include all but

A) industries.
B) municipal sewage.
C) agriculture.
D) motor boats.

Question 25

In contrast to air and water pollution,solid waste pollution is reduced through

A) burning residuals.
B) constructing landfills.
C) concentrating rather than dispersing waste.
D) reducing damage to the Earth's ozone layer.
E) dispersing rather than concentrating waste.

Question 26

Figure 14.7.4
This figure represents

A) hydroelectric potential.
B) wind power potential.
C) solar power generation.
D) nuclear power generation.
E) solar power potential.

Question 27

The most common strategy for solid waste disposal in the U.S.is

A) incineration.
B) recycling.
C) burial at sea.
D) reuse in another process.
E) burial in a sanitary landfill.

Question 28

Air pollution is

A) a form of photochemical smog.
B) gaseous sulfur and phosphorus.
C) a concentration of a trace substance at a level greater than occurs in average air.
D) a concentration of a trace substance at a level greater than one percent.
E) concentrated in tropical regions.

Question 29

Of the following common alternatives to fossil fuel resources,which is not renewable?

A) hydroelectric
B) nuclear
C) solar
D) wind

Question 30

The disappearance of the Aral Sea is attributed to

A) the diversion of water for irrigation.
B) natural variations in rainfall and temperature.
C) human-induced variations in rainfall and temperature from global climate change.
D) increased runoff from the sea.
E) point-source pollution from nuclear power plants.

Question 31

Which of the following is a hazardous waste?

A) heavy metals
B) PCB oils
C) cyanides
D) strong solvents
E) All of these are hazardous wastes.

Question 32

The increase in Earth's temperature caused by carbon dioxide trapping radiation is

A) thermal feedback.
B) isothermic depletion.
C) the greenhouse effect.
D) photochemical smog.
E) the anaerobic process.

Question 33

The power source with the lowest environmental impact is

A) hydroelectric.
B) nuclear.
C) solar.
D) wind.

Question 34

Pollution without a central source of origin is termed

A) air pollution.
B) regional-scale pollution.
C) water pollution.
D) nonpoint-source pollution.
E) a renewable resource.

Question 35

Steel and chemical industries are major water polluters primarily because they

A) are major users of municipal sewage systems.
B) release runoffs of pesticides.
C) generate large amounts of wastewater.
D) require small amounts of water in the manufacturing process.
E) generate superheated steam.

Question 36

A gas threatening Earth's ozone layer is

A) sulfur dioxides.
B) chlorofluorocarbons.
C) the greenhouse effect.
D) photochemical smog.
E) nitrous oxide.

Question 37

Water polluted by a farmer's poor irrigation control of fertilized lands is an example of

A) nonpoint source pollution.
B) point source pollution.
C) biochemical oxygen demand pollution.
D) municipal sewage pollution.
E) industrial pollution.

Question 38

Hazardous waste is especially problematic because disposal

A) may pollute air or water resources.
B) is performed at the global scale.
C) is easily done at sanitary landfills.
D) is impossible.
E) is too costly for most industries to afford.

Question 39

Concerns over visual blight are most commonly raised for ________ power.

A) hydroelectric
B) nuclear
C) solar
D) wind

Question 40

Which of the following is a pollutant at the regional scale?

A) carbon dioxide
B) carbon monoxide
C) sulfur oxides
D) particulates
E) chlorofluorocarbons

Question 41

Most energy used by humans to do work comes from three fossil fuels.

Question 42

Figure 14.7.4
Electric vehicles may still be using fossil fuels

A) because they all have a supplemental gas tank.
B) at a greater rate than conventional vehicles.
C) because batteries require oil to operate.
D) well into the 21st century.
E) if their charge comes from fossil-fueled power plants.

Question 43

Urban air pollution is mostly composed of carbon monoxide,hydrocarbons,and particulates.

Question 44

Figure 14.7.4
A greenhouse is a good example of a building heated by

A) active solar energy.
B) fusion.
C) passive solar energy.
D) photovoltaic cells.
E) green plants.

Question 45

The United States,Russia,and China account for roughly two-thirds of the world's coal reserves.

Question 46

Figure 14.7.4
The United Nations sustainable development concept links all but which of the following?

A) environmental protection
B) maximum yield on investment
C) economic growth
D) social equity
E) limiting use of renewable resources to rates that do not reduce future supply

Question 47

Figure 14.9.2: Pollution Compared to a Country's Wealth
This figure indicates that increasing GNI per capita is associated with

A) first decreasing but then increasing population growth.
B) first increasing but then decreasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
C) first decreasing but then increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
D) increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
E) decreasing population growth.

Question 48

The United States is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Question 49

Figure 14.7.4
Which of the following technologies has seen the lowest use in the U.S.so far for passenger vehicles?

A) hydrogen fuel cell
B) ethanol
C) hybrid
D) electric
E) diesel

Question 50

Figure 14.7.4
Conservation is

A) the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
B) maintenance of resources in their present condition.
C) invention and diffusion of new agricultural practices.
D) breeding programs to rebuild endangered species.
E) maintaining wild environments.

Question 51

Figure 14.9.2: Pollution Compared to a Country's Wealth
The World Wildlife Federation claims the world surpassed its sustainable level around

A) 1960.
B) 1970.
C) 1980.
D) 1990.
E) 2000.

Question 52

Acid precipitation is an ample of global-scale air pollution.

Question 53

Figure 14.7.4
Preservation is

A) the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
B) maintenance of resources in their present condition.
C) invention and diffusion of new agricultural practices.
D) breeding programs to rebuild endangered species.
E) recycling natural resources.

Question 54

Figure 14.7.4
Elaborate safety measures must be taken to store nuclear waste primarily because the waste is

A) convertible into a nuclear weapon.
B) expensive.
C) radioactive.
D) scarce.
E) hard to contain gases.

Question 55

Like petroleum,coal is a nonrenewable energy resource that will be depleted within the next century.

Question 56

The most valuable nonmetallic minerals are distributed evenly across the world.

Question 57

Figure 14.9.2: Pollution Compared to a Country's Wealth
Arguing that trees should be cut so long as the forest remains is what kind of approach?

A) preservation
B) wilderness
C) conservation
D) unsustainable
E) biodiverse

Question 58

The Deepwater Horizon disaster is an example of point-source water pollution.

Question 59

Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere 1,000 years ago were higher than they are now.

Question 60

Figure 14.9.2: Pollution Compared to a Country's Wealth
This figure indicates that starting to enrich the majority of the world's population will have the immediate result of

A) first decreasing but then increasing population growth.
B) increasing population growth.
C) increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
D) decreasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
E) decreasing population growth.

Question 61

Two distinctive characteristics of fossil fuels underlie the energy crisis.What are these two characteristics?

Question 62

What are the three main fossil fuels?

Question 63

What fuel is the most important source for generating electricity in the United States?

Question 64

What has caused Earth's temperature to increase an average of 1 degree C in the last 100 years?

Question 65

The concept of sustainability includes only environmental and economic considerations,not social ones.

Question 66

Identify and describe the three principal sources of water pollution.

Question 67

Explain why the disposal of hazardous waste is especially difficult.

Question 68

Wind power potential varies by location in the United States.

Question 69

Describe the potential for solar and wind power.

Question 70

Conservation is the maintenance of resources in their condition,with as little human impact as possible.

Question 71

Some European and North American corporations have tried to transport their toxic waste to West Africa.

Question 72

Explain some key differences between metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources.

Question 73

What is the difference between a proven reserve and a potential reserve?

Question 74

The main source of electricity varies widely by state in the U.S.

Question 75

The United Nations concept of sustainable development links what three goals?

Question 76

Americans recycle more solid waste than they throw away.