Question 1

In the year 2000, the worst air pollution levels in the region were in downtown Johannesburg and Soweto. The probable explanation is that in downtown Johannesburg
)
, while in Soweto
A) gasoline -powered electrical generators were the cause; trash incinerators were a problem
B) automobile traffic was the cause; automobile traffic was also the cause
C) trash incinerators were a problem; gasoline -powered electrical generators were the cause
D) automobile traffic was the cause; the burning of fuels in each home for heating, lighting, and cooking was the major contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution
E) coal -fired electrical plants were the cause; automobile traffic in overcrowded areas was the problem

Accepted Answer

In downtown Johannesburg, the dense automobile traffic would have significantly contributed to air pollution due to emissions. In Soweto, a less affluent area, the lack of access to cleaner energy sources would have led residents to burn fuels for basic needs, contributing to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Question 2

The high demand for electricity in South Africa has resulted in years of scheduled blackouts. Which of the following pricing scenarios is most likely to INCREASE the demand for electricity and make the blackouts worse?
A) Charging each household a rate based solely on the amount of electricity used.
B) Flat -fee pricing, where every household pays the same regardless of how much electricity is used.
C) Charging each household a rate based on the amount of electricity used and what time of day it is used.
D) Charging each household a different rate based on annual income and amount of electricity used.
E) Allotting a small amount of free electricity to each household to provide just enough electricity for the needs of the poorest households, with a premium price charged per kilowatt -hour used beyond the amount provided for free.

Accepted Answer

Flat-fee pricing removes the financial incentive to conserve electricity, as households pay the same amount regardless of how much they use. This could lead to increased consumption and exacerbate the blackouts.

Question 3

In the U.S., per capita energy use than from any other nation.
, and energy intensity .
A) increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; decreased from 1950 to the 1970s but has since increased
B) increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; has been declining since 1970
C) was stable from 1950 to 1970 but has since increased sharply; has been increasing since 1950
D) has been increasing since 1950; has also been increasing since 1950
E) has been increasing since 1950; has been declining since 1950

Accepted Answer

Per capita energy use in the U.S. increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s, but has since declined. Energy intensity (energy use per unit of GDP) has also been declining since 1970.

Question 4

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of eminent domain?
A) Settlers in the Oklahoma Territory were allowed to claim land during the land rush.
B) Residents of the Chicago area who were in the proposed path of Interstate 355 were forced to sell their homes and move when the interstate was built.
C) The conversion of landscapes is an inescapable effect of our reliance on fossil fuels.
D) The transportation sector has shifted away from using coal as an energy source and now relies almost entirely on oil.
E) The United States government pays subsidies to the fossil fuel industry despite the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel use.

Accepted Answer

Eminent domain is the power of the government to take private property for public use with just compensation. In scenario B, the residents were forced to sell their homes and move to make way for the building of the interstate, which is a public project. This is a clear example of eminent domain in action. The other scenarios do not involve the government exercising its power of eminent domain.

Question 5

Natural gas is primarily composed of .
A) oxygen
B) nitrogen
C) methane
D) nitrite
E) sulfur dioxide

Accepted Answer

Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, with small amounts of other hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane.

Question 6

The major long -term global problem with using coal to generate electricity is the .
A) environmental damage in the area around the mine
B) water pollution
C) particulate pollution
D) sulfur dioxides released
E) effect of the released carbon dioxide on global climate

Accepted Answer

The major long-term global problem with using coal to generate electricity is the effect of the released carbon dioxide on global climate. Burning coal releases significant amounts of CO2, a greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming and climate change.

Quiz 19: Sustainable Solutions

In the year 2000, the worst air pollution levels in the region were in downtown Johannesburg and Soweto. The probable explanation is that in downtown Johannesburg ) , while in Soweto

The high demand for electricity in South Africa has resulted in years of scheduled blackouts. Which of the following pricing scenarios is most likely to INCREASE the demand for electricity and make the blackouts worse?

In the U.S., per capita energy use than from any other nation. , and energy intensity .

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of eminent domain?

Natural gas is primarily composed of .

The major long -term global problem with using coal to generate electricity is the .