Deck 17: Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Question 1

What technology can make coal a cleaner fuel?

A)fluidized-bed combustion
B)building smoke stacks taller
C)implementing a prewash of coal prior to combustion
D)using lower quality, high sulfur coal
E)mixing coal with natural gas to create a hybrid fuel

Answer 1

fluidized-bed combustion

Question 2

In the year 2030, it is projected that

A)developing countries will consume twice as much energy as highly developed countries.
B)developing countries will consume half of the energy as highly developed countries.
C)developing countries' energy consumption will decrease slightly.
D)highly developed countries' energy consumption will increase slightly.
E)developing countries will consume the same amount of energy as highly developed countries.

Answer 2

developing countries will consume twice as much energy as highly developed countries.

Question 3

The majority of world energy consumption increase since 1982 has occurred in developed countries.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Burning coal causes a more severe CO₂ problem than burning other fossil fuels because

A)coal is composed of C, H and O and other fossil fuels do not contain C, H, or O.
B)coal is burned in a mass burn incinerator, which is open air, whereas other fossil fuels are burned in closed systems.
C)the technology does not exists that would filter CO₂ from the emissions, but it has been developed for other fossil fuels.
D)it takes a greater volume of coal to produce one unit of heat energy than other fossil fuels.
E)coal releases more CO₂ per unit of heat energy produced than other fossil fuels

Question 5

What is a major issue with the type of mining illustrated below?

A)fluidized-bed combustion
B)acid precipitation
C)risk of earthquakes
D)safety risk to mine employees
E)land degradation

Question 6

All of the following are harmful environmental impacts that are the result of emissions from burning coal except

A)carbon dioxide emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.
B)airborne mercury with the potential to cause illnesses.
C)limestone particles transported by wind currents with the potential to damage ecosystems.
D)sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides that contribute to acid depositions.
E)particulate matter emissions that contribute to air pollution.

Question 7

The majority of coal mined in the United States is subsurface mining.

Question 8

There is a coal burning electric power plant in the vicinity of this forest. What is most probably responsible for the dead trees?

A)transportation of coal to the electric plant has physically harmed the trees' roots
B)the heat from the power plant raises the ambient temperature in the forest, which stresses the trees
C)particulate matter emissions associated with the combustion of coal can reduce photosynthesis resulting in forest decline
D)sulfur and nitrogen oxides from power plant's emissions react with water vapor resulting in acid deposition which contributes to forest decline
E)the dead trees are the natural result of a mature forest

Question 9

What is acid mine drainage?

A)pollution caused when rainwater seeps through iron sulfide minerals exposed in mine wastes
B)photochemical reactions between particulates and water vapor
C)residue from sulfur and nitrogen compounds found in coal dust
D)acid precipitation caused by emissions from burning coal
E)a low pH fuel that is synthesized from natural gas

Question 10

In the United States, what sector consumes the greatest portion of the nation's total energy?

A)transportation
B)homes and offices
C)industry
D)mining
E)solid waste management

Question 11

Which of the following activities is mismatched with its environmental consequence?

A)surface mining: acid mine drainage polluting rivers
B)coal-burning electric plants: acid deposition destroying forests
C)mountaintop removal mining: mine tailings and debris filling valleys
D)strip mining: oil spills killing wildlife
E)burning fossil fuels: release of CO₂, a potent greenhouse gas

Question 12

The major reason that global energy consumption is increasing is that

A)the world's population growth is slowing.
B)global energy reserves are increasing.
C)highly developed countries are using more energy as products are electronic.
D)developing countries are using more energy as standards of living improve.
E)decreases in energy efficiency of products result in greater energy consumption.

Question 13

Per person energy consumption in highly developed nations is

A)increasing as oil prices continue to climb.
B)increasing as alternative energies are introduced into the mainstream.
C)decreasing as technological advances increase the energy efficiency.
D)decreasing as population levels rise.
E)remaining steady over time.

Question 14

What legislation has regulated mining activities in the U.S. since 1977?

A)Soil Conservation Service Act
B)Environmental Protection Act
C)Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
D)Pollution Prevention Act
E)Superfund Act

Question 15

Burning coal produces more common air pollutants than either oil or natural gas.

Question 16

Mountaintop removal is an example of ___ mining.

A)subsurface
B)surface
C)shaft
D)combustion
E)integrated

Question 17

What is a critical difference between surface and subsurface mining?

A)Surface mining is more expensive than subsurface mining
B)Surface mining is above ground; subsurface mining is below ground
C)Surface mining causes less environmental damage than subsurface mining
D)Subsurface mining creates acid mine drainage; surface mining does not
E)Subsurface mining has the potential for dangerous landslides; surface mining has the potential for cave-ins

Question 18

Per person energy consumption in highly developed countries far exceeds that in developing countries.

Question 19

According to the data below,

A)people in developing countries consume more commercial energy per person than people in developed countries.
B)Egypt's population has the lowest per person commercial energy consumption.
C)people in the United States use 25% less commercial energy than in Canada.
D)people in Mexico use 50% less commercial energy than the United States.
E)people in Nigeria and Mexico have the same levels of commercial energy consumption.

Question 20

Mountaintop removal is one of the least land-destructive types of surface mining.

Question 21

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 provides incentives for utility companies to convert to clean coal technologies.

Question 22

All of the following are products of petroleum refining except ___.

A)ethanol
B)jet fuel
C)heating oil
D)asphalt
E)diesel

Question 23

According to the global data below, oil and natural gas provided ___ of the world's energy.

A)10%
B)28%
C)34%
D)47%
E)56 %

Question 24

Negative environmental impacts from oil and natural gas production may occur due to

A)release of oxides in combustion emissions.
B)accidental spills at extraction sites and during transport.
C)erosion and landslides during withdrawal of resources.
D)improper storage and disposal of spent fuel.
E)unintentional release of methane into atmosphere.

Question 25

Natural gas is considered a "better" fossil fuel than oil because natural gas

A)is easier to transport.
B)is a renewable resource.
C)contains almost no sulfur and releases less CO₂ when burned.
D)is less plentiful.
E)has no potential to cause explosions.

Question 26

The Exxon Valdez and the Deepwater Horizon spills are the largest spills worldwide.

Question 27

Offshore drilling to tap the large oil deposits that exist under the continental shelves has the potential

A)to provide habitat for wildlife.
B)to break the U.S. dependence on imported oil.
C)to be exploited by foreign commercial oil companies.
D)to be a renewable energy resource.
E)for catastrophic oil spills.

Question 28

What does the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 legislate for environmental disasters such as the one pictured below?

A)hazardous pay for clean-up workers
B)tidal barriers to help prevent the spread of oil slicks
C)a remediation protocol for impacted wildlife populations
D)requires that, by 2015, oil be transported by land and not sea
E)a trust fund that pays to clean up oil spills when the responsible party cannot

Question 29

More than half of the world's total estimated oil and natural gas reserves are located in ___.

A)the Persian Gulf region
B)the Siberia region
C)South America
D)Central America
E)the Gulf of Mexico

Question 30

________ is the use of pressurized water and chemicals to extract natural gas from deep layers of shale.

Question 31

What is a clean coal technology designed to do?

A)reduce acid mine drainage
B)decrease the cost of electricity
C)decrease air pollution
D)protect the health of coal miners
E)restore the environment after coal has been mined

Question 32

Compared to burning coal and oil, the combustion of natural gas releases

A)almost no sulfur.
B)far less CO₂.
C)fewer hydrocarbons.
D)almost no particulate matter.
E)all of these choices.

Question 33

_________ is an efficient process in which natural gas is used to produce both electricity and steam

Question 34

Which of the following statements is false?

A)The burning of both oil and natural gas produce nitrogen oxides.
B)The burning of both oil and natural gas leads to acid deposition.
C)The burning of both oil and natural gas produce large amounts of sulfur oxides.
D)The burning of both oil and natural gas provide sources of energy.
E)The burning of both oil and natural gas produce CO₂.

Question 35

Clean coal technologies include all of the following except

A)scrubbers that clean power plants' exhaust.
B)face masks that protect the health of miners.
C)the capture of CO₂ before it can be emitted.
D)the use of higher-grade coal (anthracite)to produce fewer pollutants per unit of heat.
E)fluidized-bed combustion to neutralize acidic compounds produced during combustion.

Question 36

What is fluidized-bed combustion?

A)a device that initiates and maintains a controlled coal burn
B)a method of burning coal underwater to reduce CO₂ emissions
C)a filter that cleans power plants' exhaust from coal combustion
D)a clean-coal technology that neutralizes acidic sulfur compounds produced during combustion
E)a pressurized water vessel that is used to extinguish coal fires

Question 37

Petroleum, also known as ________, is a liquid composed of hundreds of hydrocarbon compounds.

Question 38

What legislation provides incentives for utility companies to convert to clean coal technologies?

A)Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
B)Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
C)Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
D)Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
E)Superfund National Priorities Act of 2007

Question 39

The main disadvantage of natural gas is that deposits are often located far from where the energy is used.

Question 40

What conclusion can be drawn about global natural gas reserves, based on the data below?

A)Russian has a greater percentage of world natural gas reserves than the combined Persian Gulf countries.
B)Most of the world's natural gas is located in North America.
C)Collectively, most of the world's natural gas is located in the Persian Gulf countries.
D)Qatar has a greater percentage of natural gas reserves than Iran.
E)South America does not have any natural gas reserves.

Question 41

All of the following statements are true about surface mining except

A)Strip mining is an example of surface mining.
B)It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the U.S.
C)Surface mining is the most hazardous type of mining for workers.
D)Surface mining is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining.
E)Mountaintop removal is an example of surface mining.

Question 42

The greatest hurdle that must be overcome to fully embrace nuclear power to generate electricity is

A)safe storage of radioactive waste.
B)monitoring low-level radiation continuously being released into the surrounding region.
C)filtering the release of CO₂ contributing to greenhouse gasses.
D)deactivating radioactive water flushed from cooling towers.
E)increased safety measures to decrease the potential for nuclear explosion releasing radiation into the atmosphere.

Question 43

Where was the most serious global nuclear power plant accident in 1986?

A)San Onofre, CA
B)Love Canal, NY
C)Al-Jahra, Kuwait
D)Chernobyl, Ukraine
E)Three Mile Island, PA

Question 44

A major public concern about nuclear power plants stems from

A)use of fossil fuels to run the reactors.
B)the higher consumer costs for electricity.
C)fear of nuclear accidents.
D)excessive emissions of greenhouse gases.
E)size of real estate needed to house the nuclear power plant facility.

Question 45

Which of the following technologies releases the least amount of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide?

A)coal combustion
B)burning of oil
C)natural gas combustion
D)nuclear energy
E)generation of steam energy

Question 46

Which of the following statements about nuclear energy is false?

A)One advantage of nuclear energy is lack of air pollution.
B)The coolant used in a nuclear reactor is water.
C)Uranium is a renewable resource.
D)Radioisotopes in spent fuel remain radioactive for thousands of years.
E)The long-term, safe storage of radioactive waste must be overcome to realize the potential of nuclear energy.

Question 47

What is the best long-term option for the storage of high-level radioactive waste in the U.S.?

A)in compartments at the bottom of cooling towers at nuclear power plants.
B)deep burial in steel waste canisters at distant sites from population centers
C)injection underground between layers of clay in remote areas
D)storage in concrete casks at the bottom of the ocean
E)export it to foreign locations

Question 48

Nuclear energy is the energy released by either nuclear fission or nuclear fusion.

Question 49

Which of the following is an example of high-level radioactive waste?

A)glassware giving off small amounts of ionizing radiation
B)paper contaminated by radioactivity
C)reactor coolant fluid
D)lab coat used in an area where radioactive material is present
E)filters from sampling devices that test for radioactive contamination

Question 50

What valid conclusion can be drawn from the data table below?

A)Coal is an environmentally cleaner energy than nuclear.
B)Coal has a larger environmental footprint than nuclear energy since it requires more land and more fuel.
C)Coal is safer in relation to short-term risk of catastrophic accidents than nuclear.
D)Being a coal miner is a safer occupational risk than being a nuclear plant employee.
E)Coal's contributions to climate change are much smaller than nuclear energy's contributions.

Question 51

Nuclear energy is released

A)by splitting two electrons.
B)by joining a proton with a neutron.
C)by breaking a chemical bond between two atoms.
D)by splitting an atomic nucleus into two smaller fragments.
E)by combustion of uranium ore.

Question 52

All of the following are health issues resulting from exposure to the Chernobyl fallout except

A)abnormally large birth weights of newborns.
B)increased incidences of leukemia.
C)increased incidences of thyroid cancer.
D)abnormalities of the immune system.
E)greater frequency of birth defects.

Question 53

Nuclear fission occurs in the ________.

Question 54

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act places the burden of developing permanent sites for radioactive waste disposal on the state and local governments.

Question 55

Enrichment of uranium ore is a very energy demanding process.

Question 56

Which of the following parts of a typical nuclear power plant is incorrectly matched with its function?

A)reactor core: where fission occurs
B)steam generator: heats liquid water from energy produced by nuclear fission
C)combustion engine: enrichment of uranium ore
D)turbine: uses steam to generate electricity
E)condenser: cools the steam converting it back to liquid

Question 57

A device that initiates and maintains a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction to produce energy for electricity is a

A)geothermal nuclear apparatus.
B)nuclear combustion chamber.
C)nuclear reactor.
D)nuclear electric engine.
E)electrical fusion device.

Question 58

What is the function of the device diagramed below?

A)to maintain a constant temperature for U-235.
B)to control the fission chain reaction to produce energy for electricity.
C)to store spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors for at least 40 years.
D)to filter CO₂ generated by the fission of U-235 nuclei.
E)a reservoir for enriching U-235.

Question 59

One advantage of conventional nuclear power, when compared to coal, is

A)no related occupational deaths.
B)limited risk from catastrophic accidents.
C)no contribution to global warming.
D)unlimited supply of raw materials.
E)no prospect of water pollution.

Question 60

The 2009 Obama administration has withdrawn support for the ___ site that the 1987 Nuclear Waste Policy Act identified as a permanent underground storage location for high-level radioactive wastes.

A)Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
B)Murmansk, Russia
C)Yucca Mountain, NV
D)Gulf coast offshore platforms
E)Commercial nuclear reactor facilities

Question 61

What is clean-coal technology? Discuss two technologies that can be used to make coal a cleaner fuel.

Question 62

What type of mining operation is illustrated below? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of mining? How does it compare to other methods of extraction minerals and energy resources?

Question 63

What is the trend of global energy consumption? Compare per capita energy consumption in highly developed and developing countries. How can the economic development and prosperity of the Chinese population be encouraged in light of the projected demands this will place on the global reserves of fossil fuels?

Question 64

Discuss three issues that must be addressed in order for the United States to realize the potential of nuclear energy.

Question 65

Arguments supporting the development of oil exploration in the Arctic national Wildlife Refuge include all of the following except

A)the U.S. imports more than half the oil it uses.
B)large oil deposits have already been tapped in this region.
C)the refuge is biologically rich and the tundra is a fragile ecosystem.
D)development of domestic oil would improve the balance of foreign trade.
E)oil companies are eager to develop this particular site.

Question 66

Every gallon of gasoline your car or truck burns releases about 20 lb. of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Two cars are making a trip of 100 miles. The first car (a SUV)gets 20 miles per gallon and the second car (a hybrid)gets 50 miles per gallon. Approximately how much less CO₂ will be produced by the hybrid car on this trip? Include your calculations in the answer.

Question 67

At oil refineries, heated crude oil is separated into different products based on ___.

A)water solubility
B)density
C)boiling points
D)sulfur content
E)energy potential

Question 68

Discuss the pros and cons of electric power produced by nuclear energy versus coal.