Chapter.9 Exam Questions Nonrenewable Energy Sources - Environmental Science 15e Test Bank with Answers by Eldon Enger. DOCX document preview.
Environmental Science, 15e (Enger)
Chapter 9 Nonrenewable Energy Sources
1) What percentage of the world's commercial energy is furnished by fossil fuels?
A) 30%
B) 40%
C) 75%
D) 80%
2) Which of the following kinds of coal has the highest carbon content?
A) Lignite
B) Bituminous
C) Sub-bituminous
D) Brown coal
3) Which of the following is true for fossil fuels?
A) Oil is formed from plant material.
B) Oil and natural gas were formed by the same processes.
C) Coal was formed in ancient oceans.
D) None of these statements are correct.
4) Which of the following is the most common human-caused source of oil pollution in the ocean?
A) Natural seeps.
B) Transport of oil in oil tankers.
C) Oil pollution from the use of machinery on land and on the oceans.
D) Oil spills from drilling rigs.
5) Oil drilling in Alaska's ANWR requires specific authorization from
A) the president.
B) Congress.
C) the Supreme Court.
D) None of these are correct.
6) The Middle East has about ________ percent of the world's oil reserves.
A) 90
B) 50
C) 62
D) 72
7) The Middle East and Eurasia (primarily Russia) have about 70% of the world's
A) natural gas reserves.
B) coal reserves.
C) oil reserves.
D) peat reserves.
8) Which fossil fuel is the most abundant?
A) oil
B) natural gas
C) coal
D) All of the choices are equally abundant.
9) Large accumulations of modified plant materials form which of the following resources?
A) oil
B) natural gas
C) coal
D) All of the options are correct.
10) Which is NOT a disadvantage of coal mining?
A) acid mine drainage
B) black lung disease
C) acid deposition
D) dioxin pollution
11) Which of the following is a correct?
A) Coal is used primarily to provide heat for industry.
B) Coal use has been increasing since it is the most abundant of the three fossil fuels.
C) The extraction of coal causes significant change to the landscape.
D) Most coal is extracted by underground mining.
12) Which type of coal has the least amount of moisture and the greatest amount of fixed carbon?
A) anthracite
B) peat
C) lignite
D) bituminous
13) Which of the following fossil fuels causes the least environmental problems?
A) Tar sands
B) Natural gas
C) Coal
D) Oil
14) Acid mine drainage occurs when
A) sulfur is released into the atmosphere during mining.
B) oxygen, water, and bacteria cause sulfur to form sulfuric acid.
C) oil is separated in a distillation tower.
D) biomass is burned to generate methane.
15) A nuclear chain reaction occurs
A) when an atoms splits.
B) when neutrons released from a splitting atom colliding with the nucleus of another atom, causing it to split.
C) when a rapidly moving neutron collides with an electron causing it to split into neutrons and other particles.
D) when the nuclei of several atoms split simultaneously.
16) Liquefied natural gas is formed
A) by volatilizing hydrocarbons in gasoline.
B) by subjecting natural gas to -162°C.
C) on the surface of oil deposits.
D) None of these are correct.
17) Who are the stakeholders that believe the United States should drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
A) members of Congress, Gwich'in tribe, the Speaker of the House, and Nature Conservancy
B) members of Congress, Inupiat Eskimos, and oil company executives
C) the Canadian government, Green Peace, and the World Wildlife Fund
D) the Russian government, the University of Alaska, and the U.S. Senate
18) What is the proposed alternative to drilling for oil in ANWR?
A) increased energy conservation
B) greater reliance on tidal and wind power
C) lower oil prices from Nigeria
D) an oil treaty with Venezuela
19) The energy from a nuclear power plant results from
A) the heat of atoms.
B) the disintegration of the nucleus of atoms.
C) electrons released from atoms.
D) water.
20) Coal, oil, and natural gas make up ________ of the energy consumed worldwide.
A) 75%
B) 80%
C) 85%
D) 90%
21) Coal is generally classified in four categories. Which type is the most widely used?
A) lignite
B) subbituminous
C) bituminous
D) anthracite
22) Which of the following is true for a nuclear fission reactor?
A) A moderator causes neutrons to speed up.
B) The control rods increased the number of neutrons present.
C) The coolant transfers heat away from the reactor.
D) The fuel actually ends up producing additional fuel.
23) Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with the burning of coal?
A) carbon dioxide and global warming
B) air pollution
C) acid deposition
D) transportation of coal
24) Which one of the following is NOT associated with hydraulic fracturing or "hydrofracking"?
A) special drilling techniques
B) an increased price for natural gas
C) used to extract oil and natural gas from shale
D) pumping of water and chemicals into wells
25) Some forms of electromagnetic radiation are
A) X-rays.
B) light.
C) radio waves.
D) All of these are correct.
26) As of 2017
A) the United States was the country with the largest number of nuclear power plants.
B) few nuclear power plants were being built in the world.
C) most new nuclear power plants were being built in Europe and Africa.
D) All of the statements are correct.
27) One of the greatest terrorism-related nuclear threats is from
A) nuclear power plants.
B) dirty bombs.
C) nuclear warheads.
D) None of these are correct.
Which of the following best matches the description?
28) Energy sources that can be replaced by natural processes.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
29) Naturally occurring substances that can be extracted under current conditions.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
30) Layer of soil and rock that covers deposits of desirable minerals.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
31) Mining in which the material is removed without disturbing the top layer of soil.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
32) Mining in which the top layer of soil is removed to procure the underlying deposit.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
33) Pollution in which bacteria convert sulfur in coal to sulfuric acid.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
34) Respiratory condition from accumulation of coal dust in the lungs.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
35) Technique used to obtain the maximum amount of oil or gas from a well.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
36) Resources that are not replaced by natural processes.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
37) Natural gas that has been converted to a liquid.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
38) Known deposits from which materials can be extracted profitably under current economic and technological conditions.
A) underground mining
B) resources
C) active solar system
D) photovoltaic cell
E) surface mining
F) acid mine drainage
G) geothermal energy
H) secondary recovery
J) liquefied natural gas
K) black lung disease
L) nonrenewable energy sources
M) reserves
N) renewable energy sources
O) passive solar system
P) overburden
39) Energy that travels through space in the form of waves or particles.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
40) Radiation consisting of a particle with two neutrons and two protons.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
41) Material that absorbs the energy from neutrons released by fission.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
42) Radiation consisting of electrons released from the nuclei of many fissionable atoms.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
43) Fission reactor designed to produce radioactive fuel from nonradioactive uranium.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
44) Disintegration of an atom's nucleus with the release of energy.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
45) Measure of the biological damage to tissue caused by radiation.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
46) Time it takes for half of the radioactive material to decompose.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
47) Naturally occurring radioactive isotope used in nuclear reactors.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
48) Type of electromagnetic radiation that comes from disintegrating atomic nuclei.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
49) Decontamination and disassembly of a nuclear power plant.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
50) Type of reactor that uses special water that contains the hydrogen isotope, deuterium, as moderator and coolant water.
A) thermal pollution
B) alpha radiation
C) nuclear fission
D) light-water reactor
E) nuclear breeder reactor
F) radiation
G) beta radiation
H) decommissioning
J) radioactive half-life
K) nuclear fusion
L) heavy-water reactor
M) gamma radiation
N) moderator
O) rem
P) U-235
Q) transuranic waste
51) A reserve is a known deposit of energy material that is currently too expensive to extract using today's technology.
52) Fossil fuels are non-renewable.
53) Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel.
54) Black lung disease is a hazard of working on oil rigs.
55) Shale is a rock formed by muddy sediment containing large pools of accessible oil.
56) Oil was originally chosen as an alternative to coal because it was more convenient and less expensive.
57) The primary problem associated with natural gas is transport of the gas to consumers.
58) As oil becomes less available, secondary recovering methods will increase.
59) Although society uses fossil fuels, more oil, gas, and coal are constantly forming.
60) A resource is a naturally occurring substance of use to humans that can be extracted using current technology.
61) Although major shipping accidents are spectacular and release large amounts of oil, it is estimated that worldwide only about 10% of human-caused oil pollution comes from tanker accidents.
62) The vast majority of the oil entering the oceans results from natural seeps and pollution from the use of oil as lubricants and fuel in machinery (cars, trucks, boats, lawn mowers, jet skis, etc.).
63) Coal is the world's least abundant fossil fuel and it supplies less than 30% of the energy used in the world.
64) The processing of coal requires that it be washed before being shipped. This results in the production of a liquid waste material known as ________.
65) Dust is generated by mining and transportation of coal. The large amounts of coal dust released into the atmosphere at the loading and unloading sites can cause local ________ problems.
66) ________ occurs when coal is burned and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere, causing acid-forming particles to accumulate.
67) ________ is present in coal and is released into the air when coal is burned.
68) ________ are the primary environmental problem associated with the production, transportation, and use of oil.
69) Why is mercury released from coal a problem?
70) Where does the majority of oil entering the oceans come from?
71) Why must hydraulic fracturing or "hydrofracking" be used to extract natural gas from shale?
72) One of the most controversial surface mining methods is mountain top removal. Name one reason why it is controversial.
73) Why is coal slurry a problem?
74) Which of the following is NOT a part of the nuclear fuel cycle?
A) mining uranium ore
B) gas cooling of the reactor
C) fabricating fuel into fuel rods
D) enriching the uranium ore
75) Choose the correct sequence of steps in the nuclear fuel cycle.
A) fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing
B) mining, fabrication, enrichment
C) mining, reprocessing, enrichment
D) mining, enrichment, fabrication
76) Which of the following reactors produces heat and a new supply of the radioactive isotope, Pu-239?
A) nuclear breeder reactor
B) light-water reactor
C) boiling-water reactor
D) pressurized-water reactor
77) What is the name of the process in which the fuel is removed from a nuclear plant, its surfaces are cleaned, and people are permanently prevented from coming in contact with the building?
A) decommissioning
B) demolition
C) nuclear chain reaction
D) nuclear regulation
78) As fission occurs in a nuclear reactor, the concentration of U-235 atoms
A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains constant.
D) converts to plutonium atoms.
79) Which one of the following processes involves increasing the U-235 content of the ore from 0.7% to 3%?
A) enrichment
B) reprocessing
C) fabrication
D) conversion
80) In which of the following are fuel rods in the core surrounded by rods of U-238 and liquid sodium?
A) gas-cooled reactor
B) nuclear breeder reactor
C) liquid metal fast-breeder reactor
D) nuclear fusion
81) In which of the following does carbon dioxide serve as coolant for a graphite-moderated core?
A) high-temperature gas-cooled reactor
B) gas-cooled reactor
C) heavy-water reactor
D) pressurized-water reactor
82) Which of the following is NOT a form of energy released from nuclear disintegration?
A) alpha
B) gamma
C) beta
D) delta
83) Decommissioning involves which of the following?
A) decontaminating building surfaces
B) disposal of fuel
C) disassembly of parts
D) All of these are correct
84) Biological effects of ionizing radiation include
A) damage to DNA.
B) mutations.
C) damage to molecules in cells.
D) All of these are correct.
85) Biological damage may be caused by beta or ________ radiation.
A) alpha
B) delta
C) gamma
D) sigma
86) Which of the following cancers is strongly linked to increased radiation exposure?
A) bone
B) leukemia
C) intestinal
D) brain
87) What radioactive isotope is generally used to fuel a controlled nuclear chain reaction?
A) uranium 95
B) cesium 137
C) barium 140
D) uranium 235
88) In what two countries have nuclear power accidents had the greatest effect on people's attitudes towards safety?
A) Poland and UK
B) South Africa and US
C) Russia and UK
D) United States and Japan
89) What type of cancer in children has now been found to be associated with Chernobyl?
A) thyroid
B) breast
C) prostate
D) lung
90) Current development and construction of nuclear power plants is occurring mostly in
A) the U.S.
B) Asia.
C) South America.
D) Canada.
91) ________ energy is provided by processes that replenish themselves or are continuously present as a feature of the solar system.
A) Nuclear
B) Power
C) Renewable
D) Free
92) All reactors contain a core of fuel, a moderator to control the rate of the reaction, and a cooling mechanism.
93) A nuclear power plant could not operate effectively or safely without a source of water.
94) Pellets of U-235 are sealed in metal fuel rods which are then used in nuclear reactors.
95) High grade uranium ore with a high percentage of uranium by weight is a naturally occurring substance.
96) Each step in the nuclear fuel cycle poses a radiation exposure problem.
97) Nuclear fission is the splitting of electrons in the outer shell of an atom.
98) Nuclear power plants produce too much carbon dioxide and therefore contribute to global climate change.
99) With increasing oil costs, global warming issues, and other factors, interest in nuclear power has returned in some countries.
100) Nuclear power will probably continue to be a part of energy production, particularly in countries that lack fossil-fuel reserves.
101) Most nuclear power plants originally had a nominal design lifetime of up to 40 years, but recent engineering assessments have established that many plants can operate up to 60 years.
102) Hydraulic fracturing has
A) increased the supply of natural gas.
B) caused the price of natural gas to rise.
C) reduced the number of wells drilled.
D) eliminated many jobs.
103) Fossil fuel use
A) has grown faster than population.
B) has been rapidly declining as renewable energy sources are installed.
C) has grown faster than economic growth.
D) All of the above are true.
104) Reserves of fossil fuels
A) decline as fossil fuels are used.
B) are dependent on technological advances.
C) have been unchanged for several decades.
D) increased renewable energy sources replace fossil fuels.
105) Which one of the following is NOT an environmental issue related to coal mining?
A) acid mine drainage
B) subsidence of the land surface
C) air pollution
D) loss of jobs in the mining industry
106) Tar sands
A) must be mined.
B) produce oil less expensively than fracking.
C) can be shipped through pipelines.
D) are a newly discovered source of oil.
107) Spills from oil tankers
A) are a major source of oil pollution in the ocean.
B) have greatly decreased.
C) have occurred more frequently in recent years.
D) have been eliminated by requiring oil tankers to have double hulls.
108) The federal government provides subsidies to the energy industry. Which one of the following is a correct statement?
A) Renewable energy suppliers received large subsidies in the form of tax credits and grants.
B) The coal industry receives large subsidies in the form of direct grants.
C) The nuclear power industry does not receive any subsidies.
D) Grants to low income people are rare.
109) A boiling-water nuclear reactor differs from a pressurized-water reactor in that
A) a boiling-water reactor produces steam in the reactor.
B) a boiling-water reactor produces steam in a separate steam generator.
C) boiling-water reactors are more common than pressurized-water reactors.
D) a pressurize-water reactor is more likely to release small amount of radioactive materials in the steam.
110) In the nuclear fuel cycle
A) centrifuges are used to increase the percentage of U-235.
B) spent nuclear fuel can be reprocessed.
C) ore is mine and the amount of uranium is concentrated.
D) All of the above are correct.
111) There are many environmental issues related to the use of nuclear power. Which of the following accurately indicates the magnitude of the problem?
A) The United States government is required find a way to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and is making good progress in solving the problem.
B) Decommissioning of nuclear power plants is expensive and, therefore, is not taking place.
C) Although nuclear power plant accidents are spectacular and dangerous, the number of individuals killed or injured is small compared to industries like mining.
D) Radiation is dangerous, and it is very difficult to provide protection from sources of radiation.