CRM 2.2 Renewable vs. non-renewable Energy Sources

1. Daily choices that humans make affect the environment. Sometimes, our lifestyles can harm

the environment. For example, fossil fuel power plants generate waste in the form of air

emissions, thermal releases and climatic impacts. Which of the following statements would be

most helpful in protecting the environment from fossil fuel power plants?

• Using solar power to generate electricity.

• Buying fewer mass produced products.

• Buying paper products made from harvested trees.

• Using natural gas as a fuel source instead of petroleum

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Offshore drilling is a common practice for obtaining oil for human use. Oil can be used for

transportation fuels, production of plastic, and making electricity.Which of the following

statements best describes an environmental concern with using offshore drilling to obtain oil?

• Offshore drilling requires a large amount of energy input to obtain a small amount of oil.

• Offshore drilling produces oil that cannot be used directly, therefore requiring further

  expensive processing.

• Offshore drilling is not cost effective because it requires specialized equipment to drill the

  oil.

• Offshore drilling can lead to a contamination of marine ecosystems that threaten the

  organisms living there.

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Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy

content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement

industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production.

Predict a negative effect that could occur over the next 50 years if coal mining increased.

• Coal mining could produce acid rain causing burns to human skin.

• Coal mining creates nuclear energy that causes immediate death

• Coal mining can reduce the natural environment in the surrounding land.

• Coal from mining can wash into bodies of water and cause an overgrowth of algae.

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Scientists are currently researching new ways to obtain energy from our natural, renewable

resources. Which statement gives the best explanation of the benefits of renewable resources.

• Renewable resources are nonrenewable and expensive to produce.

• Renewable resources are versatile and emit various amounts of pollution.

• Renewable resources generates energy that produces no greenhouse gases.

• Renewable resources are natural, but cause destruction of land surrounding production.

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Oil is one of the most common non-renewable resources on Earth. Human consumption of oil

is happening at a rate that may cause concern. Which of the following would be evidence that

humans have reached peak oil consumption?

• There is a decreased demand for oil globally.

• Oil is easily accessible in many locations on Earth.

• Oil requires greater lengths and expenses to obtain.

• The cost of oil has dropped in many developed countries.

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Salmon consumption worldwide is three times higher than it was in 1980. What was once a

luxury food is now among the most popular fish species consumed in the U.S., Europe, and

Japan. How did humans adjust to the high demand for this limited natural resource and allow

the salmon populations to rebuild and stabilize?

• Salmon farming was introduced to help produce more salmon for market.

• Restaurants increased the sale of salmon to reduce the consumption of salmon.

• Fish companies reduced the price of salmon to allow for more human consumption

• Fisherman created more jobs to look for more salmon and allow for more human

  consumption.

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The chart below shows energy consumption sources in the United States.

Which conclusion can be made regarding both the distribution of energy consumption in the

United States and the impact this energy consumption has on the environment?

• The majority of energy consumed in the United States is produced using renewable

  resources, which has a positive impact on the environment.

• The majority of energy consumed in the United States is produced using renewable

  resources, which has a negative impact on the environment.

• The majority of energy consumed in the United States is produced using nonrenewable

  resources, which has a positive impact on the environment.

• The majority of energy consumed in the United States is produced using nonrenewable

  resources, which has a negative impact on the environment.

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Our oceans offer a variety of renewable and nonrenewable resources that we use for various

purposes. One such resource is sea salt. Sea salt can be extracted from the ocean through a

process called desalination. While this process helps provide an important resource (such as

salt and clean water) to human populations, it can also be costly. Removing large amounts of

salt from the Ocean can affect the pH of aquatic environments.pH is an important quantity that

reflects the chemical conditions of a solution. The pH can control the availability of nutrients,

biological functions, microbial activity, and the behavior of chemicals. Which statement best

classifies sea salt and describes its costs and benefits?

• Sea salt is a renewable resource that is readily available, but production is not cost

  effective.

• Salt is a renewable resource that is processed with little energy input, but harvesting the

  salt disrupts coastal ecosystems.

• Sea salt is a nonrenewable resource that requires no processing, but at current rates, it

  will eventually become unsustainable.

• Sea salt is a nonrenewable resource that has a wide variety of uses, but harvesting from

  the ocean can disrupt coastal ecosystems.

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Deforestation is the clearance, or removal of a forest from land which is then converted to a

non-forest use. Deforestation can involve the conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or

urban use. The most concentrated deforestation occurs in tropical rainforests. Deforestation of

areas considered to be rich sources of genetic material could limit future agricultural and

medical advances for future generations. How could deforestation limit agricultural and medical

advances?

• It can maintain the ecosystem equilibrium.

• It can deplete the ecosystem’s ozone layer.

• It can decrease the ecosystem’s biodiversity.

• It can increase the ecosystem’s carrying capacity.

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When scientists and interested citizen groups attempt to improve the quality of life for Earth’s

population there are some factors that need to be considered. To make a well rounded

decision it is important to look at environmental and economic concerns. What is general

consideration that can be made when making policy decisions?

• To require that all natural areas surrounding Florida peninsula become marine

  sanctuaries.

• To remove regulations and monitoring efforts when they conflict with the development of

  new residences.

• To enact and enforce laws regarding the environment but without compromising the

  needs of future generations.

• To resettle areas where toxic dumps were found after natural bioremediation has removed

  all dangers to humans.

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