Chapters 11: Environmental Geology and Earth Resources, and 12: Energy

Which of the following statements is false? a) Improving standards of living have been repeatedly demonstrated to require increased energy consumption. b) An average house built today requires only half the energy used by a new home in 1974. c) For an average home, standby appliances consume up to 25% of the electricity used in a month. d) Most potential heat from fuel is lost as waste heat. e) All of these are true.

a) Improving standards of living have been repeatedly demonstrated to require increased energy consumption.

_____________________ can easily be moved across land in pipelines, but must be transported in special refrigerated ships to move across oceans. a) Natural gas b) Anthracite c) Light oil d) Methanol e) Heavy crude

a) Natural gas

Why would the environmental degradation associated with mining be a low priority for a less-developed country? a) The country relies on the export of a mineral for the majority of their foreign exchange. b) Both consumers and producers depend on the minerals so much that environmental consequences are of c) Less-developed countries are more likely to import minerals so environmental degradation is not as important to them. d) The environmental impact of mining is low. e) Environmental degradation is usually not a priority for less-developed countries.

a) The country relies on the export of a mineral for the majority of their foreign exchange.

Building and farming on a flood plain decreases the land's ability to absorb flood waters. a) True b) False

a) True

Energy is the capacity to do work. a) True b) False

a) True

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in North America occurred around New Madrid Missouri in 1812. a) True b) False

a) True

Smelting releases metals from ore. a) True b) False

a) True

Control rods in a nuclear reactor are used to a) absorb neutrons. b) move fuel rods around in the chamber. c) provide neutrons to initiate reactions. d) provide cooling by decreasing the temperature of the water. e) increase the temperature of the water.

a) absorb neutrons.

Heap-leach extraction involves piling crushed ore into large piles and spraying it with ________________. a) an alkaline-cyanide solution b) concentrated salt water c) high-pressure steam d) giant sandblasters e) none of these are correct.

a) an alkaline-cyanide solution

The United States keeps large stockpiles of bauxite to ensure a supply of aluminum. This is an example of a) economic geology. b) an evaporite. c) a strategic metal. d) a metal consumed in South America. e) a mineral from a less-developed country.

a) economic geology.

Since the 1920s, hydropower production has a) risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use. b) fallen due to disinterest. c) fallen due to a lack of available sites. d) become our most important energy source. e) stayed at about the same level.

a) risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use.

For much of the past decade battles have been going on over oil and gas drilling in a) the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. b) the Everglades National Wildlife Refuge. c) Buffalo Commons Wildlife Refuge. d) Yellowstone National Park. e) All of these are correct.

a) the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The "ring of fire" is the source of more earthquakes and volcanic activity than any other place on earth. What causes the ring of fire? a) the subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates b) the drift of Europe and Africa away from the Americas c) the collision of two continental plates d) mid-oceanic ridges e) the conduction currents in the hot magma.

a) the subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates

Fossil fuels currently supply about ____ percent of all world commercial energy supplies. a) 95 b) 87 c) 75 d) 50 e) 33

b) 87

The eruption of a volcano can cause global climate changes by causing stratospheric ozone reduction, allowing increased ultraviolet light to reach the Earth's surface. a) True b) False

b) False

The world's largest wind power producers are the United States and Canada. a) True b) False

b) False

Tidal power stations operate by using the energy from waves as they crash on the shore. a) True b) False

b) False

__________ rocks are often the source of metal ores such as gold, silver, and copper. a) Igneous b) Metamorphic c) Sedimentary d) Weathered e) All of these are sources of metal ores.

b) Metamorphic

A system of pipes painted black that have water circulating on the wall in a glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of a) parabolic collection. b) an active solar heating system. c) passive heat absorption. d) eutectic heat exchange. e) charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use.

b) an active solar heating system.

"Subduction" is the process of a tectonic plate a) falling freely into the mantle. b) being forced below another plate. c) melting without moving. d) sliding alongside another plate. e) being sucked into the outer core.

b) being forced below another plate.

The most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant is that a) the plant would explode like a nuclear bomb. b) cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating. c) fuel rods could fail to maintain chain reactions. d) nuclear fusion would get out of control and cause explosions. e) All of these are equally likely.

b) cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating.

A giant sea swell known as a tsunami is caused by a) typhoons. b) earthquakes. c) lunar gravity. d) unusual tides combined with seasonal storms. e) a strong wave during an exceptionally high tide.

b) earthquakes.

Rock formed from magma extruded to the surface through volcanic vents is classified as a) sedimentary. b) igneous. c) metamorphic. d) weathered rock. e) lava.

b) igneous.

The need for extraction of raw metals for making steel has been reduced due to the a) increase in the number of smelters. b) increase in minimills. c) decrease in demand for steel. d) decrease in amount of ore used to produce high quality steel. e) increase in legislation and regulation for the extraction of raw materials.

b) increase in minimills.

A reason to encourage green building designs would be that a) it would eliminate the need for fossil fuels. b) it would save money that would be spent on energy needs. c) it would utilize natural gas. d) it would eliminate brownfields.

b) it would save money that would be spent on energy needs.

Metamorphic rocks are produced when rocks are a) chemically weathered. b) recrystallized by heat and pressure. c) physically broken down. d) melted in the mantle and recrystallized. e) recrystallized through chemical processes.

b) recrystallized by heat and pressure.

Photovoltaic cells work because solar energy striking their surface a) causes the cells to liquefy as they heat. b) releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires. c) is collected in the form of photons and sent through attached wires. d) causes an uneven magnetic charge to develop. e) changes to chemical energy.

b) releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires.

Most useful oil deposits are usually found a) in a liquid pool under a layer of impermeable shale. b) saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge. c) locked in the mineral structure of a rock formation. d) in pools on the earth's surface, where geologic pressures have forced them to collect. e) in small pools directly above the bedrock.

b) saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge.

Most of our energy waste in North America results from a) a failure to turn off lights. b) technological inefficiency. c) the fact that more efficient energy conversion is not possible. d) overwhelming public ignorance of conservation issues. e) the fact that energy conservation techniques are quite expensive.

b) technological inefficiency.

Nuclear power provides about _____ percent of the US energy supply. a) 3 b) 9 c) 12 d) 23 (X) e) 37

c) 12 (?)

Transportation consumes about ______ percent of all energy used in the US each year. a) 13 b) 20 c) 27 d) 33 e) 39

c) 27

Which of the following statements is true? a) World coal reserves are substantially smaller than petroleum reserves. b) The fossil fuel most readily available and abundant in the United States and Canada is petroleum. c) The United States has only enough proven oil supplies to last 4 years at current rates of consumption. d) World coal reserves are only large enough to provide power for about 100 years. e) Under normal operating conditions, you are likely to get a higher dose of radiation living next to a nuclear plant than a coal-burning plant.

c) The United States has only enough proven oil supplies to last 4 years at current rates of consumption.

The US Department of Energy plans to deposit high-level nuclear waste at _________________ for long term storage. a) Las Cruces, New Mexico b) Carson City, Nevada c) Yucca Mountain, Nevada d) Tempe, Arizona e) Death Valley, California

c) Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Rocks are _______ in the process called the rock cycle. a) moved from place to place b) incorporated into living organisms c) broken down and re-formed d) cycled through the core and mantle e) cycled through the crust and core

c) broken down and re-formed

The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is _________. a) iron b) silicon c) oxygen d) aluminum e) none of these are correct.

c) oxygen

A glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of a) parabolic collection. b) an active solar heating system. c) passive heat absorption. d) eutectic heat exchange. e) charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use.

c) passive heat absorption.

What gas is released in the process of smelting? a) carbon monoxide b) chlorine c) sulfur dioxide d) ammonia e) carbon dioxide

c) sulfur dioxide

The United States, making up less than 5 percent of the world's population, uses more than ___ of the world's commercial energy production. a) 9/10 b) 2/3 c) 1/2 d) 1/4 e) 1/3

d) 1/4

________ in the mantle and core make tectonic plates move. a) Conduction movements b) Earthquakes c) Radioactive decay d) Convection currents e) Concurrent currents

d) Convection currents

Which country is the world leader in wind energy? a) The United States (X) b) Denmark c) France d) Japan e) Brazil

d) Japan (?)

Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living by most measures than Americans or Canadians a) because their energy consumption is much greater. b) because they are closer to energy supplies. c) even though their energy use is about equal to ours. d) even though their energy use is much less than ours. e) None of these. Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not have higher standards of living compared to Americans or Canadians.

d) even though their energy use is much less than ours.

Most of the world's nuclear reactors are of the _____________ type. a) graphite b) MAGNOX c) RBMK d) pressurized water (PWR) e) pebble bed

d) pressurized water (PWR)

Worldwide, coal deposits are a) widespread but rarely in economic quantities. b) relatively difficult to find. c) highly unusual formations. d) widespread and extensive. e) decreasing at alarming rates.

d) widespread and extensive.

In the poorest countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, biomass represents ______ percent of their energy consumption. a) 10 b) 30 c) 45 d) 70 e) 90

e) 90

Placer mining causes environmental damage chiefly by a) destroying streambed habitats. b) clogging streams with silt. c) introducing toxic compounds to streams. d) smothering aquatic life. e) All of these are correct.

e) All of these are correct.

Problems associated with gemstones and precious metals such as gold and diamonds include which of the following? a) They are often used to finance violent civil wars. b) They are often used to finance terrorism. c) Their extraction often involves slave labor and torture. d) Their extraction often involves environmental destruction. e) All of these are correct.

e) All of these are correct.

Rocks are classified according to their a) chemical composition. b) physical properties. c) internal structure. d) mode of formation. e) All of these are used to classify rocks.

e) All of these are used to classify rocks.

Which of the following countries is not a principle consumer of crucial metals? a) United States b) France c) Japan d) China e) Russia

e) Russia

A major limiting factor in the conversion from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy is a) funding. b) infrastructure. c) government policy. d) technological development. e) all of the above.

e) all of the above.

Evaporites, formed from ___________, are important economically because they are often found at or above 97% purity and are __________. a) igneous rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability b) metamorphic rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability c) sedimentary rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability d) igneous rocks; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels e) sedimentary rocks; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels

e) sedimentary rocks; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels