Deck 20: Conventional Energy Alternatives

Question 1

Worldwide, the most widely used renewable energy resource is _.

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

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)is a .

A)project aiming to decrease global temperatures by extracting greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
B)project aiming to bury spent uranium in the western United States
C)prototype nuclear fusion reactor
D)solar energy collector in the California desert
E)project aiming to put solar collectors on orbiting satellites

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Vegetable oil .

A)must be processed into biodiesel to operate engines
B)can be directly burned as fuel
C)is a fossil fuel
D)is a necessary ingredient in biodiesel
E)is nonrenewable

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Nuclear power plants in use today rely on .

A)fission reactions to directly generate electricity
B)fission of uranium atoms to produce plutonium
C)fusion reactions to directly generate electricity
D)fission reactions to generate heat to boil water
E)fusion reactions to generate heat to boil water

Question 5

Sweden had to rescind its pledge to replace completely nuclear power with renewable energy because _ .

A)renewable energy was taking longer to develop than expected
B)The Copenhagen Conference of 2010 rescinded the Kyoto agreements
C)there was a strong public demand to return to fossil fuels
D)they found a way to rapidly detoxify nuclear wastes
E)the pollution from wind and hydroelectric generators had contaminated groundwater

Question 6

Nuclear power plants .

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

Question 7

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 .

A)limits dams to no less than 5 miles apart
B)is an agreement between the United States and Canada to protect rivers that cross the boundary between the two countries
C)completely prevents a designated waterway from being dammed
D)permits dams of no more than 10 feet in height to be built along a designated waterway
E)no longer protects waterways because the act has been repealed to build more hydroelectric dams

Question 8

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.
The power source with the most stable U.S. consumption pattern since 1970 is _.

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

Question 9

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Sugar cane- based ethanol is a major component in the energy resources of .

A)the Maldives
B)Brazil
C)China
D)Mexico
E)Tuvalu

Question 10

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
A major barrier preventing more widespread use of biodiesel is _ .

A)the lack of government support
B)a readily available supply of domestic petroleum
C)the lack of support from the public
D)the excessive cost
E)political and economic inertia and current lack of abundant fueling stations

Question 11

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Compared to other uses of biomass, biodiesel from restaurant waste represents one of the best environmental alternatives to fossil fuels because it _ .

A)require less processing than other forms of biomass
B)can be manufactured without the development of additional cropland agriculture
C)are the only form of biomass that reduces fossil fuel use
D)are the only form of biomass that is renewable
E)are the most available

Question 12

Globally, more than 80% of all primary energy for today's economies comes from .

A)nuclear power
B)fossil fuels
C)solar, wind, and ocean tides and waves
D)biofuels
E)hydropower installations

Question 13

Although hydroelectric dams generate electricity without producing greenhouse gases, they .

A)contribute only about 5% of the electrical power throughout the world
B)eliminate farmland, wildlife habitats, and sometimes even villages in regions that are flooded
C)alter water control in ways that make it more difficult to irrigate crops
D)still produce more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity produced than coal power plants
E)are short- lived structures that have to be rebuilt about every 20 years

Question 14

A self- amplifying reaction and a nuclear explosion in a nuclear power plant are prevented in large part by .

A)the production of plutonium- 239
B)fuel rods that absorb tremendous amounts of heat
C)"sponges" that absorb liquefied uranium that leaks out of the reactor core
D)control rods that absorb extra neutrons
E)the regular addition of uranium- 239 to the fuel

Question 15

Biodiesel .

A)is twice as expensive as petrodiesel
B)produces more pollution than petrodiesel
C)is produced from sugarcane
D)can be used in vehicles with diesel engines without engine modification
E)is produced from ethanol and vegetable oil, grease, or animal fat

Question 16

Biomass energy is energy contained in .

A)wind
B)the sun
C)firewood and other plant material
D)the Earth's heat
E)water

Question 17

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.
In a nuclear power plant, the amount of electricity that is generated is regulated by _.

A)the Federal Trade Commission
B)moving the nuclear fuel in and out of water
C)releasing surplus heat out of cooling towers that are always part of nuclear power plants
D)moving control rods out of or into spaces between the fuel rods
E)changing the water levels that surround the control rods

Question 18

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Biodiesel is to as ethanol is to gasoline.

A)glycerine
B)vegetable oil
C)petroleum
D)petrodiesel
E)gasohol

Question 19

Whether using a food crop as a source of biofuels is environmentally sustainable would depend upon all of the following, except .

A)the amount of fertilizers used and their impact on aquatic ecosystems
B)the corporate profits that would be made
C)the amount of pesticides used and their impact on biodiversity and groundwater
D)the amount of water and land necessary for the crops
E)the impact on food supplies and prices

Question 20

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
One key advantage of hydropower is that .

A)it is widely available to all countries
B)it does not rely on fossil fuel to generate electricity
C)it is the oldest of the renewable energy resources
D)it is the most economically feasible of all the renewable energy resources
E)it produces no negative environmental effects

Question 21

In the near future, the benefits of biofuel production may be enjoyed while reducing the impact on the global production of grain. One such promising approach is to .

A)gasify coal to increase the efficiency of coal power plants
B)produce biofuels from grasses instead of corn
C)find ways to convert oil and natural gas into ethanol
D)use the large amounts of animal wastes to produce ethanol
E)bioengineer cattle and goats to produce ethanol in their milk

Question 22

Today provide Sweden with virtually all of its electricity.

A)hydroelectric, nuclear, and biofuels
B)fossil fuels, biodiesel, and hydrogen
C)biomass, nuclear, hydrogen
D)sulfur dioxide, fusion and fossil fuels
E)nuclear, fossil fuels, and hydroelectric

Question 23

Effects attributed to Chernobyl .

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

Question 24

Which of the following is a benefit of using nuclear power?

A)The increasing costs of nonrenewable energy sources make nuclear energy more economically viable.
B)Few greenhouse gases are emitted.
C)Core meltdown of reactors can provide "bonus" energy for electricity production.
D)Using nuclear power causes more use of fossil fuels.
E)Mining activities enhance ecosystems.

Question 25

Which of the following is a documented negative impact of dams?

A)acid deposition
B)decreased rainfall
C)alteration of river salinity
D)alteration of river sediment deposition
E)increased atmospheric CFCs

Question 26

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Both pyrolysis and gasification are ways of producing from .

A)pesticides and fertilizers; biomass
B)hydroelectric fuel; coal
C)methane and diesel fuels; biomass
D)coal; biomass
E)biodiesel; limestone

Question 27

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
As a fuel, biodiesel .

A)has low lubricity
B)has been met with considerable resistance by American farmers
C)is less efficient than petrodiesel because it has a low energy yield
D)is a beneficial alternative for buses and trucks
E)requires moderate engine retrofitting prior to use

Question 28

Which of the following countries has the highest percentage of electricity generated from nuclear power plants?

A)United States
B)Sweden
C)Russia
D)France
E)Canada

Question 29

The source of energy for nuclear power is .

A)nuclear fission
B)breeder reactions
C)nuclear reaction
D)natural gas
E)nuclear fusion

Question 30

Which of the following countries has the most nuclear power plants?

A)Russia
B)France
C)Canada
D)Sweden
E)United States

Question 31

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Biofuel that does not require the growing of food crops to produce

Question 32

Biofuels and nuclear power may prove useful as .

A)inexpensive technologies for developing nations
B)pollution- free sustainable energies
C)energies to bridge the time between fossil fuel depletion and new renewables
D)stages in the development of fusion generators
E)replacement fuels for motor vehicles

Question 33

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Location of the most severe nuclear power plant accident in the world

Question 34

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
The world's largest hydroelectric dam

Question 35

E- 85 .

A)was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions
B)is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity
C)was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict CFC use
D)is an ethanol-gasoline mixture used in flexible- fuel vehicles
E)was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards

Question 36

The run- of- river approach to hydropower often involves _ .

A)the most expensive type of dams to build and maintain
B)diversion of a portion of a river's flow through pipes
C)dams that are reliable but unsustainable
D)the purchase of state- run dams by major corporations
E)impounding water in reservoirs behind concrete dams

Question 37

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
The United States consumes 21% of the world's petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation- related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical
alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at over 600 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rapeseed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
B20 represents .

A)a bacterial strain used to ferment corn to make ethanol
B)a synthetic compound that can be mixed with fossil fuel to give more energy
C)a variety of broccoli used in the production of cellulosic ethanol
D)a diesel fuel blend of 20% biodiesel to 80% petrodiesel
E)a new vitamin recently isolated from sugar cane bagasse

Question 38

U.S. hydropower dam construction was greatest during the .

A)1960s
B)late 1800s
C)1970s to 2000
D)industrial revolution
E)early 21st century

Question 39

strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower.

A)The temperature of water in the boiler and turbine
B)The temperature of reservoir water
C)The volume of water released and the height of the fall
D)Latitude
E)The phase of the moon

Question 40

Electricity from nuclear power plants is produced via .

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

Question 41

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

Question 42

Why is it urgent that we develop alternatives to fossil fuels?

Question 43

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Location of the most serious nuclear power plant accident in the United States

Question 44

Is the use of biofuels for power generation economically feasible and sustainable? Why or why not?

Question 45

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

Question 46

Biomass energy represents a potential energy source that offers a number of obvious environmental advantages over other forms of energy sources. However, there are growing concerns over a number of possible negative impacts associated with bioenergy. Discuss two of these specific concerns.

Question 47

Compare Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi.

Question 48

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Liquid biofuels in heaviest production

Question 49

Briefly discuss the pros and cons of hydropower.

Question 50

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Explain nuclear meltdown.

Question 51

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Location where a nuclear power plant was shut down two months after licensing because evacuation would be impossible if an accident occurred

Question 52

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

Question 53

Discuss the conventional alternatives to fossil fuels. Why are we not using more renewables?

Question 54

Match the following.

A)Los Alamos
B)methanol and dioxin
C)Shoreham, Long Island
D)cellulosic ethanol
E)Hanford
F)biodiesel
G)Three Mile Island
H)Black Canyon
I)Three Gorges
J)Fukushima Daiichi
K)Chernobyl
L)Love Canal
M)ethanol and biodiesel
N)Yucca Mountain
Location in the United States evaluated then rejected as a possible repository for radioactive waste

Question 55

Explain nuclear fusion and its role in power generation.