Topic Questions

Question 1

Throughout the world, especially the less-developed countries, burning wood or other biomass for heating or cooking in homes is common. One negative environmental impact of this practice is the production of particulates indoors, which can be a health hazard to humans.

Which of the following describes the best strategy for mitigating this potential problem?

Answer 1

Installing effective ventilation systems in dwellings

Question 2

Which of the following best describes an advantage of burning biomass rather than burning fossil fuels in developing countries?

Answer 2

Biomass production is cheaper than fossil fuel extraction, making it more readily available for use.

Question 3

Which of the following is a drawback to using biofuels, such as ethanol, as a fuel source?

Answer 3

There is high energy investment in producing and processing the crops needed for ethanol production.

Question 4

Which of the following describes an environmental problem that can result from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity?

Answer 4

Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion fossil fuels, and it can lead to global climate change when released into the atmosphere.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes an environmental problem associated with hydrologic fracturing, or fracking?

Answer 5

Fracking fluids can escape from the drill hole and contaminate surface water and groundwater.

Question 6

Which of the following statements correctly explains the role of fossil fuels in the production of energy?

Answer 6

The combustion of fossil fuels heats water to produce steam, which then turns a turbine.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the conditions under which peat is formed?

Answer 7

Partially decayed vegetation is placed under high-pressure, anaerobic, acidic conditions.

Question 8

In an apartment building, exhaust from a gas-powered electrical generator is captured to produce hot water to heat a swimming pool. Which of the following is illustrated by this process?

Answer 8

Cogeneration

Question 9

Purity is a major factor in determining the type of coal used for energy. Which of the following types of coal are correctly paired with a description of its purity and common use?

Answer 9

Anthracite is considered the highest grade coal because it is almost pure carbon, and it is often used for domestic heating.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes a disadvantage of geothermal energy production?

Answer 10

Geothermal energy implementation in homes and businesses has a high upfront cost, and electricity is needed to operate pumps.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about geothermal energy is accurate?

Answer 11

The location of geothermal energy sources ranges from short distances below ground to miles below the surface.

Question 12

Geothermal energy plants are a viable alternative energy source because they

Answer 12

use the heat from Earth’s interior to create steam that is used to generate electricity and then can be pumped back into the ground.

Question 13

How many BTUs were consumed in the United States in 2017 by consumers that used petroleum as a fuel source?

Answer 13

36 quadrillion BTUs

Question 14

A family of four lives in a three-bedroom house and uses an average of 900 kWh of electricity per month. The family cools their house for three months during the summer with two window-unit air conditioners that each use 350 kWh of electricity per month. Which of the following is the percentage of the family’s total annual electricity that is used to run the two air conditioners for the three summer months?

Answer 14

19.4%

Question 15

Which of the following correctly pairs a region with its percent increase in electricity demand between 2016 and 2040?

Answer 15

India; 227%

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the method of vehicle transport that is the most environmentally sustainable?

Answer 16

The use of a vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells because there are no carbon emissions

Question 17

Which of the following best explains the process of electricity generation in a hydrogen fuel cell?

Answer 17

At the anode, hydrogen is oxidized and electrons flow in a circuit to the cathode. At the cathode, oxygen reacts with the hydrogen to produce water. Water and heat are by-products of the reaction.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes how the use of hydrogen fuel negatively impacts the environment?

Answer 18

The energy needed to produce the hydrogen fuel may come from fossil fuels, whose use contributes to ocean acidification and global climate change.

Question 19

Which of the following would be most likely to be used as a fuel source for electricity generation in the plant displayed in the diagram?

Answer 19

Uranium-235

Question 20

Which of the following gases is released from the structure labeled C in the diagram?

Answer 20

Water vapor

Question 21

Which of the structures in the diagram is the site where the nuclear power plant accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl occurred?

Answer 21

A

Question 22

Which of the following best describes a benefit of increasing the number of offshore wind farms rather than onshore wind farms?

Answer 22

Offshore winds farms will produce up to three times as much electricity as wind farms on land because of increased wind speeds offshore.

Question 23

Which of the following would be the best location for a wind farm with ten industrial turbines?

Answer 23

Arranged uniformly on a local farm that has fields and pastureland for dairy and grain production

Question 24

Which of the following is the most practical solution to maximizing energy production at wind farms while minimizing the risk to wildlife?

Answer 24

Turn off turbines during periods of maximum migration.

Question 25

If peak electricity use occurs around 2 pm in the Los Angeles area and avoiding brownouts is more important to the installers of the PV panels than annual energy output, which of the following PV panel systems would be best to use in the area?

Answer 25

No tracking, tilted west

Question 26

Which of the following PV panel systems is least effective at producing energy?

Answer 26

No tracking, tilted east

Question 27

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data shown in the graph?

Answer 27

PV panels that can track the Sun and are constantly moving to always directly face the Sun produce the most electricity daily and annually.

Question 28

Although nuclear energy is considered a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels, some scientists argue this does not support the claim that nuclear energy is renewable. Which of the following claims best supports the argument that nuclear energy is a nonrenewable energy source?

Answer 28

The uranium deposits on Earth are finite.

Question 29

Which of the following is a characteristic of nonrenewable energy sources that distinguishes them from renewable energy sources?

Answer 29

Nonrenewable energy sources typically take a longer time to replenish than renewable energy sources do.

Question 30

Which of the following explains why some energy sources are renewable?

Answer 30

Renewable energy sources can be replenished naturally, at or near the rate of consumption.