Renewable Energy (Ch.18), Water Resources (ch10) Quiz#7, Atmosphere (ch8) Quiz #5, Climate and Human Impacts (ch9) Quiz #6, Nonrenewable Energy (Ch.17)

Which of the following man-made pollutants contributes to cooling of the atmosphere? A. Aerosols B. Carbon Dioxide C. Methane D. Chlorofluorocarbons

A. Aerosols

_____ refers to conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time A. Climate B. Weather C. Precipitation D. Wind speed

B. Weather

What fuel is consumed in a fuel cell, seen below? A) gasoline B) oil C) natural gas D) hydrogen

D) hydrogen

According to the data below, which of these technologies has the highest cost per kilowatt-hour? A. hydropower B. solar thermal C. nuclear power D. photovoltaics E. coal

D. photovoltaics

What is the fossil fuel cost of powering a wind turbine? A) 75% B) 50% C) 25% D) 10% E) 0%

E) 0%

The trend of which atmospheric gas is shown in the figure? A. Stratospheric ozone B. Carbon dioxide C. Methane D. Chlorofluorocarbons

A. Stratospheric ozone

Which of these pollutants is most associated with reduction of the blood's ability to carry oxygen? A. carbon monoxide B. nitrogen oxides C. ozone D. particulate matter

A. carbon monoxide

Suppose that a large coal-burning power plant is located upwind of a pond. The pond's fish and amphibian populations begin to deline. What is the most likely culprit? A. Ozone depletion B. Methane exposure C. Acid deposition D. Heat island effects

C. Acid deposition

Which of these appliances uses the least amount of power on an annual basis? A) television B) water heater C) refrigerator D) washing machine E) clothes dryer

D) washing machine

Why is biomass an attractive source of energy? A) a shift to biofuels from petroleum-based fuels would be seamless B) it makes use of waste products, reducing waste disposal problems C) it reduces our dependence on fossil fuels D) it produces lower levels of sulfur and ash than coal combustion E) all of these choices

E) all of these choices

What is the fuel that is used to power a fuel cell? A) direct solar input B) propane C) oxygen D) uranium E) hydrogen

E) hydrogen

Which of the following actions is mismatched with its type of energy savings? A) setting the thermostat on the hot water heater lower : energy conservation B) turning off lights when a room is not in use : energy conservation C) replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent : energy efficiency D) "superinsulating" a building : energy efficiency E) installing a new condensing furnace to replace a conventional gas furnace : energy conservation

E) installing a new condensing furnace to replace a conventional gas furnace : energy conservation

An analysis of air pollutants in an urban area resulted in the detection of NO2,SO2, Co, and particulates. How are all these chemicals related? A. All of them are classified as primary pollutants B. All of them are classified as secondary pollutants C. All of them contribute to acid precipitation D. All are components of photochemical smog

A. All of them are classified as primary pollutants

Stratospheric ozone thinning is most associated with which of the following chemicals? A. Chlorine compounds B. Nitrogen oxides C. Methane D. Particulates

A. Chlorine compounds

Rising carbon dioxide levels are associated with increased ocean acidity. Based on the figure, how would an enhanced El Nino effect for a given year affect acidity at the equator? A. Enhance it, due to Perivian currents carrying acid water northward B. Enhance it, due to California currents carrying acid water northward C. Lessen it, due to less eastward movement f equatorial water D. There would be no predictable effect

A. Enhance it, due to Perivian currents carrying acid water northward

Even though the data linking climate change to disease outbreak is still circumstantial, diseases such as _____ are predicted to increase due to changes associated with global warming. A. Malaria B. Cancer C. Polio D. AIDS

A. Malaria

Which of these would best help in a community's efforts to adapt to global climate change? A. Replace traditional crops with those that grow better in the new conditions B. Build new coal-fired power plants, or upgrade efficiency of old ones C. Increase fuel economy of motor vehicles D. Reduce fuel usage by increased taxes

A. Replace traditional crops with those that grow better in the new conditions

Sewage is considered a pollutant in water because it tends to INCREASE: A. biochemical oxygen demand B. C. D.

A. biochemical oxygen demand

Which of these has NOT been shown to assist in cleaning urban air? A. increase the use of motor vehicles B. make cleaner fuels available for home cooking C. increase enforcement of pollution laws D. compel refineries to remove lead from gasoline

A. increase the use of motor vehicles

Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth's surface, and contains most surface weather? A. troposphere B. stratosphere C. thermosphere D. mesosphere

A. troposphere

All of these energy saving improvements can be added to a home anytime, but one is much easier to install when the home is being built. Which one? A) installing efficient furnaces B) thick wall insulation C) window and door caulk D) a heat pump

B) thick wall insulation

A city is separated by a large mountain range from an ocean. If prevailing winds are inland, predict this city's precipitation. A. High rainfall due to evaporation of mountain runoff B. High rainfall due to proximity of ocean water C. Low rainfall due to rain shadow effect D. Low rainfall due to local conditions of rising air

C. Low rainfall due to rain shadow effect

What specific aspect of climate change is linked to increases in mallignant malanoma, a type of skin cancer? A. Carbon dioxide increases B. Acid deposition C. Stratospheric ozone depletion D. Tropospheric ozone increases

C. Stratospheric ozone depletion

What are the chemicals most associtated with acid deposition? A. Fluorine and chlorine B. Methane and ammonia C. Sulfur and nitrogen D. Carbon and oxygen

C. Sulfur and nitrogen

In mid-latitudinal areas, which factor affects the yearly change of seasonal temperatures the most? A. Local conditions of humidity B. A regions average cloud coverage C. The angle of incident sunlight D. Distance between the earth and the sun wrong

C. The angle of incident sunlight

What is a rain shadow? A. The silhouette of mountains as the sun passes from east to west B. The shade on the ground produced by clouds that threaten rain C. The dry land on the side of the mountains away from the prevailing wind D. The lessening of a chance of precipitation on any given day due to dry air at equator

C. The dry land on the side of the mountains away from the prevailing wind

What single factor could best explain the overall air pollution status of less developed countries? A. poor sanitation facilities B. lack of education among urban people C. a race for industrialization by the government D. citizens clinging to traditional technologies

C. a race for industrialization by the government

All of the following are options to conserve energy at home except A. improve insulation B. install double paned windows C. keep a beverage refrigerator in the garage D. use thermal lined curtains E. caulk cracks on exterior of home

C. keep a beverage refrigerator in the garage

Hydrogen bonding accounts for all but one of the following properties of water. Which one? A. high boiling point B. high melting point C. molecular polarity D. improved abilities as a solvent

C. molecular polarity

What type of heating system is illustrated below for this home in Santa Fe, NM? A. geothermal B. wind turbine C. passive solar D. nonrenewable E. hydropower

C. passive solar

Which of these is true regarding energy conservation and efficiency practices? A. they have little potential for improving our current energy situation B. their development and production restricts job opportunities and waste tax dollars C. these practices are cheaper to implement than searching for new energy sources D. they are incompatible with growing economies, such as in China

C. these practices are cheaper to implement than searching for new energy sources

Which of these is an inaccurate statement regarding the harvest of geothermal energy? A) Accessible on virtually any land area on Earth. B) May depend on exhaustible water supplies. C) Can utilize hot, dry rock to produce heated water. D) Potentially has more energy than all oil and gas sources combined.

A) Accessible on virtually any land area on Earth.

The most common use for active solar collection is to _____ . A) Heat water. B) Produce electricity. C) Power fuel cells. D) Align photoelectric arrays.

A) Heat water.

The costs of adding energy efficiency at home: A) are high at first but can be recouped later. B) are almost always paid for by the federal government. C) are so high they will never be made up without some help from incentives. D) are inexpensive, and homeowners save money right away.

A) are high at first but can be recouped later.

Electric meters can run backward for homeowners participating in net metering. What does this mean? A) homeowners receive meter credit for excess energy they generate and supply to the utility's power grid B) the up front costs for installing renewable energy is recovered by rewinding the home's electric meter C) if a homeowner uses less energy in one month than the previous month, then the difference is subtracted from the electric meter D) homeowners who voluntarily cut back on air conditioning use are granted a electric credit E) a radio controlled electric meter for remote monitoring allows the utility company to stop the meter during peak demand periods

A) homeowners receive meter credit for excess energy they generate and supply to the utility's power grid

Which of these is a property of photovoltaic electricity production, but not of solar thermal electricity? A) produces toxic by-products during manufacture B) solar is primary energy source C) produces no air pollution during operation D) produces electricity

A) produces toxic by-products during manufacture

Fluidized-bed combustion is a coal technology that _____. A) reduces acid and greenhouse gas emissions B) reduces overall heat extracted per kilo of coal C) reduces acidic exhaust, but increases particulates and flyash D) eliminates the need for scrubbers

A) reduces acid and greenhouse gas emissions

The greatest hurdle that must be overcome to fully embrace nuclear power to generate electricity is A) safe storage of radioactive waste. B) monitoring low-level radiation continuously being released into the surrounding region. C) filtering the release of CO2 contributing to greenhouse gasses. D) deactivating radioactive water flushed from cooling towers. E) increased safety measures to decrease the potential for nuclear explosion releasing radiation into the atmosphere.

A) safe storage of radioactive waste.

All of the following are challenges that face the application of fuel cell technology for motor vehicles except A) the size and weight of the fuel cell is prohibitive for use in automobiles. B) fuel cells are expensive. C) hydrogen is extremely volatile so safety issues must be addressed. D) infrastructure for refueling is not in place. E) the ability of the fuel cell to store more than a fixed amount of energy.

A) the size and weight of the fuel cell is prohibitive for use in automobiles.

Salinizaion of agricultural soil is a direct result of which human practice? A. irrigation B. C. D.

A. irrigation

The formation of which major secondary pollutant is illustrated in the figure? A. photochemical smog B. particulates C. acid precipitation D. ozone depleting-chemicals

A. photochemical smog

What is acid mine drainage? A. pollution caused when rainwater seeps through iron sulfide minerals exposed in mine wastes B. photochemical reactions between particulates and water vapor C. residue from sulfur and nitrogen compounds found in coal dust D. acid precopiation caused by emissions from burning coal E. a low pH fuel that is synthesized from natural gas

A. pollution caused when rainwater seeps through iron sulfide minerals exposed in mine wastes

What is the role of a sand filter in drinking water purification? A. remove suspended particles B. C. D.

A. remove suspended particles

Note the following diagram of a forest water budget. If the area were to become more urban, which of these values would increase? A. surface runoff B. C. D.

A. surface runoff

Chemicals associated with acid deposition originate by reaction of airborne pollutants with what atmospheric chemical? A. Water B. Methane C. Chlorofluorocarbons D. Nitrogen

A. water

What of these is the main advantage to using fuel cells over direct photovoltaic energy? A) Fuel cells provide a fixed amount of energy, then they are disposable. B) Fuel cells can store the energy for later use. C) Converting electricity to fuel cell energy increases efficiency. D) Photovoltaic electricity cannot power devices directly.

B) Fuel cells can store the energy for later use.

Which of these is the best example of a biomass fuel? A) oil B) animal waste C) coal D) natural gas

B) animal waste

Which of these is an example of an energy efficient practice, as opposed to energy conservation, by a large business? A) giving employees a bonus to buy a bicycle to ride to work B) installing "intelligent" thermostats that provide comfort but better control of energy use C) allowing employees to wear seasonal, more practical clothes D) a yearly bonus to employees who contribute usable ideas on electricity savings

B) installing "intelligent" thermostats that provide comfort but better control of energy use

How much does the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict global temperature might increase by the year 2100? A. 0* to 1.4*C B. 1.8* to 4.0*C C. 3* to 5.7*C D. 3.5* to 10.4*C E. None, they didn't actually make a prediction

B. 1.8* to 4.0*C

Which of these greenhouse gases is most associated with automobile exhaust? A. Carbon dioxide and methane B. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides C. Nitrogen oxides and chlorofluorocarbons D. Methane and chlorofluorocarbons

B. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides

Which of the following does not contribute to ozone depletion? A. Carbon tetrachloride used as an industrial solvent B. Carbon dioxide used as a dry cleaning solvent C. Halons used a fire retardants Wrong D. Methyl bromide used as a pesticide

B. Carbon dioxide used as a dry cleaning solvent

Which of the following best describes a weather condition? A. The local land elevation B. Current percent cloud cover C. Overall biome classification D. Average seasonal temperature

B. Current percent cloud cover

"Fish Ladders" are a strategy employed to minimize environmental impact of ___. A. B. Dams C. D.

B. Dams

Even if all burning of fossil fuels was stopped today, why will temperatures continue to increase? A. Fossil fuel emissions are not responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect B. Greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere for many years C. Deforestation must also be stopped in order for temperatures to decline D. Increased methane emission will more than make up for the difference

B. Greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere for many years

Which of these would be a successful method of mitigating climate change in an urban area? A. Replace trees with shrubs B. Install bike pathways C. Reduce fines and pathway violations D. Use native species sparingly

B. Install bike pathways

According to the U.S. map below of average daily total of annual solar energy, which state is least suited for producing electricity from solar energy? A. Nebraska B. New York C. New Mexico D. North Carolina E. North Dakota

B. New York

Ozone in the______ is essential as it protects the Earth's surface form UV radiation but ozone in the _____ is a human-made air pollutant that contributes to global warming. A. Troposphere; stratosphere B. Stratosphere; troposphere C. Troposphere; thermosphere D. Mesosphere; stratosphere

B. Stratosphere; troposphere

Although the United States banned some ozone depleting chemicals in 1978, the 187 agreement had more overall effect on reducing emission levels. A. The Copenhagen Climate Conference B. The Montreal Protocol C. The Kyoto Treaty D. The Clean Air Act

B. The Montreal Protocol

What problem has been associated with substitutes for CFCs, such as HFCs and HCFCc? A. They increase depletion of ozone B. They act as powerful greenhouse gases C. They are carcinogenic D. They increase acid precipitation

B. They act as powerful greenhouse gases

Which term applies to the gaseous envelope surrounding Earth? A. terrasphere B. atmosphere C. hydrosphere D. biosphere

B. atmosphere

Currently, gasoline is augmented with up to 10% ethanol, that is processed from ____. A. petroleum B. biofuel C. natural gas D. coal

B. biofuel

What chemical emission has just recently (2008) been added by the Supreme Court to the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency through the Clean Air Act? A. air toxics B. carbon dioxide C. sulfur oxides D. particulates

B. carbon dioxide

Classify the effect that is shown in the figure. A. thermal inversion B. heat island C. dust dome D. pollution plume

B. heat island

In rural areas of developing countries, photovoltaic cells are used for all of the following purposes except A. charging batteries B. heating hot water heaters C. providing refrigeration for vaccines D. grinding grain E. pumping water

B. heating hot water heaters

Which of the following is TRUE regarding polluted groundwater? A. B. homeowners contribute to groundwater pollution C. D.

B. homeowners contribute to groundwater pollution

What practice has caused filing of valleys and acidification of lakes in southern West Virginia? A. oil refining B. mountaintop removal C. subsurface mining D. acid precipitation

B. mountaintop removal

Which best describes the environmental crisis seen at the Ogallala Aquifer? A. B. overdrawing of groundwater C. D.

B. overdrawing of groundwater

Which of the following would be considered a secondary air pollutant? A. carbon dioxide B. ozone C. particulates D. carbon monoxide

B. ozone

If a certain specific amount of heat energy were absorbed by a both pound of water and by a pound of steel, whose temperature would increase the most? A. B. the steel C. D.

B. the steel

What is the ultimate source of energy in tidal power? A) ocean waves B) solar radiation C) gravitational forces D) the Earth's magnetic field

C) gravitational forces

Which of these forms of generating electricity has the highest efficiency (90%) of converting available power to usable electricity? A) wind B) photovoltaic C) hydropower D) burning natural gas

C) hydropower

Passive solar heating refers to using A) the sun's energy, collected by solar panels, to generate electricity B) plant and animal material as fuel to generate heat C) sun's energy to heat building without pumps or fans to distribute the heat D) recycled water to cool the nuclear reactor in power plants E) solar-generated hydrogen to produce water and heat

C) sun's energy to heat building without pumps or fans to distribute the heat

A solar thermal electric generator operates LEAST like a __________ power plant. A) coal-fired B) nuclear C) wind D) biomass-fueled

C) wind

The computer-generated image below depicts a part of the southern hemisphere in December 2007. What is the source of the purple-colored region on the image represent? A. A zone with high concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide B. A zone with high concentration of tropospheric ozone C. A zone with low concentration of stratospheric ozone D. A zone with high CFC concentrations

C. A zone with low concentration of stratospheric ozone

What important function does the earth's stratosphere ozone layer perform? A. Conversion of greenhouse gases into harmless by-products B. Enhancement of aerosol cooling effects C. Absorption of dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the sun D. Production of increased amounts of cloud cover

C. Absorption of dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the sun

This statue has been subject to effects of an air pollutant. Which one? A. Ozone depletion B. Chlorofluorocarbons C. Acid rain D. Carbon dioxide

C. Acid rain

Which of the following best illustrates the difference between weather and climate? A. Climate always describes global conditions, while weather is local B. Weather changes over long periods, while climate change is rapid C. Climate includes weather variations along with other factors D. Climate types are constant for a given latitude, while weather can vary

C. Climate includes weather variations along with other factors

Describe air that has been circulated into the upper atmosphere and is descending to Earth. A. Warm and dry B. Warm and wet C. Cool and dry D. Cool and wet

C. Cool and dry

Which of these can be attributed to global climate change? A. Decreased range of disease-carrying tropical insects B. Exposure of additional land along seaside communities C. Decline in important oceanic food catches D. Increased biological diversity of native species

C. Decline in important oceanic food catches

Which of these statements is true for wind energy, but NOT for hydropower? A) Is associated with spread of certain parasitic diseases, such as Schistosomiasis. B) Often displaces agriculture and indigent peoples. C) Produces no air pollution in normal operation. D) Has great potential for expansion in highly developed countries.

D) Has great potential for expansion in highly developed countries.

Nuclear energy is released A) by splitting two electrons (wrong) B) by joining a proton with a neutron. C) by breaking a chemical bond between two atoms. D) by splitting an atomic nucleus into two smaller fragments. E) by combustion of uranium ore.

D) by splitting an atomic nucleus into two smaller fragments.

Besides temperature records, evidence that points to an increase in global temperatures includes: A. Rise in sea levels B. Retreating of the worlds glaciers C. In the northern hemisphere, spring now arrives a little early and autumn starts a little late D. All of these choices

D. All of these choices

If a country were to remove vegetation, leaving sandy soil, which of these factors would increase? A. Absorption of clouds B. Absorption of land C. Reflection of clouds D. Reflection of land

D. Reflection of land

Of the devices below, which of these is incorporating a passive solar design? A. a B. b C. c D. d

D. d

What characteristic defines a primary air pollutant? A. any pollutant which does not originate from a natural source B. forms in the atmosphere by interaction of other pollutants C. has a direct effect on human health via inhalation or other exposure D. includes materials that come directly from human activities

D. includes materials that come directly from human activities

What are the two predominant gases in dry air? A. carbon dioxide and water B. oxygen and water C. nitrogen and carbon dioxide D. oxygen and nitrogen

D. oxygen and nitrogen

Which of these pollutants is least associated with release from burning materials? A. particulates B. sulfur oxides C. carbon dioxide D. ozone

D. ozone

Which of these best describes the atmospheric of sulfur dioxides? A. most powerful contributor to global warming B. classified as an "air toxic" C. ozone depleting chemical D. reacts to form corrosive acids

D. reacts to form corrosive acids

Energy efficiency is defined as A. energy that escapes in an unusable form B. energy in bonds broken (minus) energy in bonds formed C. using fossil fuels instead of renewable alternative energy D. using less energy to accomplish a given task, by using new technology, for example E. using less energy by reducing energy use and waste, for example

D. using less energy to accomplish a given task, by using new technology, for example

Which of the following best describes the change occurring to the Uranium-235 nucleus at #2 in the nuclear fission process? A. U-235 nucleus rearranges the configuration of its electrons, releasing energy B. the enrichment of U-235 into U-255 C. the combustion of U-235 into U-238 D. positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons are attracting each other E. U-235 nucleus splits into two smaller radioactive fragments and several free neutrons

E. U-235 nucleus splits into two smaller radioactive fragments and several free neutrons