Quiz about Environmental Test 4

Question 1

Usable electricity is generated by

Accepted Answer

Heating a source of water to produce steam, which turns a large turbine, that causes a generator to create the movement of electrons

Answer

Turning a turbine to heat water to produce the movement of electrons

Answer

Moving protons and electrons back and forth across a surface

Answer

None of the above

Question 2

If you had lived a century ago, what would have been your main source of energy for both heating and cooking?

Accepted Answer

coal

Answer

wood

Answer

whale oil

Answer

oil

Question 3

The main source of energy used to generate electricity in the U.S. is

Accepted Answer

natural gas

Answer

hydroelectric power

Answer

biomass conversion

Answer

solar panels

Question 4

Which of our appliances consumes the most energy?

Accepted Answer

refrigerator

Answer

washing machine

Answer

dryer

Answer

television

Question 5

What would be a good way to lower your electric bill?

Accepted Answer

All of these would decrease my use of electricity.

Answer

Buy a new energy efficient refrigerator.

Answer

Use only energy-efficient light bulbs.

Answer

Unplug appliances when not in use.

Answer

Turn off fans, TV, lights when you leave the room.

Question 6

In Europe, gasoline use per person is less than in the U.S. Why?

Accepted Answer

All of the above.

Answer

They have better and more extensive public transportation.

Answer

Gasoline is heavily taxed to discourage its use.

Answer

Their cars and trucks tend to be smaller and lighter.

Question 7

What factors influence the price of a barrel of oil?

Accepted Answer

all of the above

Answer

unrest in oil-producing areas

Answer

major weather problems like hurricanes, in areas of production or refinement

Answer

political issues in both producing and consuming nations

Question 8

Today people in developed countries consume far more energy per person than people over 100 years ago. What is the greatest contributor to this change?

Accepted Answer

cars

Answer

working in offices

Answer

home laundry

Answer

global warming

Question 9

How do governments use gasoline taxes?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

To repair roads and bridges

Answer

As a tool to discourage automobile use (if the taxes are high)

Answer

For other transportation needs, such as public transport

Question 10

Why have our reserves of oil increased in the last 30 years?

Accepted Answer

Our technology for accessing oil has improved.

Answer

More oil is produced all the time as algae continue to be compressed.

Answer

We just keep building more oil wells.

Answer

Reserves have increased because of higher oil prices.

Question 11

The environmental problems associated with burning oil are

Accepted Answer

the release of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides, which contribute to global warming and acid rain

Answer

the release of ash

Answer

mercury contamination of fish

Question 12

Coal and oil formed

Accepted Answer

Hundreds of millions of years ago, from the remains of plants and marine organisms

Answer

Hundreds of millions of year ago, from dinosaur bones

Answer

Tens of millions of years ago, from plant remains

Answer

Tens of millions of years ago, from animal remains

Question 13

Since fossil fuels were once living organisms, what is the ultimate source of the energy in fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

the sun

Answer

water

Answer

carbon dioxide

Answer

lipids

Question 14

The world gets most of its energy from

Accepted Answer

fossil fuels

Answer

nuclear power plants

Answer

hydroelectric energy

Answer

woodburning

Question 15

What's the difference between conventional strip mining and the mining described in the video?

Accepted Answer

conventional strip mining was concentrated in easier-to-access areas and mountain top mining is in the mountains

Answer

conventional strip mining had an underground component

Answer

mountain top mining is underground

Answer

only strip mining has a negative impact on water quality

Question 16

Which of the types of fossil fuels produces the least amount of sulfur and nitrogen compounds when burned?

Accepted Answer

natural gas

Answer

coal

Answer

gasoline

Answer

oil

Question 17

Which of the following is a result of burning coal?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

Acid Precipitation

Answer

Increased greenhouse gases

Answer

Mercury contamination of fish

Question 18

An isotope

Accepted Answer

Both of these answers are correct.

Answer

is a form of an element. Each isotope has a different number of neutrons.

Answer

can be unstable and lose particles from their nuclei.

Question 19

Radioactivity is

Accepted Answer

The radioactive decay of the nucleus of an atom

Answer

The creation of energy using nuclear power

Answer

The ability of nuclear energy to cause genetic mutations

Answer

The accumulation of uranium in a given location

Question 20

The most damaging kind of radiation is

Accepted Answer

alpha

Answer

beta

Answer

gamma

Answer

all of these are equally damaging

Question 21

Nuclear reactors create electricity by

Accepted Answer

Using the heat generated by nuclear reactions to create steam to turn a turbine

Answer

Using nuclear reactions in a controlled environment to excite electrons

Answer

Using nuclear reactions to heat coal and other fossil fuels

Answer

Using the natural radioactivity of certain elements to generate water movement

Question 22

Eisenhower predicted that nuclear energy would make electricity so cheap, we wouldn't even need to meter it (charge people for it). What didn't he know about that we know now?

Accepted Answer

He didn't know about any of these things.

Answer

About the danger in nuclear meltdowns

Answer

About the expense of running nuclear power plants

Answer

About the difficulty in storing nuclear waste

Question 23

What is the goal of using nuclear reactions in a nuclear power plant?

Accepted Answer

To generate enough heat to boil water

Answer

To ignite coal reserves

Answer

To produce electricity by forcing water through a pipe

Answer

To send out neutrons as electricity

Question 24

The construction of nuclear reactors is controversial because

Accepted Answer

Past accidents at reactors have exposed people to high levels of radioactivity.

Answer

They are more expensive than other kinds of electric-generating plants.

Answer

They do not produce electricity as efficiently as the use of fossil fuels

Answer

They are responsible, in part, for the depletion of the ozone layer.

Question 25

What do the nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima all have in common?

Accepted Answer

In all cases, the ability to keep the nuclear reactor cool was threatened or lost.

Answer

They were all caused by earthquakes.

Answer

They were all caused by foreign attacks.

Answer

They all resulted in massive explosions and release of radioactive material.

Question 26

What is the main difference between the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl?

Accepted Answer

In Chernobyl, the radioactive material did escape from the reactor and it caused death, illness, and the permanent shutdown of a city, while at Three Mile Island, such a fate was averted.

Answer

In Chernobyl, there were no people harmed, but at Three Mile Island, there were.

Answer

In Chernobyl, the accident was caused by an earthquake, but at Three Mile Accident, it was caused by human failure.

Answer

In Chernobyl, the problem was rapidly dealt with and solved so no harm came from the accident, while at Three Mile Island, the accident went on for several days.

Question 27

Radioactive waste is held in barrels all around the country. What is the danger associated with this waste?

Accepted Answer

If the radioactive material leaks into the environment, it can make people quite sick.

Answer

The leaking barrels release heavy metals into groundwater and streams.

Answer

Radioactive waste can become airborne and disrupt the carbon cycle.

Question 28

Why isn't nuclear energy included in the chart as a renewable energy source?

Accepted Answer

Its fuel, uranium, is a mined resource, which is not renewable.

Answer

It is considered too dangerous to be sustainable.

Answer

It doesn't produce enough of the world's energy to be included in the list.

Question 29

Which of the following is an environmental impact of burning wood for heating and cooking?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

Poor air quality in the home due to smoke

Answer

Deforestation and loss of habitat

Answer

It contributes to a loss of biodiversity

Question 30

This graph shows the amount of hydroelectric power generated in several countries in 2012. What do all of these countries have in common?

Accepted Answer

They all have large river valleys with a drop in elevation.

Answer

They are all in the western hemisphere.

Answer

They are all developed countries.

Answer

They all use the Euro or the dollar as their currency.

Question 31

Photovoltaic cells

Accepted Answer

gather photons, which excite the movement of electrons, much like plants do during photosynthesis

Answer

gather heat from the sun and the heat is used to boil water, which turns a turbine, which generates the movement of electrons

Answer

gather wavelengths of energy from the sun, which powers generators

Question 32

Of the various types of renewable energy, which one is used the most around the world?

Accepted Answer

Biomass conversion

Answer

Wind power

Answer

Solar energy

Answer

Geothermal energy

Question 33

On the first page, the circle graph shows that biomass conversion makes up about 10% of the world's energy consumption. This is more than solar, wind, or water energy. Why do you think biomass is the biggest proportion of the world's renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

All of these answers are correct.

Answer

It's available in developing countries, but other sources of energy are not.

Answer

It's relatively cheap.

Answer

It's a type of fuel that can be found in the environment and doesn't have to be mined or imported.

Question 34

Which of the following is a disadvantage of hydroelectric power?

Accepted Answer

It destroys habitats

Answer

It is nonrenewable

Answer

It releases greenhouse gases.

Answer

It requires too much new technology to build.

Question 35

I just want to heat my house with the sun. Which curtains should I open?

Accepted Answer

The ones facing the south

Answer

The ones facing the east

Answer

The ones facing the west

Answer

The ones facing the north

Question 36

What is the number one reason that solar power, wind power, hydropower, geothermal power, and tidal power, are considered to be advantageous over burning fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

They do not emit greenhouse gases.

Answer

They are all very cheap.

Answer

They do not cause depletion of the ozone layer.

Answer

They all re-use or recycle other products.

Question 37

What might be the scary part of living in a place where you can get plenty of renewable geothermal energy?

Accepted Answer

volcanoes

Answer

earthquakes

Answer

land slides

Answer

house centipedes

Question 38

The blades of the large white windmills at wind farms

Accepted Answer

turn an internal smaller turbine that produces electricity

Answer

are like a turbine and produce electricity directly

Answer

produce enough power to heat water and the steam turns a turbine to make electricity

Answer

can only be used for heating, but not for electricity

Question 39

Which kind of solid waste produces the greatest volume of material?

Accepted Answer

Mining and oil and gas production

Answer

Agricultural

Answer

Industrial

Answer

Municipal

Question 40

____________________is produced by bacteria in landfills. It can be burned to create electricity.

Accepted Answer

Methane

Answer

Leachate

Answer

Natural gas

Answer

Chlorofluorocarbon

Question 41

When you build a landfill, the bottom has to be lined with a plastic lining in order to prevent

Accepted Answer

groundwater contamination

Answer

trash from escaping

Answer

harm to soil bacteria

Answer

plastic bags from becoming part of the underlying soil

Question 42

What portion of the waste we generate could be recycled, re-used or composted?

Accepted Answer

nearly all of it

Answer

we recycle about all we can, so 26%

Answer

about half

Answer

everything but the food

Question 43

Methane gas is produced in landfills from the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. Which of the following could you keep out of a landfill in order to decrease methane production (note: methane is a powerful greenhouse gas)?

Accepted Answer

all of these

Answer

food waste

Answer

yard waste

Answer

grass clippings

Question 44

Where would it be favorable to use incinerators to burn household waste?

Accepted Answer

All of these are conditions that make sense if you're going to build a waste incinerator

Answer

Where land for landfills is limited, such as on an island

Answer

Where there are strict rules about air pollutants from the incinerators and the pollutants are scrubbed from smoke stacks

Answer

Where there is a steady supply of household waste

Question 45

Rainwater that falls on a landfill carries chemical contaminants in the trash. This watery mixture of chemicals from a landfill is called

Accepted Answer

Leachate

Answer

Secondary effluent

Answer

Methane

Answer

Non-point source pollution

Question 46

Why do you think Japan and Denmark are leaders in the construction and use of waste-to-energy facilities?

Accepted Answer

They have limited land area and high population density

Answer

They have many advanced engineers

Answer

They have mostly non-toxic trash

Question 47

Which of the following is an advantage of composting food scraps at home and not sending them to a landfill?

Accepted Answer

All of these are advantage of home composting

Answer

Waste decomposes aerobically so no methane is produced

Answer

Less waste goes to the landfill, so ultimately less landfill space is needed

Answer

The rotted food waste is a good soil supplement

Question 48

How did the Great Pacific Garbage Patch happen?

Accepted Answer

Plastic trash from landfills, mostly in Asia, plus dumped trash from ships, eventually ends up in the Pacific.

Answer

The U.S. puts trash on barges and dumps it in the Pacific Ocean due to scarce landfill space.

Answer

Plastic bags and balloons that blow away eventually end up in the Pacific Ocean.

Answer

Recycling centers actually do not recycle plastics. They dump them at sea.

Question 49

What is the effect of the bottle bill in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

It reduces the amount of trash that goes to landfills

Answer

Bottles are recycled and re-used

Answer

It creates jobs

Question 50

Which of these best defines urban sprawl?

Accepted Answer

the uncontrolled growth of a city into the countryside that surrounds it

Answer

high levels of traffic at rush hour

Answer

buildings constructed without any zoning ordinances or other regulations

Answer

high concentrations of people and pollution-causing factories

Question 51

Where are cities currently growing the most?

Accepted Answer

Asia and South America

Answer

Europe and Africa

Answer

North and South America

Answer

Asia and Australia

Question 52

How do you think the challenges are different for mega-cities in the developed world such as Los Angeles and in areas such as Jakarta or Delhi?

Accepted Answer

Both b and c are correct

Answer

In L.A., there are transportation and pollution issues while in the other cities there are only pollution issues

Answer

In Delhi and Jakarta, they need to build sewage treatment and garbage removal facilities. Much of the basic infrastructure does not exist, while in L.A., these things need to be expanded.

Answer

Los Angeles has more money with which to solve its problems

Question 53

How could we plan cities so they do not sprawl?

Accepted Answer

All of these would help

Answer

Plan housing near jobs and shopping

Answer

Plan for walking and biking and not long distance car-driving to get to shops and work

Answer

Plan the city first, rather than allow sprawl to happen

Question 54

Why is urban sprawl an environmental issue?

Accepted Answer

It leads to greater use of cars, which burns more fossil fuels

Answer

It leads to higher population density

Answer

More people use public transportation

Question 55

Why do you think mass transit is well-developed in large cities, which have subways and buses, and sometimes trolleys and commuter trains?

Accepted Answer

Because you need a high population to be able to afford it and make it practical

Answer

Because the people vote for it there

Answer

Because big cities get all the taxes

Answer

all of the above

Question 56

If you wanted to build a LEED certified building, which of the following would you need to consider?

Accepted Answer

Using energy efficient heating and cooling systems

Answer

Building in a valley

Answer

Building your own electric generator to serve the building

Answer

Making sure there were exercise facilities for the employees

Environmental Test 4

61 questions

Usable electricity is generated by

If you had lived a century ago, what would have been your main source of energy for both heating and cooking?

The main source of energy used to generate electricity in the U.S. is

Which of our appliances consumes the most energy?

What would be a good way to lower your electric bill?

In Europe, gasoline use per person is less than in the U.S. Why?

What factors influence the price of a barrel of oil?

Today people in developed countries consume far more energy per person than people over 100 years ago. What is the greatest contributor to this change?

How do governments use gasoline taxes?

Why have our reserves of oil increased in the last 30 years?

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