Deck 5: Energy and Environmental Policies: Policy Instability

Question 1

Nuclear energy as a domestic power supply source was developed originally to power submarines? T/F

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What is not a characteristic of wind energy?

A) Clean
B) Renewable
C) Inflation Resistant
D) High Maintenance

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Thermal pollution increases water oxygen levels.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of these is not true of acid rain?

A) Impacts all areas where it occurs similarly
B) It is caused by the effect of sunlight on air pollution
C) Changes the water and soil acid balance
D) Potentially an enormous problem

Question 5

Which is not an option for nuclear plant decommissioning?

A) Dismantlement
B) Mothballing
C) Entombment
D) Replication

Question 6

Which of these is not a fossil fuel?
A) Coal
B) Oil
C) Natural Gas

A) These are all fossil fuels

Question 7

What is not an impact of continued oil dependence?

A) Supply uncertainty
B) Demand volatility
C) Increased military and defense spending
D) Structural addition to trade deficit

Question 8

What is not a characteristic of nuclear energy?

A) Nearly 10% of U.S. energy supply
B) Air pollution
C) Safety concerns
E) Waste disposal concerns

Question 9

Which of the following does not create health problems?

A) Unwillingness to exercise due to air pollution
B) Short term exposure to high levels of air pollution
C) Long term exposure to low levels of air pollution
D) synergistic interaction of air pollutants

Question 10

Natural gas does not

A) have a long history of regulation.
B) require much refining.
C) require a pipeline distribution network.
D) been wasted in the past.

Question 11

Tax breaks to energy producers did not

A) discourage exploration
B) increase production
C) increase supply
D) lead to quotas

Question 12

U.S. energy policy began to shift when

A) Nuclear power costs became apparent
B) Solar, wind and Geothermal energy were developed
C) The U.S. lost its self sufficiency and began to import oil
D) Coal prices went up

Question 13

Dependence on Fossil Fuels is not

A) A worldwide phenomenon
B) less acute in industrialized democracies
C) tied to stability in the Middle East
D) a problem for the United States

Question 14

Which of these is not a reason that OPEC's initial strength was limited?

A) Near monopoly control of oil companies
B) U.S. energy self-sufficiency
C) Production exceeded demand
D) Saudi Arabia refused to join at first

Question 15

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 supports

A) Tax Credits for Hybrid Vehicles
B) The Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA)
C) Stricter CAFÉ Standards
D) Environmental Provisions

Question 16

Which of these was not a part of Project Independence (1973)?

A) National Speed Limit
B) Regulation of Natural Gas
C) Construction of Alaska Pipeline
D) Creation of Federal Department of Energy

Question 17

Traditional energy policy (before 1973) was not based on
A) an unlimited supply.
B) inexpensive energy.
C) discouraging consumption.

A) limiting government regulation.

Question 18

Pollution is an unintended consequence of economic growth and development. T/F

Question 19

What is not a challenge to the U.S. energy system?

A) Middle East instability
B) Natural disasters
C) Extremist conservationists
D) Energy market instability

Question 20

Which of the following does not contribute to water pollution?

A) Domestic and municipal wastes
B) Agricultural wastes
C) Cars
D) Natural Silt and Sedimentation

Question 21

High levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere have been attributed to the use of fossil fuels and rapid deforestation in Africa, South America and Asia.

Question 22

President Clinton initiated substantive environmental protection policy reforms. T/F

Question 23

The transfer to state governments of environmental policy will weaken for all of the following reasons except:

A) Broad political base
B) Severe staffing problems
C) The perception of communication barriers between state and federal authorities
D) Conflict between states

Question 24

The Rasmussen Report issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission concluded that nuclear accidents would probably never happen. This report proved to be accurate.

Question 25

President Obama has proposed several initiatives to help the United States reduce its foreign oil consumption. Some of his initiatives are:

A) Renewed emphasis on nuclear power for electricity, expansion of off-shore drilling for oil & increased CAFÉ standards
B) Increased CAFÉ standards, prohibition of off-shore drilling, nuclear power for electricity
C) Increased household appliance efficiency, weatherization program for homes and public buildings & maintaining current CAFÉ standards
D) Increased federal funding for research and development of nuclear technology, prohibition of offshore drilling & reduction in CAFÉ standards to help American automakers

Question 26

The Middle East and North Africa provides ____ percent of Japan oil imports.

A) 74
B) 59
C) 99
D) 12

Question 27

EPA has been hampered in its enforcement of environmental policy due to the following, EXCEPT for:

A) Courts placing the burden of proof on EPA to defend the standards it proposes
B) Gathering and documenting evidence is time and resource consuming
C) Establishing a solid scientific base for its regulation is requires significant financial and personnel resources which are limited
D) Congressional support for EPA has remained stable

Question 28

Project Independence was designed to help the United States achieve energy self-sufficiency by 1980. It didn't include:

A) Year-round daylight savings time
B) Authority for gasoline rationing
C) Implementation of a national speed limit
D) Increased funding for public transportation

Question 29

The Carter administration created the Superfund project which provided EPA with the authority and funds to:

A) Create federal policy on pollution
B) Deal with emergencies and with abandoned toxic-waste sites
C) Only move waste from toxic-waste site to another
D) Ensure that EPA could not be abolished by Congress

Question 30

Which of these is not an argument put forward by conservatives for a free market self regulation approach to environmental concerns?

A) Government regulation will create inflationary pressure
B) Pollution is an externality
C) Interference with Business Planning
D) The free market will encourage recycling and pollution reduction technologies

Question 31

Neo Conservatives favor which of these methods of addressing environmental concerns?

A) Taxes or fees for pollution
B) Injunctions to Halt Pollution
C) Rewards For Compliance
D) Fines and Jail Sentences

Question 32

Global Climate Change (Global Warming) is not impacted by

A) Economic Growth
B) Alternative Fuels
C) Conflict Over Seriousness of Ramifications
D) Conflict Over Nature of Cause

Question 33

What nation is not a member of OPEC?

A) United Arab Emirate
B) Algeria
C) Turkey
D) Kuwait

Question 34

The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 has not been ratified by the United States. The opposition to ratification is because

A) it requires the United States to reduce emissions while exempting China, placing the U.S. at a significant economic disadvantage to China
B) of unanswered questions involving the appropriate role of international agreements in defining American environmental policy
C) it restricts national sovereignty
D) its rests on unverified scientific research

Question 35

Only Arabian nations can belong to OPEC.

Question 36

Politicians can lose votes by appearing uncaring about the environment, even though they cannot gain many votes by taking dramatic steps.

Question 37

The EPA

A) Was formed to consolidate of two other agencies
B) Functions relatively autonomously
C) Is responsible for regulating water quality
D) Does not regulate nuclear waste except as it impacts water quality

Question 38

Nuclear reactor facilities built to produce material for the Department of Defense have been found to have the following safety defects except for:

A) cracks in reactor vessels
B) deficient emergency cooling systems
C) defective fire-protection systems
D) routine maintenance regularly performed

Question 39

Which was not a criticism of international environmental policies like the Kyoto Protocol?

A) Restricts national sovereignty
B) Creates a detrimental economic impact
C) Championed by China as an extension of communist principles
D) Based on unverified scientific research

Question 40

What are the four categories of water pollution?

A) Industrial waste, fertilizer and pesticides, cruise ships and recreational boating
B) Domestic and municipal waste, flammable waste, industrial waste and human waste
C) Agricultural waste, miscellaneous pollutants, domestic and municipal waste and industrial wastes
D) Miscellaneous pollution, thermal pollution, domestic and municipal waste, and offshore oil spills