Deck 14: Public Policy: Resources

Question 1

The organization with the mission to "protect our state's human and natural resources" consistent with sustainable economic development is called _____.

A)the Texas Sustainability Commission (TSC)
B)the Economic Development and Tourism agency in the governor's office
C)the Texas Game and Wildlife Agency
D)the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
E)Ducks Unlimited

Answer 1

D

Question 2

​Which of these is an accurate assessment of Texas's water needs for the coming years?

A)​In the 2012 State Water Plan, the Water Development Board recommended that Texas constructnew water projects to be able to supply enough water to the future population.
B)The public voted to take $2 billion out of the state's "Rainy Day" fund to finance water projects, but the $2 billion is little compared to what's needed;thus, even if the money is spent efficiently, the state's water-supply problems will be almost as bad as before.
C)There are arguments between the eastern and western parts of the state, between cities and rural areas, and between agriculture and industry about how the state's water needs will be met.
D)It is one thing for the state of Texas to develop water plans, but it's another thing to overcome all the political conflicts that stand in the way of implementing those plans.
E)All of these are accurate assessments of the state's water needs.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

​Which statement aboutthe TCEQ is not true?

A)The ​TCEQ is responsible for issuing air and water operating permits to businesses operating in Texas.
B)​Businesses that desire permits to use public water are able to bring intense pressure to bear on the TCEQ through political channels.
C)The ​TCEQ has authorized so many permits for businesses to use Texas surface water that in years of scarcity, many of
The rivers come close to going dry.
D)The ​TCEQ's policies have favored environmental protection over economic development.
E)​High percentages of whooping crane deaths were due to the lack of fresh water in Texas.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The Texas Water Plan of the 1960s would have _____.

A)made the Trinity River running from Dallas to Houston into a ship canal
B)used the water of the Edwards Aquifer to build a massive lake near Odessa
C)created a "cloud seeding" agency to increase annual rain in Texas
D)taken water from the Mississippi River to provide resources in Texas
E)doubled the number of water reservoirs in Texas

Question 5

​Surface water comes from _____,whileunderground water comes from _____.

A)​rivers and lakes; aquifers
B)​rain; naturally occurring lakes
C)​rain; pumps under cities and individual homes
D)​tap water; re-use water
E)​none of these

Question 6

The estuary formed by the entrance of the Guadalupe River into San Antonio Bay near Aransas Pass is the home of _____.

A)feral pigs
B)whooping cranes
C)bluegill fish
D)delicate orchids
E)Texas bluebonnets

Question 7

What statement expressesthe consequences ofEdwards Aquifer Authority v.Buttell Day and Joel McDaniel?

A)​The Texas Supreme Court sided with the advocates of private property rights.
B)​The Texas Supreme Court ruled that although the state was entitled to regulate the use of groundwater, its rules in this particular case were unreasonable.
C)​The court did not leave any clear guidelines as to what kind of regulations are "reasonable," so public agencies do not know what they can and cannot do.
D)​The court ensured that the future of water regulation in Texas will be confusing, uncertain, and full of lawsuits.
E)​All of these are consequences of this decision.

Question 8

​Which of these does not describe the recent conflict between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority?

A)​The Lower Colorado River Authority charged farmers less than what it charged other businesses for water, thus subsidizing agriculture at the expense of other businesses.
B)​The policy assumed that few countries produce rice, importing was difficult, and Texans would have no rice to eat unless access to water was protected.​
C)​The policy was based on an assumption that agriculture is such an important activity that it should be supported by nonagricultural interests even if it is not economical.
D)As water became scarce,the Authority realized that they did not have enough water to satisfy the desires of farmers, urban businesses, and homeowners.
E)The Lower Colorado River Authority cut off water to the rice farmers, and it is unclear whether the rice-growing industry will be able to survive.

Question 9

The line,extending roughly between the eastern edge of the Panhandle down to the Rio Grande northwest of Laredo and marking the area where agriculture is not possible without irrigation,is the _____ meridian.

A)80th
B)90th
C)100th
D)110th
E)120th

Question 10

​Which statement regarding Texas's supply of water is not true?

A)​Texas has onlyone natural lake in the state.
B)​Historically, Texas has had to build reservoirs to ensure a steady water supply.
C)​The easy and inexpensive places to build dams are all taken.
D)​Texas relies on an extensive system of natural lakes and water for its water supply.
E)​The demand for water continues to increase as the population expands.

Question 11

Ifa landowner pumps so much water from underneath his or herland thata neighbor's well or lake runs dry,under the rule of capture,this is _____.

A)illegal, because the state has an interest in protecting underground water for future generations
B)illegal, because people and businesses cannot own underground water just like they cannot own surface water
C)legal, even if it puts others' access to water in jeopardy
D)​legal, even though it conflicts with laws passed by the legislature that recognize that underground and surface water are connected
E)legal, even if it puts others' access to water in jeopardy and even though it conflicts with laws passed by the legislature that recognize that underground and surface water are connected

Question 12

​In Texas,surface water is controlled by _____ while underground water is controlled by _____.

A)​public authorities; the person or business that owns the land above it
B)​state and local authorities; state authorities
C)​individuals or businesses; state authorities
D)​state and local authorities; the federal government
E)​whomever owns the land around it or above it; whomever owns the land around or above it

Question 13

​In terms of water supply over the last twenty years in Texas,_____.

A)​there have been severe and repeated droughts
B)​there has been severe and repeated flooding
C)​during any given year, it has been almost possible to predict with confidence that there would be too
Much or not enough water in Texas
D)​all of these
E)​none of these

Question 14

​A _____ is an area of coastline where a river flows into a sea,mixing salt and fresh water.

A)​TCEQ
B)​river
C)​ocean
D)​estuary
E)​EPA

Question 15

The notion of a Faustian bargain is that _____.

A)compromise is necessary in order to engage in successful politics
B)energy pollution is necessary for a growing economy
C)water resources must be shared by farmers and urban dwellers
D)people can achieve desirable things but only if they pay a terrible cost
E)endangered species must be protected even at the cost of some scarce water resources

Question 16

​During the hot Texas summers,what percentage of municipal water supplies is often used for watering lawns?

A)​65 percent
B)​25percent
C)​40percent
D)​14percent
E)​52percent

Question 17

What term is used for the concept that underground water is more or less completely controlled by the person who owns the land above the water?

A)rule of capture
B)principle of private authority
C)right of eminent domain
D)Ogallala Aquifer rule
E)right of habeas corpus

Question 18

​Which statement regarding water use and cost is not true?

A)​As urban populations grow, projections are that by 2040, Texas cities will use more water than Texas farmers.
B)​As urban populations grow, the cities can afford to pay more for water than agricultural interests can.
C)​As urban dwellers move to rural areas for more land, the battle over water between rural and urban areas will even out.
D)​The battle between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority exemplifies the fight over cost and use of Texas's limited water resources.
E)​As urban populations grow, cities will inevitably crowd farmers out of the water market.

Question 19

An "acre foot" is _____.

A)the depth of irrigation necessary to grow crops in West Texas
B)the amount of property an owner must gain rights to before he or shecan drill an oil or natural gas well
C)the amount of electricity necessary to light an acre of property
D)the amount of water necessary to cover an acre of land a foot deep
E)a term for "getting one's foot in the door" before a person can occupy unclaimed farm land

Question 20

About _____ percent of allwater used by agriculture is used for irrigating crops in the western states.

A)10
B)25
C)40
D)55
E)70

Question 21

​Which of these best explains the benefits of nuclear power?

A)​It is cheap and produces little pollution.
B)​The supply of nuclear power can be made stable,andinternational politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources.
C)​The storage of radioactive waste is relatively easy to achieve.
D)It is cheap and produces little pollution, the supply of nuclear power can be made stable,andinternational politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources.
E)​It is cheap and produces little pollution; the supply of nuclear power can be made stable;international politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources; and the storage of radioactive waste is relatively easy to achieve.

Question 22

The greenhouse effect occurs when _____.

A)the burning of fossil fuels releases too much carbon dioxide into the air, causing the earth's climate to warm
B)the overuse of water from the Edwards and Ogallala aquifers threatens access to water in the future
C)photosynthesis in plants causes the growth of dangerous algae, threatening the life of fish and other water animals
D)overreliance on wind energy causes the average temperature to rise downwind of the wind farms
E)coal-burning plants in Mexico cause air pollution to drift into Texas

Question 23

​Why is Texas's oil industry likely to continue to be a major force in the state and national economies?

A)​Texas still possesses just under a quarter of all U.S. reserves of crude oil.
B)​Refineries in the Houston area make up the largest refining complex in the country.
C)​Texas's Gulf Coast refineries account for more than a quarter of the nation's refining capacity.
D)​Texas has about 28 percent of all the country's producing wells.
E)​All of these are reasons why Texasis likely to remain a major force.

Question 24

Most of the coal mined in Texas is of what variety?

A)lignite
B)anthracite
C)stalagmite
D)bituminous
E)graphite

Question 25

Which of these is not a ​major advantage of oil as a source of energy?

A)​The state and nation possesses a wealth of infrastructure (refineries, pipelines, and gas stations) that make it easy to use oil for energy needs.
B)​It is relatively easy to transport (through pipelines).
C)​It is relatively cheap.
D)​We are dependent on it and often mustrely on oil found in politically unstable regions of the world.
E)​It is an important driver of the Texas economy.

Question 26

​Which of these best describes the "Faustian bargain" when discussing natural gas?

A)​Although natural gas is cheaper and cleaner than other energy sources, it is extremely explosive and there are serious concerns about pollution.
B)​Natural gas is cheaper than oil but has more environmental side effects.
C)​Natural gasis a hydrocarbon that releases greenhouse gases and other pollutants when burned.
D)​Texas produces roughly 30 percent of the nation's total natural gas used, but most of Texas's natural gas is used in other states.
E)​Natural gas is dirtier and more expensive than sources of renewable energy.

Question 27

​Which of these is an argument against continued reliance on oil and natural gas for the Texas economy?

A)​Burning fossil fuels creates a greenhouse effect that is causing the Earth's climate to warm.
B)The act of drilling, producing, and transporting oil introduces many opportunities for environmental degradation.
C)As the easy-to-find-and-produce fields dry up, oil companies look for oil in places that are harder to reach, and
More environmentally sensitive.
D)The chemicals used for "hydraulic fracturing" or " fracking" contain toxic substances.
E)​All of these are arguments against continued reliance on oil and natural gas.

Question 28

​Which of these is the best assessment of the "Faustian bargain" with regard to nuclear energy?

A)​Nuclear energy is far too expensive to compete with oil and natural gas, even if it makes the United States more energy independent.
B)​Renewable energy is less expensive and has fewer risks than nuclear energy.
C)​Citizens would have to be willing to pay for expensive construction costs.
D)​Concerns about a nuclear disaster and the storage of radioactive waste are so severe that they overbalance the advantages of using nuclear power.
E)​All of these are good assessments.

Question 29

Which of theseis amajor problem associated with nuclear power?

A)It is a very dirty energy, throwing hydrocarbons into the air, and there is a potential that a "meltdown" would release radioactivity into the air.
B)There is a potential that a "meltdown" would release radioactivity into the air, and sources of nuclear fuel are, for the most part, only available in other nations.
C)Sources of nuclear fuel are, for the most part, only available in other nations, and disposing of the radioactive waste by-products is difficult politically.
D)It is a very dirty energy, throwing hydrocarbons into the air, and sources of nuclear fuel are, for the most part, only available in other nations.
E)There is a potential that a "meltdown" would release radioactivity into the air, and disposing of the radioactive waste by-products is difficult politically.

Question 30

​What advantages does natural gas have for the state of Texas?

A)​As a source of fuel for electric utilities, natural gas is a far cleaner source of energy than coal is.
B)​Since Texas has such a large supply of natural gas, it will have a great deal of control over policies governing the industry.
C)​​Since Texas has such a large supply of natural gas, the supply of gas does not depend on the stability of international politics.
D)​It is one of the cheapest sources of energy.
E)​All of these are advantages.

Question 31

Which of thesecorrectly identifies the peak of Texas oil production?

A)end of World War I
B)the 1950s
C)the 1970s
D)turn of the twenty-first century
E)around 2025

Question 32

​What is meant by the term renewables?

A)​the contracts that consumers have with energy companies to deliver the consumers' electricity
B)​sources of energy that come directly from nature, such as power from wind and the sun
C)​a renewed debate between citizens as to the environmental impact of oil and natural gas
D)​nuclear power
E)​the continuing damage done to land and water from fracking

Question 33

How does your text refer to people who believe the government should regulate and subsidize the energy market to protect the environment andpublic safety,and to protect the country from coercion by foreign governments?

A)​Texans
B)​conservatives
C)​liberals
D)​government
E)​businesses

Question 34

Pumping water,sand,and chemicals into the ground to recover more oil or natural gas from the ground is a technology called _____.

A)pump-priming
B)fracking
C)wildcat drilling
D)Enhanced Recovery Technology (ERT)
E)flaring

Question 35

​How does your text refer to people who believe that economic market forces (consumers and businesses)should decide how energy is to be supplied?

A)​Texans
B)​conservatives
C)​liberals
D)​government
E)​environmentalists

Question 36

Which energy resource is predicted to be the least costly per kilowatt hour in 2016?

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

Question 37

If coal were to be made in a more environmentally friendly manner,would that makeit better for Texas?

A)​Yes, because Texas consumes more coal than any of the other forty-nine states, and Texas would import less of it from Wyoming.
B)​Yes, because most of the coal mined in Texas is lignite, the highest grade of coal.
C)​No,because it is so expensive to make coal cleaner that the costs would erase the reason people chose it in the first place.
D)​No, because current technology does not exist to make coal "cleaner."
E)​Yes, because it would compete with other fossil fuels and drive energy prices lower.

Question 38

​Which of these is not an argument for the use of coal to provide energy for Texas?

A)​It is cheap to mine, transport, and burn.
B)​Instead of bringing up the coal from underground, companies may choose to "strip mine."
C)​Within the borders of the United States lies enough coal to power the country for centuries.
D)​​It does not explode like natural gas or melt down and release radioactivity like uranium.
E)​Americans who rely on burning coal for their energy need never worry about having their supply disrupted by a hostile foreign government.

Question 39

​When the term Faustian bargain is appliedin the text's discussion of the oil and natural gas industries,it refers to the idea that _____.

A)the price of oil in a technical, short-term sense is low, but the price in a broad, difficult-to-define, long-term environmental sense is high
B)​the state must make tradeoffs between the oil industry and the natural gas industry
C)the state must plan to transition to other industries as it runs out of oil and natural gas
D)​the state's tax structure overrelies on taxes from the oil and natural gas industries
E)all of these

Question 40

The two nuclear energy plants in Texas,Comanche Peak and South Texas Nuclear Project,produce what percentage of Texas electricity?

A)10 percent
B)25percent
C)48percent
D)70percent
E)90percent

Question 41

Discuss the pros and cons of Texas's reliance on oil,natural gas,and coal as sources of energy.Include discussion of the impact of fossil fuels on the Texas economy as well as the environmental consequences of the various fossil fuel resources.

Question 42

​Which of these arguments best explains the pro-rail position?

A)​Once fully functioning, efficient, cheap mass transit systems are in place, urban Texans will change their commuting habits.
B)​As Texas cities become denser, public transit will become more financially viable.
C)​Light-rail holds out the promise of lessening traffic congestion and relieving the city administrations of supplying more parking downtown.
D)One person riding light-rails instead of driving a car for one year significantly reduces pollution.
E)All of these arguments explain this position.

Question 43

​Which of these is not an accurate assessment of the conflict between public interests and private property in Texas?

A)Texas's traditionalist-individualist culture has created a healthy balance between public and private interests in Texas.
B)​Texas is one of fifteen states that command their environmental regulatory agencies to take the cost of regulation into account when regulating air, water, and waste pollution.
C)People, who will make more money if the government does not interfere with their plans to exploit nature, have a powerful incentive to try to corrupt the system.
D)​Critics argue that TCEQ and other state agencies sacrifice environmental cleanliness when that goal comes into conflict with the need to make money.
E)​Texas does not keep track of those involved in the "revolving door" between government and industry.

Question 44

The practice of wealthy interests,such as the Texas energy industry,of hiring government regulators as executives or lobbyists once they leave their government job is known as _____.

A)elitism
B)pluralism
C)the revolving door
D)the free rider principle
E)capture theory

Question 45

​Explain how Texas differentiates the between surface water and ground water for determining ownership and control of the water.

Question 46

Explain why the future of Texas politics is likely to be full of conflicts over water supply.Explain the nature of the disputes between eastern and western parts of the state,between cities and rural areas,between agriculture and industry,and between sports groups (particularly fishing organizations)and developers.

Question 47

​Define Faustian bargain and explain how it relates to energy policy in Texas.

Question 48

What do we mean by the term renewable energy?Provide examples of renewable energy,anddiscuss the benefits and drawbacks of the various sources of renewable energy.

Question 49

Explain the NIMBY and YBNIIMP principles.Discuss how they make policymaking difficult in many areas of natural resource policy.Provide examples to support your points.

Question 50

​Assess the challenges faced by Texas in implementing light-rail systems.

Question 51

Of renewable energy sources,which is the most realistic short-term alternative to nonrenewables?

A)wind
B)solar
C)geothermal
D)natural gas
E)ocean tidal

Question 52

Explain how Texas's political culture influences the management of water resources in Texas.Be sure to include discussions of ​the "rule of capture" as well as the activities of the TCEQ.

Question 53

The Texas traditionalist-individualist culture places an emphasis on _____.

A)preserving the Texas environment for future generations
B)renewable sources of energy
C)conserving water resources by deemphasizing economic development
D)private, short-run exploitation of nature
E)investing heavily in mass public transportation

Question 54

​Which of these are ways that private individuals have an advantage over government servants trying to protect the public interest?

A)through interest groups and personal contacts
B)​through campaign contributions and political parties
C)through indirect pressure exerted through legislators
D)​old-fashioned, preindustrial legal doctrines such as the rule of capture
E)​all of these

Question 55

Discuss the three basic strategies for addressing the transportation problems of Texas: building more roads,forcing cars to become cleaner and safer,and making alternative forms of transportation available.Evaluate the pros and cons of each type of proposal,and take a position as to which onewould bebest for Texas.

Question 56

​Why don't state and federal governments force people to be more efficient in their use of energy?

A)​Taxes that would discourage energy use are regressive taxes, which hit poor and middle-class people the hardest.
B)​People resent taxes,so elected leaders are unlikely to support them.
C)​Regulations and subsidies may not work well enough to encourage people to change their energy use.
D)​Many consumers and businesses, especially in Texas,do not support government intervention in the economy.
E)​All of these are reasons.

Question 57

Explain the themes of energy in Texas:(1)Texas versus the federal government,(2)pseudo laissez faire,and (3)​ the politics of regulation and deregulation.Provide one real-life example of each theme in Texas energy policies.

Question 58

Which city in Texas began operating a light-rail system in 1996,becoming the first city in the American Southwest to do so?

A)Houston
B)Austin
C)San Antonio
D)El Paso
E)Dallas

Question 59

​Which of these isnot true of Texas's response to transportation challenges?

A)The mind-set of the Texas Department of Transportation has been to favor highway transportation over rail mass transit.
B)There has been a complex of interest groups in place, including oil companies,cement/asphalt/tire dealers, bus and truck companies, and road-building contractors, that has had economic interests in pushing government to build more roads instead of mass transit.
C)Texas has responded to transportation issues by being at the forefront of efforts to make cars cleaner and safer.
D)Although Texans dislike toll roads, the state has slowly been building them.
E)Although many city leaders have lent their support to mass transit, the construction of light-rail systems has been slow, and not always satisfactory.

Question 60

What is the best assessment of the "Faustian bargain" when it comes to wind and solar energy?

A)​The advantages of using energy with little air or water pollution may not be worth the high price of wind and solar energy.
B)Because they rely on nature, wind and solar energy are inexpensive forms of energy.​
C)​Wind and solar energy are based upon the weather.
D)​Texas has invested too much in the infrastructure of the oil and gas industry.
E)​Texans, as citizens, prefer to invest in the oil and gas industry.

Question 61

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 1,3,4,7,and 14):Select one of the following topics covered in Chapter 14:water,energy,transportation.Explain how private influence (Chapter 1),interest groups (Chapter 3),campaign contributions and political parties (Chapter 4),and legislative pressure (Chapter 7)have affected how Texas has conducted policy in the area you chose.​

Question 62

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 1 and 14): Explain how Texas's political culture influences Texas's choices regarding fossil fuels and renewable energy.