Deck 15: Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Question 1

Use the figure above to answer the following question
The country with the greatest differential between domestic production and total consumption is _______________.

A) the United States
B) Japan
C) Germany
D) Iran
E) Saudi Arabia

Answer 1

the United States

Question 2

Of the following, ________________ is not a form of renewable energy.

A) solar
B) tidal
C) geothermal
D) wind
E) coal

Answer 2

coal

Question 3

For the United States, the primary fuel that we use for our energy is ________________.

A) nuclear
B) wood
C) coal
D) oil
E) natural gas

Answer 3

oil

Question 4

Use the figure above to answer the following question
The country with the largest amount of domestic oil available for sale on the international market is _______________.

A) Saudi Arabia
B) the United States
C) Germany
D) Iran
E) Japan

Question 5

The worldʹs most abundant fossil fuel is ____________.

A) biodiesel
B) methane
C) coal
D) natural gas
E) oil

Question 6

Coal continues to be the main fuel used to generate electricity in the United States. This is partially because ________________.

A) coal deposits in the United States lie very close to the surface and are easily extracted
B) coal causes almost no air pollution when burned
C) the quality of coal in the United States is very consistent from deposit to deposit
D) the country has such large reserves of coal
E) compared to natural gas and oil, coal contains very few impurities, such as sulfur

Question 7

Use the figure above to answer the following question
Of the following countries, ________________ would be affected most severely by another OPEC oil embargo.

A) the United States
B) Saudi Arabia
C) Iran
D) Japan
E) Germany

Question 8

Secondary extraction of petroleum ________________.

A) is less expensive than primary extraction
B) causes less environmental damage than tertiary extraction
C) allows the oil to be extracted to the last drop
D) uses solvents, water, or steam
E) occurs immediately after primary extraction

Question 9

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
An environment that has little or no oxygen

A)peat
B)carbon dioxide
C)mulch
D)crude oil
E)nuclear
F)aerobic
G)coal
H)anaerobic
I)hydrogen fuel cell
J)geothermal
K)natural gas
L)petroleum

Question 10

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Organic matter under high compression that forms solid carbon structures

A)peat
B)carbon dioxide
C)mulch
D)crude oil
E)nuclear
F)aerobic
G)coal
H)anaerobic
I)hydrogen fuel cell
J)geothermal
K)natural gas
L)petroleum

Question 11

Solar radiation makes several other energy sources possible, including ________________.

A) nuclear energy
B) hydrothermal energy
C) geothermal energy
D) wind energy
E) tidal energy

Question 12

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Energy from fissioned processed uranium

A)peat
B)carbon dioxide
C)mulch
D)crude oil
E)nuclear
F)aerobic
G)coal
H)anaerobic
I)hydrogen fuel cell
J)geothermal
K)natural gas
L)petroleum

Question 13

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
A gaseous by-product of anaerobic microbial decomposition

A)peat
B)carbon dioxide
C)mulch
D)crude oil
E)nuclear
F)aerobic
G)coal
H)anaerobic
I)hydrogen fuel cell
J)geothermal
K)natural gas
L)petroleum

Question 14

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Organic material being slowly broken down anaerobically, but remains wet and near the surface

A)peat
B)carbon dioxide
C)mulch
D)crude oil
E)nuclear
F)aerobic
G)coal
H)anaerobic
I)hydrogen fuel cell
J)geothermal
K)natural gas
L)petroleum

Question 15

All of the following are fossil fuels except ________________

A) natural gas
B) coal
C) uranium
D) tar sands
E) oil

Question 16

Of the following energy sources, ___________ is considered nonrenewable

A) sunlight (solar) energy
B) wind energy
C) geothermal energy
D) fossil fuel energy
E) tidal energy

Question 17

Use the figure above to answer the following question
Of the five countries shown, _______________ have essentially no domestic oil production.

A) Iran and Saudi Arabia
B) Japan and the United States
C) Germany and the United States
D) the United States and Germany
E) Japan and Germany

Question 18

Scientists currently assessing the environmental impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico report that ________________.

A) the entire Gulf food web will eventually collapse
B) it may take years or decades before the full impacts are known
C) the damage was limited to wildlife kills immediately after the spill
D) Gulf productivity has already returned to normal and no further effects will be felt
E) the coastal marshes of Louisiana suffered no measurable damage

Question 19

Crude oil is ________________.

A) usable in its raw form
B) fractionated to separate the chemicals used for gasoline, lubricants, plastics and other products
C) formed less than 100 yards below the surface; in deeper places with more pressure, coal is formed
D) formed in a wide range of temperature and pressure circumstances
E) composed of less than ten different hydrocarbon molecules

Question 20

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
A renewable energy resource

A)peat
B)carbon dioxide
C)mulch
D)crude oil
E)nuclear
F)aerobic
G)coal
H)anaerobic
I)hydrogen fuel cell
J)geothermal
K)natural gas
L)petroleum

Question 21

The practice of reducing wasteful or unnecessary energy use is called ________________.

A) cogeneration
B) energy conservation
C) energy switching
D) energy efficiency
E) technology reduction

Question 22

Energy conservation in the United States ________________.

A) will be a reality only if there is another major war
B) can be improved as individuals make conscious choices to reduce personal consumption
C) is unlikely to ever occur
D) can be accomplished only through changes in environmental laws
E) can be accomplished by changes in tax laws

Question 23

The average miles per gallon rating of U.S. vehicles has ________________.

A) made no improvement the past two decades
B) doubled since the 2008 election
C) now matched the 45 mpg rating mandated by the European union
D) doubled in the past two decades
E) been raised to 40 mpg because of the 2010 energy bill passed by Congress

Question 24

Organizations like OPEC have formed ________________.

A) in order to take maximum advantage of developed nations dependence on imported oil
B) to ensure that developing nations get their fair share of fossil fuels
C) as a military alliance to protect developed nationsʹ energy reserves
D) to protect their national membersʹ petroleum reserves for their own use
E) to develop technologies to conserve non-renewable energy resources

Question 25

The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster ________________.

A) was quickly cleaned up preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries
B) is the worst oil spill in U.S. history, causing damage to marine and coastal ecosystems
C) eclipsed all non-point oil spills by 500%
D) is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills
E) resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters

Question 26

The energy bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 2007 ________________.

A) primarily focused on taxing polluters and those who profit from the fossil fuel industry
B) raised the CAFE standard to 35mpg for vehicles by the year 2020
C) mandates the rapid development of all remaining fossil fuel resources as quickly as possible
D) will, according to analysts, allow us to import only 25% of our oil instead of 60%
E) primarily focused on major new policies for conservation and for development of renewable energy sources

Question 27

One of the problems with finding new fossil fuel deposits in developing countries is that ________________.

A) it is very expensive to transport the deposit elsewhere
B) international companies move in to harvest the new deposit, and very little money or resource remains in the country
C) their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without meeting expensive environmental regulations
D) those countries tend to keep the resource for themselves, not sharing with other countries
E) their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without imposing huge taxes to fund new social benefits for the country

Question 28

Energy can be conserved by ________________.

A) repealing the Law of Entropy
B) cogeneration in automobiles, especially in SUVs
C) replacing mass transit with more and larger roads for cars and trucks
D) replacing compact florescent with tungsten bulbs
E) cogeneration in power plants, fuel efficient transportation, reengineered appliances

Question 29

U.S. domestic oil production peaked in the year ________________.

A) 1995
B) 2010
C) 1970
D) 2005
E) 1980

Question 30

When we burn fossil fuels, ________________.

A) the greatest environmental impact is the local damage from extraction
B) the resulting carbonic acid leads to acid rain
C) the greatest environmental impact is the impact on the ozone layer
D) we liberate carbon back into the carbon cycle, increasing the amount available for plant growth
E) the greatest environmental impact is increased greenhouse gases

Question 31

Deposits of natural gas are most numerous in ________________.

A) South America
B) the Middle East and Russia
C) Russia
D) the Middle East
E) Spain and Portugal

Question 32

Natural gas is ________________.

A) still much more expensive than other fossil fuels
B) only produced by bacteria during decomposition
C) often associated with coal and petroleum deposits
D) more damaging to the environment than coal when extracted
E) trapped over some cities for commercial use

Question 33

When assessing energy resources, it is helpful to use a measure called EROI, which is ________________.

A) energy returned minus energy invested
B) amount of energy invested minus heat released into the environment
C) energy returned divided by energy invested
D) money invested in extraction and processing minus money in sales
E) energy returned plus energy invested

Question 34

________________ is NOT a part of the technology of ʺclean coal.ʺ

A) Converting coal to syngas (natural gas)
B) Removing carbon content from coal before combustion
C) Injecting captured carbon dioxide into rock formations deep underground
D) Capturing and sequestering carbon emissions
E) Removing sulfur oxides from the emissions

Question 35

Many developed nations have their economies closely tied to imported fossil fuels. One important consideration is that ________________.

A) the economy will only improve if the price of fossil fuels increases
B) if energy conservation is put into place, the cost of fossil fuels will decrease
C) if energy conservation is put into place, the cost of fossil fuels will increase
D) as supplies decrease, fossil fuels decline in price
E) the economy can be disrupted by the decisions made in fuel exporting nations

Question 36

Natural gas ________________.

A) will be depleted by 2030 at current usage rates
B) produces less greenhouse gases per energy unit than coal or oil
C) was discovered by Bunsen in 1885
D) is transported primarily by truck and rail
E) has octane as its primary component

Question 37

Carbon sequestration ________________.

A) has proved to be more dangerous to the environment than releasing carbon emissions
B) permanently removes captured carbon from the environment
C) has been used by U.S. electrical plants since 1955, converting carbon dioxide to limestone
D) is an unproven technology only begun in 2008
E) involves capturing carbon emissions and then releasing them into the stratosphere

Question 38

U.S. oil production ________________.

A) will peak out in 2100, requiring for the first time imports to meet growing demand
B) is now high enough for us to export nearly 50%
C) is sufficient to meet national needs thanks to major conservation efforts
D) has to fit the quotas imposed by OPEC
E) falls far short of U.S. oil consumption

Question 39

Efficiency of coal-fired power plants can be nearly doubled by ________________.

A) using household wastes along with the coal
B) switching to oil
C) using coal with higher sulfur content
D) cogeneration
E) adding wood chips to the coal

Question 40

Of the available policy options regarding eventual conversion to renewable energy sources, environmentalists would probably prefer that ________________.

A) we pass laws immediately banning the exploration and development of further fossil fuel resources
B) we plan for the switch to renewable energy sources, but not implement any plans until all fossil fuels have been depleted
C) we prepare for a gradual changeover by slowly increasing funding and putting alternative energy resources into place over the next 100 years
D) we pass laws immediately banning the use of fossil fuels
E) we encourage, with subsidies, tax rebates, and grants, the rapid development and widespread use of renewable alternative energy resources

Question 41

Explain nuclear meltdown.

Question 42

What are some of the alternative, unconventional resources for oil and natural gas?

Question 43

Why is waste disposal a significant problem in nuclear power generation? Discuss Yucca Mountain.

Question 44

When uranium-235 atoms undergo fission, ________________ is/are produced.

A) moderators and water
B) larger atoms such as plutonium
C) smaller atoms (fission fragments), free neutrons and energy
D) large amounts of energy as all mass has been converted and lost
E) large amounts of CO2

Question 45

Compare and contrast the three patterns of energy use in developing and developed countries: the amount of use, the type of energy used, and the major uses.

Question 46

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
Along with many other governmental reforms that began in 1994, the electrical plant just outside Soweto was closed in 2000 and other plants were brought into use. Some parts of Soweto were then wired for electricity. It is estimated, however, that only about 30% of the more than 1 million black inhabitants have electricity in their homes; the remainder cannot afford the costs involved or live in areas that have no electrical access. So, they probably use ________________ for fuel.

A) charcoal and candles
B) wood and coal
C) natural gas and solar cells
D) gas-powered home generators
E) natural gas and backyard windmills

Question 47

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
The high sulfur content of the coal burned in South African power plants means that the ________________.

A) coal is very expensive, forcing most poor people to go without electricity
B) coal is very inexpensive, leading to an improved economy
C) power plants contribute to acidic deposition
D) power plants burn cleanly, with little pollution
E) power plants emit high levels of radioactive pollution

Question 48

Nuclear energy in power plants is created via ________________.

A) bombarding radioactive elements with electrons
B) fusion of electrons
C) ionic transformation of atoms
D) extraction of energy from the nucleus of cells
E) fissioning uranium atoms by bombarding them with neutrons

Question 49

Nuclear power plants ________________.

A) supply most of U.S. electricity
B) experienced the most growth during the 1970s and 1980s
C) were first developed commercially in the early 1990s
D) produce more greenhouse gas emissions than burning fossil fuels
E) are illegal in France and Lithuania

Question 50

What are the ultimate sources of all of Earthʹs energy?

Question 51

Compare the catastrophes at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.

Question 52

First developed in the ________________, nuclear power showed the most growth during the ________________.

A) 1950s; 1970s and 1980s
B) 1940s; 1950s
C) 1960s; 1990s
D) 1980s; 1990s
E) 1930s; 1950s

Question 53

Effects attributed to Chernobyl ________________.

A) increased incidence of emphysema
B) have not been extensively documented
C) were contained within the Ukraine
D) serious respiratory illnesses but no fatalities
E) increased incidence of thyroid cancers

Question 54

Compare the environmental effects of coal and uranium as power sources.

Question 55

Explain the role of radioisotopes in generating nuclear power. What is spent fuel?

Question 56

Why is it that in most parts of the world local people do not benefit from the removal of fossil fuels from their local environment? Discuss the economics, politics, and environmental reasons that locals may not benefit.

Question 57

All of the following are advantages of nuclear power except ________________.

A) uranium generates far greater amounts of energy than coal by weight or volume
B) the power-generating process is emission-free
C) safe disposal of nuclear wastes
D) uranium mines cause less environmental damage than coal mines because less uranium is needed to generate power
E) nuclear power plants generate no nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide

Question 58

Which of the following characterizes U.S. nuclear power plants?

A) largely unregulated
B) highly subsidized
C) account for nearly half of domestic energy production
D) inexpensive to operate
E) widely trusted and accepted by the public

Question 59

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
The heavy levels of soot from the electrical plant upwind of Soweto, along with dust from gigantic mine dumps from gold and coal mines, created particulate pollution more than three times the recommended level. This resulted in ________________.

A) problems with running local automobiles and other machinery
B) increased incidence of lung disease
C) high levels of heart disease
D) enriched agricultural fields and increased crop yields
E) high levels of birth defects

Question 60

Discuss the three types of energy sources and give examples of each.

Question 61

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
Things have improved in Soweto in the past 10 years. However, even in areas where electricity is available, as of 2002 it typically costs up to ten times more per kilowatt-hour for electricity in Soweto than for electricity to nearby industries, and over 30% more than in the nearby white suburban areas. A possible reason for this is that ________________.

A) residents of Soweto move frequently and the costs of new hookups are expensive
B) residents of Soweto use more electricity, so they pay more
C) the electrical lines in Soweto are so old that it is impractical for the electric company to use them
D) the electricity must travel farther to reach them
E) both environmental and social justice appear to be lacking

Question 62

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
Other than in downtown Johannesburg, the worst air pollution in the region in the year 2000 was in Soweto. The probable explanation is that in downtown Johannesburg ________________, and in Soweto ________________.

A) automobile traffic was the cause; the burning of fuels in each home for heating, light, and cooking was a major contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution
B) automobile traffic was the cause; ozone depletion was also the cause
C) trash incinerators were a problem; gasoline-powered electrical generators were the cause
D) gasoline-powered electrical generators were the cause; trash incinerators were a problem
E) coal-fired electrical plants were the cause; automobile traffic in overcrowded areas was the problem

Question 63

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
The major long-term global problem with using coal to generate electricity is the ________________.

A) sulfur dioxides released
B) environmental damage in the area around the mine
C) carbon dioxide released
D) water pollution
E) particulate and carbon monoxide pollution

Question 64

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the South West Township (Soweto) was one of several areas established early in the last century for blacks to live away from the white ruling minority. On the hills surrounding Soweto, the company that provides South Africaʹs electricity, Eskom, built a large, coal-burning, electricity-generating plant. The electricity was for white areas of Johannesburg, miles away from the plant. The residents of Soweto had no electrical connections.
One of the promises made by the government in 1994 was ʺfree electricity.ʺ Since 2001 the government has provided a small amount, 50 Kilowatt hours per month, free to each household. Beyond that, a household must pay for the electricity that it uses. Many people would prefer a flat-rate pricing system, where each household throughout greater Johannesburg would pay the same rate each month. This would mean that ________________.

A) poor households would end up paying much more for their electricity than they do now
B) with less incentive to keep electric usage low, environmental issues related to the generation of electricity would worsen
C) wealthy households would end up paying much more and have less electricity than they do now
D) Eskom, the electric company, would probably make huge profits in Soweto
E) all households in Johannesburg would be able to have all the electricity that they need