Oil and Nuclear R+Q

What percentage of the world's electricity is provided by nuclear reactors?

• 11%

• 20%

• 5%

• 15%

Which element is most commonly used as fuel in nuclear reactors?

• Uranium

• Plutonium

• Thorium

• Carbon

What is the main difference between boiling water reactors and pressurized water reactors?

• Boiling water reactors heat water to boiling point, while pressurized water reactors use pressurized water that does not boil.

• Boiling water reactors use carbon dioxide as a cooling agent, while pressurized water reactors use liquid sodium.

• Boiling water reactors are used in the U.K., while pressurized water reactors are used in the U.S.

• Boiling water reactors produce more energy than pressurized water reactors.

What is the main argument for considering nuclear power as a climate change solution?

• Nuclear reactors do not release greenhouse gases.

• Nuclear power is a renewable energy source.

• Nuclear power plants are cheaper to build than solar plants.

• Nuclear power produces more energy than wind power.

What was a major consequence of the Chernobyl disaster?

• Large amounts of radioactivity were released into the air, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

• The reactor was successfully contained with no release of radioactivity.

• The disaster led to the immediate shutdown of all nuclear power plants worldwide.

• The area surrounding the plant became a popular residential area.

Read the following sentence from the introduction [paragraphs 1-8]. "However, petroleum, like coal and natural gas, is a non-renewable source of energy." Which of the following phrases from the introduction provides context clues to the meaning of “non-renewable"?

• Extracted from giant drilling machines

• it is also processed

• adding to the natural balance

• there is no way for us to replace it

Read the following paragraph from the section “Petroleum Reservoirs." "Geologists, chemists and engineers look for geological structures that typically trap petroleum. They use a process called "seismic reflection" to locate underground rock structures that might have trapped crude oil. During the process, a small explosion is set off. Sound waves travel underground, bounce off of the different types of rock, and return to the surface. Sensors on the ground interpret the returning sound waves to determine the underground geological layout and possibility of a petroleum reservoir."

Which of the following words from the paragraph BEST helps to explain what "seismic reflection" is referring to?

• trapped crude oil

• a small explosion

• returning sound waves

• underground geological layout

Read the section "Peak Oil." What is the MOST LIKELY reason for including information about reserves-to-production?

• to explain how much damage a country will cause to the environment once it reaches peak oil

• to show how experts calculate how much time a country has before its peak oil is reached

• to prove the claim made by geologists that the time for peak oil has already passed

• to demonstrate how governments measure the barrels of petroleum that they extract

A reader of the article suggested that the author included the section "Petroleum Alternatives" to demonstrate that petroleum alternatives are impractical. Is this a reasonable claim? Which line from the article BEST supports your answer?

• No; Individuals, industries and organizations are increasingly concerned with peak oil and environmental consequences of petroleum extraction.

• Yes; Alternatives to oil are being developed in some areas and governments and organizations are encouraging citizens to change their habits so we do not rely so heavily on oil.

• No; Algae grows extremely quickly and takes up a fraction of the space used by other biofuel feedstocks.

• Yes; Experts in agriculture, science, industry, forestry and energy have come together to develop sources of sustainable energy, including geothermal heat pumps, wind farms, wave and solar energy and domestic biofuel for hybrid vehicles.