Which of the following would be classified as an environmental cost of hydroelectric power?

• desertification

• disruption of freshwater ecosystems

• increased biodiversity

• water pollution

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Biomass power is a renewable energy source derived from plant and animal products. Which of these is a benefit of using biomass for power compared to nonrenewable resources?

• Biomass power increases the amount of oxygen in the air

• Biomass power reduces the emission of greenhouse gasses

• Biomass power increases the clearing of forests and grasslands for energy crops

• Biomass power reduces organic waste in landfills and waste-treatment facilities

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Though we hear more about oil spills that occur in aquatic environments, they can also occur on land.  Why would it be easier to contain an oil spill that occurs on land?

• Oil spills at sea are more likely to contaminate animal habitats than oil spills on land

• Oil spills at sea are more likely to contaminate the atmosphere than oil spills on land

• Oil spills at sea are more likely to cling to plants than then oil spills on land

• Oil spills at sea are more likely to spread with water currents than oil spills on land are through erosion and deposition

A developer wants to build a new large housing complex on the Cocoa Beach shoreline. Which of the following plans would be least harmful to the environment?

• filling a wetland area and building the housing complex

• building the complex at the site of an abandoned condemned hotel

• building the housing complex in a meadow at the edge of the shoreline

• clearing a forested area on the shoreline not previously developed to build the housing complex

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

It costs a lot of money to keep a green lawn, especially in Florida. A nice lawn comes with an environmental price. Which is an example of the environmental cost of eutrophication?

• limiting amount of fertilizer allowed on lawns

• nitrogen runoff from manicured lawn polluting Florida's lakes

• increasing fish population due to less nitrogen pollution

• using a chemical to reduce the amount of excessive plant growth in a pond

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Our oceans offer a variety of renewable and nonrenewable resources that we use for various purposes. One such resource is sea salt. 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

• Sea 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

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

Desalination of ocean water is expensive. Which benefit of desalination makes the cost of the process worthwhile?

• Dry seabeds can be refilled with freshwater

• Marshes can be drained to make space for houses

• Fresh drinking water is made available for human survival

• More energy can be produced by hydroelectric power plants

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-1

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

Which of the following examples would not be classified as a human activity that can harm freshwater supplies and comes with a high environmental cost?

• excessive water use

• removal of vegetation

• using no-till farming practices

• water pollution

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Much of the oil we burn for energy comes from drilling in marine environments such as the Gulf of Mexico or the Persian Gulf. Which of the following is not a major public concern associated with drilling for oil in large bodies of water?

• The oil being taken is a nonrenewable resource

• It is very expensive for companies to drill for oil

• The ecosystems from which the oil is being taken are fragile

• Using oil for energy releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

A remote village is located near the ocean and several rivers. The climate is usually partially cloudy with periodic winds. The village advisory committee is reviewing several alternative energy sources. Committee members want to select a source that produces very little pollution, reduces greenhouse gases, is renewable, and is costeffective over time. Which energy source should they choose?

• coal

• hydroelectric

• nuclear

• solar

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4