Deck 32: Restoring the Range: the Key to Recovering the Worlds Grasslands May Be a Surprising One

Question 1

Biofuels currently provide about _______ of the energy used in the United States, more than any other type of renewable resource.

A) 0.4%
B) 7%
C) 14%
D) 40%
E) 80%

Answer 1

7%

Question 2

Which of the following is a waste that can be used to produce biofuel?

A) used fryer oil from restaurants
B) manure
C) crop residues
D) animal fats
E) all of these answers

Answer 2

all of these answers

Question 3

__________ are defined as solids, liquids, or gases that produce energy from biological material.

A) Biosources
B) Biomaterials
C) Biofuels
D) Biopowers
E) None of these answers

Answer 3

Biofuels

Question 4

Which of the following is(are) predicted to generate the most oil per acre in biodiesel production?

A) algae
B) switchgrass
C) soybeans
D) rapeseed
E) oil palms

Question 5

Which of the following choices is FALSE regarding biodiesel production?

A) Biodiesel is mixed with water to capture impurities.
B) It is formed directly from its feedstock.
C) Feedstocks include vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases.
D) It can be produced on small or large scales.
E) It is a multistep process.

Question 6

_____________ is a term used to explain a biofuel disadvantage that reduces the contributions made from forests and grasslands to ecosystem services.

A) Overhauling
B) Overharvesting
C) Hyper-producing
D) Overgrowing
E) None of these answers

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a concern when it comes to the conversion of natural lands into farmland for biofuel production?

A) displacement of food crops that would normally be grown there
B) endangerment of native species around the area
C) increase in price for food crops
D) job losses for native workers
E) none of these answers

Question 8

Explain why there is a critical need for development of biofuels.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using biofuels as an alternative energy source?

A) Biofuels can be replaced over short time scales.
B) Biofuels enable us to turn waste into energy.
C) Crops for biofuels can be grown on marginal land.
D) Biofuels are versatile; they can be used in a variety of ways.
E) None of these answers-all are advantages.

Question 10

Which form(s) of biomass is(are) burned directly for energy?

A) dried manure
B) restaurant fry grease
C) firewood
D) A and C
E) B and C

Question 11

Explain the outcome of David Tilman's research and what it meant for biofuel crops.

Question 12

Which of the following choices would NOT be considered a biofuel feedstock?

A) beef from cows
B) animal waste
C) crops
D) wood products
E) none of these answers

Question 13

What are biofuels, and what are potential biofuel sources?

Question 14

Which of the following is a concern regarding early corn ethanol projects?

A) Corn production requires energy inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
B) Considerable water is required to produce ethanol from corn.
C) The projects used as much (or almost as much) energy as they produced.
D) A, B, and C are concerns
E) None of these answers are concerns.

Question 15

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding indirect biomass energy?

A) It is converted from biomass and then burned.
B) This energy-rich fuel is less bulky than the original biomass.
C) These fuels burn more cleanly than the original biomass.
D) These fuels can power engines that currently run on gasoline or diesel fuel.
E) All of these answers are correct regarding indirect biomass energy.

Question 16

Concerned about rising gas prices, the need for energy security, and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, you set out to find a plant species that could serve as a biofuel. What characteristics are you looking for in such a plant?

Question 17

Choose the form of biomass that is easiest to ferment into bioethanol.

A) switchgrass
B) crop waste
C) corn
D) forestry waste
E) manure

Question 18

Which of the following is an annual plant?

A) corn
B) switchgrass
C) goldenrod
D) wheatgrass
E) none of these answers

Question 19

Material from living or recently living organisms or their by-products is defined as _________.

A) biofuel
B) biomass
C) feedstock
D) extract
E) none of these answers

Question 20

Which of the following choices is commonly used in the United States to produce biodiesel?

A) corn
B) sugarcane
C) soybeans
D) switchgrass
E) beets

Question 21

Which of the following is a benefit of growing diverse grasses for biofuel production?

A) can be grown in marginal soil
B) can be grown on neglected agricultural land?
C) does not displace food production
D) is not destructive to habitats
E) all of these answers

Question 22

Switchgrass grown with other plants produces less biomass that can be used for biofuel when compared with switchgrass grown in a monoculture.

Question 23

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the "food versus fuel" debate?

A) Global biofuel supply and demand is expected to grow more than sixfold, from 12 billion to 83 billion gallons, over the next two decades.
B) Some commodities like corn or vegetable oil can be used as food or to make biofuels.
C) In the United States a larger percentage of the corn harvest is now made into ethanol than was the case a decade ago.
D) Nonfood crops can also be used to produce biofuel.
E) All of these answer are true.

Question 24

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels in terms of air pollution, relative to fossil fuels.

Question 25

Which of the following is FALSE regarding biodiesel?

A) It is the only biofuel to be certified by the EPA.
B) It comprises only a small portion of the biofuels produced today.
C) It can be produced from soybeans as well as from animal fats.
D) It can be used in both diesel and gasoline engines.
E) None of these answers is false.

Question 26

Globally, food crops are being displaced by biofuel crops. Crops that normally were grown for either human or animal consumption are instead being grown for fuel. This switch has resulted in price increases and food riots. Which of the following crops has caused the most issues when switched from a food crop to a biofuel crop?

A) corn
B) wheat
C) potato
D) rice
E) soybean

Question 27

Which trade-offs of traditional biofuels, like ethanol produced from corn, can be addressed by using algae as a biofuel source?

A) using large amounts of fresh water to grow and process the source
B) overharvesting of a biofuel source that negatively affects the local ecosystem
C) using farmland for biofuel source production
D) A, B, and C
E) none of these answers

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of switching from corn ethanol to cellulosic ethanol?

A) the potential to circumvent the food controversy by not occupying land that could support food crops
B) the resistance to many pests and plant diseases
C) the requirement of less fertilizer
D) the consumption of less energy for production
E) the ease of scaling up production

Question 29

Compared with gasoline, biofuels produce less greenhouse emissions. Which of the following biofuels produces the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions when compared with gasoline?

A) corn grain ethanol
B) high-input biofuels
C) soybean biodiesel
D) LIHD grasses grown on farmland
E) LIHD grasses grown on marginal land

Question 30

Infographic 32.3.

Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use the data from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by biofuels graph to describe how emissions from biofuels compare with that of gasoline. Also, how do emissions compare between current biofuels and LIHD biofuels?

Question 31

Most biofuels today are made from crops grown specifically for energy use. What are the main crops used to produce ethanol and biodiesel? What are the environmental downsides to using these crops in biofuel production?

Question 32

Which of the following is a challenge faced when making biofuel from algae?

A) meeting fresh water requirements
B) competition with food crops
C) the high expense of oil production facilities
D) convincing companies to invest in turning algae oil into fuel
E) A and C

Question 33

Table 32.1
List and describe at least three advantages and three disadvantages of biofuels.

Question 34

One way to improve energy return and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases typically released by traditional monoculture fuel crops is to use LIHD grassland plants. What does LIHD stand for?

A) low-input, high-density
B) low-input, high-diversity
C) lean-inflow, high-density
D) lean-inflow, high-diversity
E) late-ingrass, high-dependence

Question 35

What is biowaste? Describe the benefits of converting waste into energy.

Question 36

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the increasing production of biofuels in the United States?

A) Ethanol and biodiesel are becoming competitors for gasoline and diesel fuel.
B) If grown with minimal or no fossil fuel inputs, biofuels decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
C) Increased use of biofuels improves national security by lessening dependence on foreign oil.
D) A, B, and C are true.
E) None of these answers are true.

Question 37

Which of the following is an advantage of using biofuel?

A) All types have a higher energy content than fossil fuels, so less needs to be burned to produce the same amount of energy.
B) Burning biomass directly produces minimal particulate matter pollution.
C) If grown with minimal or no fossil fuel inputs, it is carbon neutral or negative.
D) The most commonly grown biofuel crops consume far less water per kilowatt-hour than what is used for traditional fossil fuels.
E) None of these answers are an advantage.

Question 38

What are some of the concerns regarding the use of crops in biofuel production?

Question 39

Infographic 32.3.

Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use the data from the energy return on energy investment comparison graph to determine which crop offers the highest net energy return (output - input).

A) corn grain ethanol
B) soybean biodiesel
C) biomass combustion
D) biomass ethanol
E) biomass biodiesel

Question 40

Because of a process called carbon sequestration, switchgrass harvested for biofuel is actually carbon negative.

Question 41

Ethanol can be produced from the biological fermentation of all of the following sources EXCEPT:

A) corn.
B) algae.
C) sugarcane.
D) switchgrass.
E) None of these answers-ethanol can be produced from the biological fermentation of any plant material.

Question 42

Driving habits that maximize mileage include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) keeping your vehicle in tune by scheduling regular maintenance appointments.
B) avoiding idling and turning off your car if you will be parked, even briefly.
C) maintaining 70 miles per hour on the highway to decrease the time the engine is running.
D) avoiding carrying excess weight in the vehicle.
E) None of these answers are correct.

Question 43

While starch from corn is soft, cellulose in grasses is which of the following?

A) complex
B) durable
C) not easily degraded
D) A, B, and C
E) none of these answers

Question 44

In 2007 Congress passed the ___________, which requires the United States to produce 36 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels per year by 2022.

A) Energy Conservation Act
B) Energy Independence Act
C) Energy Independence and Security Act
D) Security Act
E) Renewable Energy Act

Question 45

What unintended consequence(s) could arise from government subsidies, tax breaks, or mandates that support biofuel production?

Question 46

How would the production of cellulosic ethanol circumvent the "food versus fuel" controversy?

Question 47

Which of the following is a beneficial characteristic of using crops such as switchgrass to produce cellulosic ethanol?

A) It makes use of exhausted farmland.
B) It does not displace food production.
C) Production consumes less energy.
D) It is a perennial.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 48

_____________ refers to the process where a plant absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then stores carbon in its roots.

A) Carbon absorption
B) Carbon storing
C) Carbon loading
D) Carbon sequestration
E) None of these answers

Question 49

Infographic 32.5

Use Infographic 32.5 to describe the production of grain ethanol and cellulosic ethanol. Why is it more challenging to produce ethanol from plants with high cellulose content compared with producing it from grain?

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT a driving habit that maximizes mileage?

A) using cruise control
B) keeping tires properly inflated
C) avoiding carrying excess weight in the vehicle
D) keeping the car idling when parked briefly and avoiding turning the car on and off
E) combining trips and planning your route to avoid backtracking

Question 51

Describe some benefits of making cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass.

Question 52

Infographic 32.5.

Refer to Infographic 32.5. Which step in the conversion of cellulose to ethanol is the raw material chopped or ground into small, uniform-size pieces?

A) preparation
B) pretreatment
C) enzymatic cellulose breakdown
D) lignin separation
E) distillation

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT observed when switchgrass is grown in a high-diversity mix of plant species instead of as a monoculture?

A) the potential for less irrigation
B) the potential for less management
C) more fertilizer because plants are competing with each other
D) a lot more biomass being produced
E) more biofuel for fewer inputs

Question 54

Which of the following is the best option in terms of being environmentally friendly?

A) avoiding quick starts and speeding up to stop signs
B) removing golf clubs from the trunk unless going to the golf course
C) combining errands into one trip that minimizes driving miles
D) investing in a hybrid or all-electric car
E) biking or walking to work, to school, or to run errands

Question 55

Bioethanol that is produced by breaking down cellulose in plants is called _________.

A) cellulosic ethanol
B) starch ethanol
C) plant ethanol
D) cellulose sequestering
E) cellulosic sequestering

Question 56

What are some advantages and disadvantages of using algae for biofuel?

Question 57

What has recently become an attractive alternative to using grains (corn) or sugarcane to make bioethanol? Briefly describe what sources are used and why its production efficiency is currently an issue.

Question 58

Which of the following is a way to improve energy efficiency of vehicles?

A) construction with lighter materials
B) more aerodynamic shapes
C) incorporation of hybrid technologies
D) more energy-efficient engines
E) all of these answers

Question 59

Cellulose is complex and difficult to break down. Which of the following is NOT a method currently being used to tear apart the strong chemical bonds in cellulose?

A) low temperatures
B) high temperatures
C) acid
D) enzymes
E) yeast

Question 60

Although it is clear that alternative energy sources such as bioethanol and biodiesel are reducing fossil fuel usage, ___________ is also a key strategy to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

A) desalination
B) development of vertical farming
C) conservation
D) space exploration
E) none of these answers

Question 61

Describe how many U.S. states are rewarding energy efficiency as it pertains to our mobile fuel needs.

Question 62

Explain the concept of carbon debt and whether or not there is a way to minimize this problem.

Question 63

List and describe at least five habits drivers can employ to maximize mileage and conserve energy.