Unit 7 MCQ

Although nuclear energy is considered a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels, some scientists argue this does not support the claim that nuclear energy is renewable. Which of the following claims best supports the argument that nuclear energy is a nonrenewable energy source?

Responses

• The uranium deposits on Earth are finite.

  The uranium deposits on Earth are finite. - correct

• Nuclear power plants convert water to steam, similar to fossil fuel–burning power plants.

  Nuclear power plants convert water to steam, similar to fossil fuel–burning power plants. - no response given

• Nuclear energy has low carbon emissions and does not contribute to global warming.

  Nuclear energy has low carbon emissions and does not contribute to global warming. - no response given

• Nuclear energy is generated by the process of nuclear fission.

  Nuclear energy is generated by the process of nuclear fission. - no response given

02Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Which of the following describes an environmental problem that can result from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity?

Responses

• Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion fossil fuels, and it can lead to global climate change when released into the atmosphere.

  Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion fossil fuels, and it can lead to global climate change when released into the atmosphere. - correct

• The combustion of fossil fuels can heat water to convert the water into steam to turn turbines that are connected to electrical generators.

  The combustion of fossil fuels can heat water to convert the water into steam to turn turbines that are connected to electrical generators. - no response given

• A chemical reaction occurs between the fossil fuel and oxygen to produce energy for the generation of electricity.

  A chemical reaction occurs between the fossil fuel and oxygen to produce energy for the generation of electricity. - no response given

• Combustion reactions using fossil fuels require more energy than they produce and are therefore very inefficient.

  Combustion reactions using fossil fuels require more energy than they produce and are therefore very inefficient. - no response given

03Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Currently proven global reserves are expected to be largely exhausted within the next 50-60 years.

Responses

• coal

  coal - no response given

• solar

  solar - no response given

• U-238

  U-238 - no response given

• oil

  oil - correct

04Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Which of the following countries has the highest percentage of electricity generated from nuclear power plants?

Responses

• Canada

  Canada - no response given

• Sweden

  Sweden - no response given

• France

  France - correct

• United States

  United States - no response given

05Multiple Choice

0/ 2

Of the following sources, which supplies the most energy in the world today?

Responses

• oil

  oil - not selected, this is the correct answer

• nuclear

  nuclear - no response given

• natural gas

  natural gas - no response given

• coal

  coal - incorrect

06Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Most high-level radioactive waste is currently

Responses

• put into steel drums and dumped into the ocean

  put into steel drums and dumped into the ocean - no response given

• buried in government landfills

  buried in government landfills - no response given

• recycled

  recycled - no response given

• stored at reactor sites

  stored at reactor sites - correct

07Multiple Choice

0/ 2

The half-life of radon gas is approximately four days. Four weeks after the introduction of radon into a sealed room, the fraction of the original amount remaining is closest to

Responses

• 1/ 8

  1/ 8 - incorrect

• 1/ 64

  1/ 64 - no response given

• 1/ 32

  1/ 32 - no response given

• 1/128

  1/128 - not selected, this is the correct answer

08Multiple Choice

2/ 2

A self-amplifying reaction and a nuclear explosion in a nuclear power plant are prevented in large part by

Responses

• control rods that absorb extra neutrons

  control rods that absorb extra neutrons - correct

• fuel rods that absorb tremendous amounts of heat

  fuel rods that absorb tremendous amounts of heat - no response given

• the production of plutonium-835

  the production of plutonium-835 - no response given

• the regular addition of uranium-239 to the fuel

  the regular addition of uranium-239 to the fuel - no response given

09Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Conventional alternative fuels

Responses

• exert less environmental impact than fossil fuels but are currently not feasible.

  exert less environmental impact than fossil fuels but are currently not feasible. - no response given

• are all 100% renewable

  are all 100% renewable - no response given

• are final sources of fuel that will give us energy independence.

  are final sources of fuel that will give us energy independence. - no response given

• are intermediate sources of fuel that can help us on our path toward sustainability.

  are intermediate sources of fuel that can help us on our path toward sustainability. - correct

10Multiple Choice

2/ 2

The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster ________.

Responses

• is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills

  is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills - no response given

• was quickly cleaned up preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries

  was quickly cleaned up preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries - no response given

• resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters

  resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters - no response given

• is the largest accidental marine oil spill in world history, causing damage to marine and coastal ecosystems

  is the largest accidental marine oil spill in world history, causing damage to marine and coastal ecosystems - correct

11Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Which of the following is the most valid inference regarding electricity production, based on the graph below?

Responses

• Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy.

  Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of the increasing use of natural gas and renewable energy. - correct

• The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of the low cost of constructing nuclear power plants

  The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of the low cost of constructing nuclear power plants - no response given

• The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of shortages in coal supplies

  The use of nuclear energy increased from 1970 to 2010 because of shortages in coal supplies - no response given

• Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of shortages in coal supplies.

  Electricity production from coal began to decrease in 2008 because of shortages in coal supplies. - no response given

12Multiple Choice

0/ 2

The separation of the various components of crude oil in refineries is accomplished primarily by taking advantage of differences in which of the following?

Responses

• The solubility of the components

  The solubility of the components - no response given

• The sulfur content of the components

  The sulfur content of the components - no response given

• The viscosities of the components

  The viscosities of the components - incorrect

• The boiling points of the components

  The boiling points of the components - not selected, this is the correct answer

13Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Burning one gallon of gasoline in a car releases approximately 20 pounds of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

One person drives 60,000 miles in a car that averages 30 miles per gallon (mpg), while another person drives 60,000 miles in a car that averages 20 mpg. Over the course of the 60,000 miles, how many fewer pounds of CO₂ are released by the 30 mpg car than by the 20 mpg car?

Responses

• 2,000

  2,000 - no response given

• 20,000

  20,000 - correct

• 80,000

  80,000 - no response given

• 100,000

  100,000 - no response given

14Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Location of the most severe nuclear power plant accident in the United States

Responses

• Chernobyl

  Chernobyl - no response given

• Yucca Mountain

  Yucca Mountain - no response given

• Three Mile Island

  Three Mile Island - correct

• Fukushima Daiichi

  Fukushima Daiichi - no response given

15Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Natural gas is primarily composed of ________.

Responses

• methane

  methane - correct

• octance

  octance - no response given

• butane

  butane - no response given

• sulfur dioxide

  sulfur dioxide - no response given

16Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Which of the following best describes an environmental problem associated with hydrologic fracturing, or fracking?

Responses

• Fractures in the shale will close up once the fracking fluid is removed unless fine particles, like sand, are introduced to hold them open.

  Fractures in the shale will close up once the fracking fluid is removed unless fine particles, like sand, are introduced to hold them open. - no response given

• Fracking fluids can escape from the drill hole and contaminate surface water and groundwater.

  Fracking fluids can escape from the drill hole and contaminate surface water and groundwater. - correct

• The products of fracking release more carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels.

  The products of fracking release more carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels. - no response given

• Fracking has led to an increase in the production of oil and natural gas, lowering energy prices.

  Fracking has led to an increase in the production of oil and natural gas, lowering energy prices. - no response given

17Multiple Choice

2/ 2

There are various stages in the formation of coal as heat and pressure are increased and moisture content is decreased. These stages, in order, are

Responses

• bituminous, peat, lignite, anthracite

  bituminous, peat, lignite, anthracite - no response given

• peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite

  peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite - correct

• lignite, bituminous, anthracite, peat

  lignite, bituminous, anthracite, peat - no response given

• peat, lignite, anthracite, bituminous

  peat, lignite, anthracite, bituminous - no response given

18Multiple Choice

2/ 2

During the Cretaceous period of Earth’s geological history, eastern Montana was covered with lowland swamps rich in plant life. These plants were buried and slowly decomposed.

Which of the following resources would most likely be mined from the plant remains buried in eastern Montana during the Cretaceous?

Responses

• Radioactive materials such as uranium

  Radioactive materials such as uranium - no response given

• Building materials such as limestone.

  Building materials such as limestone. - no response given

• Fossil fuels such as coal

  Fossil fuels such as coal - correct

• Precious minerals such as gold

  Precious minerals such as gold - no response given

19Multiple Choice

2/ 2

Which of the following would be most likely to be used as a fuel source for electricity generation in the plant displayed in the diagram?

Responses

• Cesium-137

  Cesium-137 - no response given

• Uranium-235

  Uranium-235 - correct

• Iodine-123

  Iodine-123 - no response given

• Yttrium-90 and Yttrium-91

  Yttrium-90 and Yttrium-91 - no response given

20Multiple Choice

0/ 2

Which of the following is the best example of cogeneration?

Responses

• A power plant uses both coal and natural gas as fuel.

  A power plant uses both coal and natural gas as fuel. - incorrect

• A trash-to-steam power plant accepts both residential and commercial waste.

  A trash-to-steam power plant accepts both residential and commercial waste. - no response given

• Emissions from power plants are captured and stripped of sulfur for commercial sale

  Emissions from power plants are captured and stripped of sulfur for commercial sale - no response given

• A coal-fired power plant captures waste heat and uses it to heat adjacent buildings.

  A coal-fired power plant captures waste heat and uses it to heat adjacent buildings. - not selected, this is the correct answer

21Multiple Choice

0/ 2

This region has the largest proven reserves of petroleum.  

Responses

• A

  A - incorrect

• C

  C - no response given

• D

  D - no response given

• E

  E - not selected, this is the correct answer

22Multiple Choice

0/ 2

If the half-life of radioactive element “X” is 500 million years, how much of an 800 g sample would remain radioactive after 1.5 billion years?

Responses

• 1.5 g

  1.5 g - no response given

• 400 g

  400 g - no response given

• 200 g

  200 g - incorrect

• 100 g

  100 g - not selected, this is the correct answer

23Multiple Choice

2/ 2

The majority of atmospheric mercury is produced by

Responses

• municipal waste incinerators

  municipal waste incinerators - no response given

• coal-burning power plants

  coal-burning power plants - correct

• volatilization of lead-based paint

  volatilization of lead-based paint - no response given

• runoff from thermometer factories

  runoff from thermometer factories - no response given

24Multiple Choice

0/ 2

The diagram shows a power plant designed to generate electricity for a nearby city.

Which of the following environmental problems is most often associated with electricity generation in the type of power plant illustrated in the diagram?

Responses

• Intermittent weather patterns can lead to discontinuous generation of electricity

  Intermittent weather patterns can lead to discontinuous generation of electricity - no response given

• Toxic metals are released into nearby reservoirs in the cooling water.

  Toxic metals are released into nearby reservoirs in the cooling water. - incorrect

• Spent fuel rods are radioactive and must be disposed of properly.

  Spent fuel rods are radioactive and must be disposed of properly. - not selected, this is the correct answer

• Air pollutants that can lead to acid rain are released and move downwind.

  Air pollutants that can lead to acid rain are released and move downwind. - no response given

25Multiple Choice

Nuclear power plants in use today rely on

Responses

• fission reactions to generate heat to boil water

  fission reactions to generate heat to boil water - not selected, this is the correct answer

• fission reactions to directly generate electricity

  fission reactions to directly generate electricity - incorrect

• fusion reactions to directly generate electricity

  fusion reactions to directly generate electricity - no response given

• fusion reactions to generate heat to boil water

  fusion reactions to generate heat to boil water - no response given