Deck 26: coal Bringing Down the Mountain

Question 1

If we do not change our current rates of coal usage,how long will the proven coal reserves last?

A)1 year
B)10 years
C)100 years
D)1,000 years
E)5,000 years

Answer 1

100 years

Question 2

Energy is defined as the __________.

A)capacity to do work
B)ability to generate heat
C)capacity to generate electricity
D)power available in fossil fuels
E)source of electricity

Answer 2

capacity to do work

Question 3

Mobile energy sources primarily come from __________.

A)solar energy
B)geothermal energy
C)wind
D)coal
E)oil

Answer 3

oil

Question 4

Burning coal to generate electricity creates all of the following types of pollution EXCEPT ____________________.

A)water pollution
B)particulates
C)thermal pollution
D)mercury
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 5

Coal burning produces as much electricity as ___________.

A)all other sources combined
B)nuclear energy and natural gas combined
C)nuclear energy,natural gas,and renewables combined
D)nuclear energy,natural gas,and petroleum combined
E)natural gas

Question 6

What is a way electricity can be produced?

A)burning coal
B)harnessing nuclear energy
C)using the energy of moving water
D)capturing solar energy
E)These are all ways electricity can be produced.

Question 7

The use of coal creates all of the following impacts EXCEPT ____________________.

A)reduced water temperatures in water bodies
B)emissions of mercury
C)emissions of sulfur
D)respiratory disease

Question 8

The largest proven coal reserve in the world is located in __________.

A)South America
B)North America
C)Asia
D)Europe
E)Australia

Question 9

Fossil fuels still account for ______ of U.S.energy production.

A)40%
B)50%
C)60%
D)70%
E)80%

Question 10

What is the purpose of the transformer in the electrical grid?
A.to cool the water used in steam production
B.to reduce the voltage of the generated electricity
C.to increase the voltage of the generated electricity
D.to transmit electricity

Question 11

In 2015,burning coal generated approximately ____ of electricity worldwide.

A)30%
B)40%
C)50%
D)60%
E)70%

Question 12

Peat,the precursor to coal formation,is typically formed in areas _________________.

A)of rapid decomposition
B)with little vegetation
C)with low rates of decomposition
D)with highly oxygenated sediments

Question 13

The Hobet 21 mine is best known as ___________.

A)the mine with the least environmental impact
B)the mine that the Environmental Protection Agency recently rejected the permit for
C)the largest mining operation in the Appalachian region
D)a surface mine in Wyoming

Question 14

Coal is a solid fossil fuel formed when plant material is buried in _______________ conditions and subjected to _________________ over a long time.

A)oxygen-rich; high heat and pressure
B)oxygen-poor; high heat and pressure
C)oxygen-poor; low heat and pressure
D)oxygen-rich; low heat and pressure

Question 15

Which of the following resources is used the LEAST in the United States for generating electricity?

A)coal
B)renewables
C)nuclear energy
D)natural gas
E)oil

Question 16

The key to generating electricity from coal is the generation of_________.

A)heat
B)smoke
C)sulfur
D)cold water

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with mountaintop removal mining?

A)This type of surface mining causes permanent,irreversible changes to the landscape.
B)Runoff from the mined area can deliver sulfur and other toxic compounds to streams downstream.
C)The reduction in forested areas can lead to increased frequency and severity of flooding.
D)While having environmental impacts,it leads to greater employment for residents.

Question 18

Which of the following choices is NOT typical for converting coal to electricity?

A)creating steam
B)burning the coal
C)converting the coal to a liquid form
D)spinning a turbine

Question 19

What are the different types of pollution created in burning coal to generate electricity?

Question 20

Which of the following choices has the highest energy return on energy investment ratio?

A)coal
B)wind
C)nuclear energy
D)natural gas
E)hydroelectric

Question 21

Discuss how mountaintop removal can affect stream quality.

Question 22

The hardest form of coal is _________________.

A)lignite
B)bituminous
C)peat
D)anthracite

Question 23

Even though coal is produced by natural processes of the Earth,why is it classified as a nonrenewable resource?

Question 24

__________________ is removing dirt and rock that overlays a mineral deposit close to the surface in order to access that deposit.

A)Subsurface mining
B)Surface mining
C)Fracking
D)Deep mining
E)Hydraulic mining

Question 25

How is acid mine drainage formed,and what are its effects on the environment?

Question 26

Overburden is associated with what type of coal mining?

A)subsurface mining
B)surface mining
C)fracking
D)deep mining
E)hydraulic mining

Question 27

In Ireland,peat is often burned as a source of fuel.Peat is known to turn into which of the following fossil fuels?

A)oil
B)coal
C)wood
D)shale
E)uranium

Question 28

Which of the following is TRUE of surface mining compared to subsurface mining?

A)Surface mining has safer conditions than subsurface mining.
B)Surface mining creates greater damage to ecosystem than subsurface mining.
C)Surface mining has more alteration to landscape than subsurface mining.
D)Surface mining has greater expense than subsurface mining.
E)Surface mining is easier and simpler than subsurface mining.

Question 29

__________________ consists of digging tunnels or shafts into the Earth to reach buried ore deposits.

A)Subsurface mining
B)Surface mining
C)Fracking
D)Deep mining
E)Hydraulic mining

Question 30

Which of the following is a characteristic of subsurface mining?

A)It permanently alters the landscape and its contours.
B)It delivers silt and acidic compounds to downstream rivers.
C)It damages the ecosystem by dumping overfill into valleys.
D)It has dangerous conditions including tunnel collapses,released gases,particulates in the air,low oxygen,and heat.

Question 31

Coal mining production is up in the United States,but coal mining jobs are on the decline.Why are there fewer coal mining jobs today than 50 years ago?

Question 32

Which type of mining,surface or subsurface,has a greater impact on the environment,and why?

Question 33

Which country held about 37% of the world's proven reserves in 2016?

A)Asia
B)Europe
C)South America
D)Australia
E)Africa

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT true about coal?

A)It has a high energy content.
B)It is a renewable resource.
C)Mining coal causes environmental damage.
D)Burning coal creates pollution.
E)It is formed over time by the compression and heating of peat.

Question 35

Benefits of using coal as an energy source include ____________________.

A)low-cost electricity
B)an established distribution system
C)ease of isolation
D)simple processing
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 36

The first form of coal that is created from submerged vegetation,pressure,and heat is ____________________.

A)peat
B)anthracite
C)lignite
D)bituminous

Question 37

The form of coal with the highest energy content is _______________.

A)lignite
B)bituminous
C)peat
D)anthracite
E)vegetation

Question 38

What are the steps in the long process of coal formation over time?

Question 39

Which of the following regions once held the United States' largest coal reserves?

A)Appalachian Mountains
B)Wyoming
C)Alaska
D)Great Plains
E)Rocky Mountains

Question 40

Acid mine drainage is formed when water flows past exposed rocks that leach out _________________ that react with water and oxygen to form ________________.

A)carbonates; bases
B)sulfates; acids
C)arsenic; bases
D)nitrates; acids
E)methane; acid

Question 41

What are the benefits of using coal as an energy source?

Question 42

Clean coal technologies are being developed to _________________.

A)reduce CO₂ emissions
B)store emitted CO₂
C)remove toxins from coal prior to combustion
D)reduce CO₂ emissions,store emitted CO₂,and remove toxins from coal prior to combustion
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 43

The Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are projected to reduce emissions of these toxic substances by how much?

A)10%
B)25%
C)50%
D)90%
E)100%

Question 44

What is a major drawback of clean coal technologies?

A)They produce their own toxic byproducts.
B)They increase coal's EROEI.
C)They decrease coal's EROEI.
D)They both produce their own toxic byproducts and increase coal's EROEI.
E)They both produce their own toxic byproducts and decrease coal's EROEI.

Question 45

Currently,the biggest drawbacks to using the new clean coal technologies are ____________________.

A)the energy required and costs involved in using them
B)the negativity of the public and their reluctance to pay more for electricity
C)the technologies do not exist and too much energy is needed to develop them
D)the fact that it has not been proven that coal is toxic and that there are no alternatives
E)government incentives and the public apathy

Question 46

What is meant by the phrase "external costs of coal," and what are the estimates of such costs on an annual basis?

Question 47

Refer to Infographic 7.Explain how carbon dioxide can be captured.

Question 48

What are some of the hazards associated with coal mining?

Question 49

How does the use of coal cause acid precipitation?

A)The acid drainage from mining evaporates,which puts the acids into the air.
B)The burning of coal puts out gases like sulfur dioxide,which can combine with water to form acids.
C)Acids,which leach into the soil from the mining process,are transpired by plants that have taken them up.
D)The equipment used for mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
E)The transporting of the coal mining releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 50

Pollution from U.S.coal power plants includes all of the following EXCEPT _________________.

A)ash
B)particulates
C)nitrogen oxides
D)ozone
E)mercury

Question 51

All of the following are environmental drawbacks to the mining of coal EXCEPT ____________________.

A)damage to forests caused by mountaintop removal
B)burial and damage to streams caused by the dumping of overburden
C)soil compaction causing increased storm water runoff and flooding
D)increased risk of cancer for some miners
E)water and soil contamination by acid drainage

Question 52

The negatives involved in removing contaminants from coal before using it are ____________________.

A)the hazardous waste created and the fact that the product is a liquid or gaseous fuel
B)the fact that the product is a liquid or gaseous fuel and the energy needed to complete the process lowers the EROEI
C)the hazardous waste created and the energy needed to complete the process lower the EROEI
D)the fact that the product is a liquid or gaseous fuel and the inefficiency of the process
E)the amount of water needed and the energy needed to complete the process lower the EROEI

Question 53

Environmentalists are especially concerned about the amount of carbon dioxide released from burning coal because it _________________.

A)is a significant contributor to acid rain
B)depletes the ozone layer
C)is a significant greenhouse gas
D)clogs lungs and aggravates asthma
E)blocks the uptake of oxygen by the hemoglobin

Question 54

Refer to Infographic 7.Explain what can be done with captured carbon dioxide.

Question 55

Fly ash can be taken to a landfill that is expensive and not environmentally friendly,or it can be used to make _____________,which benefits both the power plant and the environment.

A)tar paper
B)shingles
C)sandpaper
D)concrete
E)glass

Question 56

In 2005,for which of the following did 87% of streams located downhill from mining operations exceed the EPA's allowances?

A)arsenic
B)lead
C)iron
D)sulfate
E)selenium

Question 57

We currently have technologies to capture all but which of the following?

A)mercury
B)particulates
C)sulfur
D)carbon dioxide
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 58

Discuss some of the effects on health of mining and using coal to generate electricity.

Question 59

What is one way to reduce the climate change impacts of burning coal for electricity generation?

Question 60

Which of the following is the biggest advantage to the United States' use of coal?

A)It burns cleaner than most fossil fuels.
B)The United States has a lot of coal.
C)The mining of coal is relatively safe and environmentally friendly.
D)It is the most efficient way to produce electricity.
E)There are no advantages to using coal.

Question 61

The process of reclamation when a mined area was originally flat is done by _________________.

A)shaping the overburden to resemble the natural slope and replanting
B)moving the overburden to a different area to allow the mined area to refill naturally
C)replacing the mountain top with overburden and introducing new species

Question 62

Science Literacy Use Infographic 2 below to answer the following questions.
The lowest EROEI for stationary sources of electricity comes from _________________.

A)wind
B)nuclear
C)coal
D)natural gas
E)geothermal

Question 63

How are mountaintop removal mines typically "reclaimed"?

Question 64

What is a common criticism of mountaintop removal mine reclamation?

A)The evidence suggests that the original native species will never recolonize the reclaimed site.
B)The artificial channels do not host the same amount of biodiversity as the natural streams.
C)The Appalachian Mountains are a region of extremely high biodiversity,and the reclaimed sites will not recover similar levels of diversity.
D)All of these answers are correct.
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 65

Science Literacy Use Infographic 2 below to answer the following questions.
Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)Hydroelectric power accounts for the largest generation of electricity.
B)The largest EROEI comes from nonrenewable energy sources.
C)Nonrenewable sources account for the largest amount of energy generation.
D)Natural gas has the largest EROEI for nonrenewable energy.

Question 66

Science Literacy Use Infographic 2 below to answer the following questions.
Hydroelectric energy produces ______ more units of energy per unit of energy expended than does natural gas.

A)84
B)7
C)77
D)70
E)90

Question 67

Science Literacy Use Infographic 2 below to answer the following questions.
Nonrenewable energy sources generated _______ of U.S.electricity in 2015.

A)33%
B)66%
C)11.5%
D)7%
E)18.5%

Question 68

Mountain Top Coal uses reclamation on closed mining sites.One reason for this is to _________________.

A)prevent environmental damage to the area
B)reduce environmental damage from mining the area
C)remove over burden from the mining area
D)produce overburden in the area

Question 69

The purpose of using carbon capture and sequestration is to _________________.

A)remove carbon from combustion emissions for storage
B)remove contaminants in coal to release less pollution when burned
C)increase the energy return on energy investment
D)decrease overburden produced from mining

Question 70

How is grass planted in mine reclamation?

A)Woven mats that include embedded grass seed are laid over the landscape.
B)Aerial drops of grass seed mixtures are laid over previously mined sites.
C)An aqueous mixture of seed and chemicals are sprayed on the thin soil.
D)It is not planted,rather the land will go through natural senescence.
E)It is not planted; grass will not grow on reclaimed mines.

Question 71

Science Literacy Use Infographic 2 below to answer the following questions.
Nuclear energy accounted for _________ of U.S.energy generation by fuel in 2015.

A)14%
B)19%
C)33%
D)23%

Question 72

What would be a reason for Mountain Top Coal to stop using mountaintop removal for coal mining?

A)the danger to miners of explosions and toxic fumes
B)acid mine drainage that can contaminate nearby streams
C)the lack of someplace to store overburden
D)the potential for miners to develop black lung disease

Question 73

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 74

Which of the following changes should Mountain Top Coal make to be more sustainable while producing energy?

A)close all mining sites to prevent any environmental damage
B)stop using mountaintop removal for coal mining
C)move all mining area to other countries
D)contribute more funding to combat health issues from mining

Question 75

If mining company representatives came to you with a plan to plant the same species of pine trees,and only pine trees,on their reclaimed mine in order to comply with the law,what would you tell them? Would you advise them to go ahead with the plan,or would you suggest a different one?