Question 1

Which of the following is a benefit of growing diverse grasses for biofuel production?

Accepted Answer

All of these answers are benefits of growing diverse grasses for biofuel production. Diverse grasses can be grown in marginal soil and neglected agricultural land, which does not displace food production and is not destructive to habitats. This can lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly biofuel production.

Question 2

Switchgrass grown with other plants produces less biomass that can be used for biofuel when compared with switchgrass grown in a monoculture.

Accepted Answer

Switchgrass grown with other plants often produces more biomass due to complementary interactions and improved resource use efficiency, compared to monoculture systems.

Question 3

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the "food versus fuel" debate?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are true regarding the "food versus fuel" debate, including the expected growth in global biofuel demand, the dual use of commodities like corn or vegetable oil, the increased amount of corn used for ethanol in the US, and the potential for nonfood crops to be used for biofuel production.

Question 4

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels in terms of air pollution, relative to fossil fuels.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels...

Question 5

Which of the following is FALSE regarding biodiesel?

Accepted Answer

Biodiesel cannot be used in gasoline engines; it is specifically designed for diesel engines.

Question 6

Globally, food crops are being displaced by biofuel crops. Crops that normally were grown for either human or animal consumption are instead being grown for fuel. This switch has resulted in price increases and food riots. Which of the following crops has caused the most issues when switched from a food crop to a biofuel crop?

Accepted Answer

Corn has caused the most issues when switched from a food crop to a biofuel crop because it is a staple crop for many countries around the world, including the United States and Mexico. Corn is used as both human and animal feed, and the switch to biofuel production has caused prices to skyrocket, leading to food riots in some areas. Additionally, the production of corn-based ethanol has also been criticized for its environmental impact and potential to contribute to food insecurity.

Question 7

Which trade-offs of traditional biofuels, like ethanol produced from corn, can be addressed by using algae as a biofuel source?

Accepted Answer

Algae can address all three trade-offs mentioned in the question. Unlike traditional biofuels like corn, algae can be grown using saltwater or wastewater, reducing the need for large amounts of fresh water. Algae can also be grown in non-arable land, reducing the competition for farmland. Additionally, algae can be harvested using techniques that do not harm the local ecosystem, unlike some traditional biofuel sources that can be overharvested and negatively impact the local environment.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of switching from corn ethanol to cellulosic ethanol?

Accepted Answer

Cellulosic ethanol production is generally more complex and costly, making it harder to scale up compared to corn ethanol.

Question 9

Compared with gasoline, biofuels produce less greenhouse emissions. Which of the following biofuels produces the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions when compared with gasoline?

Accepted Answer

LIHD (Low-Input High-Diversity) grasses grown on marginal land produce the least greenhouse gas emissions because they require minimal agricultural inputs and utilize land that is not suitable for food crops, leading to a more sustainable and lower-emission biofuel production process.

Question 10

Infographic 32.3.

-Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use the data from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by biofuels graph to describe how emissions from biofuels compare with that of gasoline. Also, how do emissions compare between current biofuels and LIHD biofuels?

Accepted Answer

The answer of  Infographic 32.3.

-Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use...

Question 11

Most biofuels today are made from crops grown specifically for energy use. What are the main crops used to produce ethanol and biodiesel? What are the environmental downsides to using these crops in biofuel production?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most biofuels today are made from crops...

Question 12

Which of the following is a challenge faced when making biofuel from algae?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a challenge...

Question 13

Table 32.1
-List and describe at least three advantages and three disadvantages of biofuels.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 32.1
-List and describe at least three...

Question 14

One way to improve energy return and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases typically released by traditional monoculture fuel crops is to use LIHD grassland plants. What does LIHD stand for?

Accepted Answer

LIHD stands for low-input, high-diversity, which means that these grassland plants require minimal input (such as fertilizers or pesticides) and have a higher variety of species than traditional monoculture fuel crops. This diversity can lead to improved energy return and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Option A ("low-input, high-density") is a similar concept but does not promote diversity, while options C and E are not relevant or accurate.

Question 15

What is biowaste? Describe the benefits of converting waste into energy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is biowaste? Describe the benefits of...

Question 16

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the increasing production of biofuels in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) Ethanol and biodiesel are being used more frequently in the United States as alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel, thus making them competitors. 
B) Biofuels produced using sustainable methods can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. 
C) By reducing the reliance on foreign oil, the use of biofuels can increase national security. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are all true.

Question 17

Which of the following is an advantage of using biofuel?

Accepted Answer

Biofuels grown with minimal or no fossil fuel inputs are carbon neutral or negative, meaning they do not contribute to the net increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is an advantage of using biofuel compared to fossil fuels. Option A is incorrect because not all types of biofuels have a higher energy content than fossil fuels. Option B is incorrect because burning some types of biofuels can also produce particulate matter pollution. Option D is incorrect because this statement is not universally true for all biofuel crops. Option E is incorrect because C is a correct answer.

Question 18

What are some of the concerns regarding the use of crops in biofuel production?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some of the concerns regarding...

Question 19

Infographic 32.3.

-Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use the data from the energy return on energy investment comparison graph to determine which crop offers the highest net energy return (output - input).

Accepted Answer

Biomass ethanol offers the highest net energy return (output - input).

Question 20

Because of a process called carbon sequestration, switchgrass harvested for biofuel is actually carbon negative.

Accepted Answer

Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Switchgrass, as a plant, naturally sequesters carbon as it grows. When harvested for biofuel, the carbon that would have been released into the atmosphere during decomposition is instead stored in the biofuel and in the byproducts of the biofuel production process. This makes switchgrass biofuel carbon negative, meaning that it results in a net reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Quiz 32: Restoring the Range: the Key to Recovering the Worlds Grasslands May Be a Surprising One

Which of the following is a benefit of growing diverse grasses for biofuel production?

Switchgrass grown with other plants produces less biomass that can be used for biofuel when compared with switchgrass grown in a monoculture.

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the "food versus fuel" debate?

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels in terms of air pollution, relative to fossil fuels.

Which of the following is FALSE regarding biodiesel?

Which trade-offs of traditional biofuels, like ethanol produced from corn, can be addressed by using algae as a biofuel source?

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of switching from corn ethanol to cellulosic ethanol?

Compared with gasoline, biofuels produce less greenhouse emissions. Which of the following biofuels produces the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions when compared with gasoline?

Infographic 32.3. -Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use the data from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by biofuels graph to describe how emissions from biofuels compare with that of gasoline. Also, how do emissions compare between current biofuels and LIHD biofuels?

Most biofuels today are made from crops grown specifically for energy use. What are the main crops used to produce ethanol and biodiesel? What are the environmental downsides to using these crops in biofuel production?

Which of the following is a challenge faced when making biofuel from algae?

Table 32.1 -List and describe at least three advantages and three disadvantages of biofuels.

One way to improve energy return and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases typically released by traditional monoculture fuel crops is to use LIHD grassland plants. What does LIHD stand for?

What is biowaste? Describe the benefits of converting waste into energy.

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the increasing production of biofuels in the United States?

Which of the following is an advantage of using biofuel?

What are some of the concerns regarding the use of crops in biofuel production?

Infographic 32.3. -Refer to Infographic 32.3. Use the data from the energy return on energy investment comparison graph to determine which crop offers the highest net energy return (output - input) .

Because of a process called carbon sequestration, switchgrass harvested for biofuel is actually carbon negative.