10 - Fossil Fuels: Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas

What is the main reason for the shift from underground mining to surface mining in recent years?

• Surface mining is more economical

• Surface mining is less dangerous

• Surface mining is faster

• Surface mining is more environmentally friendly

What is the term used for the method of coal extraction that became synonymous with environmental degradation in the 1970s?

• Underground mining

• Opencast mining

• Deep mining

• Shaft mining

What percentage of U.S. electric power generation is fueled by oil?

• 10%

• 25%

• 1%

• 40%

What is the main component of natural gas used for heating, cooking, and generating electricity?

• Ethane

• Propane

• Methane

• Butane

What is the process of injecting a mixture of water and chemical additives at high pressure down into the borehole to create fractures called?

• Horizontal drilling

• Hydraulic fracturing

• Vertical drilling

• Natural gas processing