Science exam

do not produce as much electricity on cloudy days

A major limitation of using photovoltaic cells to generate electricity is that they

The increase in oil consumption outpaced the increases in coal and natural gas consumption.

According to the data plotted in the graph above, which of the following is true about the increase in world fossil fuel consumption between 1965 and 1980 ?The increase in oil consumption outpaced the increases in coal and natural gas consumption.

cleaner because it burns more completely

An advantage of using natural gas, rather than oil, as a fuel is that natural gas is

The number of cars on the road increased.

Between 1960 and 1970, world oil consumption approximately doubled. Which of the following explanations is consistent with this increase?

Sunlight

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following energy sources. Biomass Wind Tidal energy Nuclear fission Sunlight The source that is converted directly into electrical energy by photovoltaic cells

Nuclear fission

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following energy sources. Biomass Wind Tidal energy Nuclear fission Sunlight The source that is not renewable

Nuclear fission

Directions: Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following energy sources. Biomass Wind Tidal energy Nuclear fission Sunlight The source that produces long-lived hazardous wastes

I and III only

Economic benefits of building large dams include which of the following? I. Storage of water for agriculture and domestic use II. Controlling floods upstream III. Production of renewable energy

Hormones

Endocrine disruptors directly affect which of the following in an organism?

Groundwater contamination

Extraction of natural gas by the process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is most likely to result in which of the following environmental problems?

Five hundred out of every one thousand rats would die.

For a certain insecticide, the LD-50 dosage level for rats is determined to be 250 milligrams per kilograms of body mass. On the basis of this information, which of the following is the best prediction regarding the consequences of receiving this dosage of the insecticide?

create cracks within the rock in order to provide pathways for the release of gas and oil

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the pumping of highly pressurized water with a mixture of sand and chemicals into boreholes to

Biomass

In the majority of less developed countries, the major source of energy for domestic use is which of the following?

sanitary landfills

Most municipal solid waste in the United States is disposed of in

Oil

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

decrease the use of fossil fuels

One solution for reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide would be to

Carbon monoxide

Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following gases. Carbon dioxide Carbon monoxide Methane Radon Sulfur dioxide Has a stronger affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen has

Sulfur dioxide

Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following gases. Carbon dioxide Carbon monoxide Methane Radon Sulfur dioxide Is an important precursor to acid rain

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following. (A) Safe Drinking Water Act (B) Clean Water Act (C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (E) Toxic Substances Control Act Establishes cradle-to-grave tracking of hazardous waste

Clean Water Act

Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the following. (A) Safe Drinking Water Act (B) Clean Water Act (C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (E) Toxic Substances Control Act Mandates the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters

Asbestos

Select the choice that best fits each statement. The following question(s) refer to the substances listed. (A) Asbestos (B) Radon (C) Lead (D) Carbon monoxide (E) Formaldehyde Composed of fibers known to cause lung disease

Natural gas combustion emits fewer pollutants.

Some automobiles in the United States are fueled by natural gas. What is the primary environmental advantage of natural gas relative to gasoline as a transportation fuel?

A solar collector system using mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight

Some solar energy systems produce high-temperature water for industrial applications and produce steam to run turbines that generate electricity. What type of solar energy system is needed for these kinds of applications?

Biological treatment

The following question(s) refer to the following methods of solid-waste disposal and treatment (A) Sanitary landfill (B) Incineration (C) Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers (D) Chemical treatment (E) Biological treatment Which method introduces microorganisms to break down hazardous organic compounds?

Sanitary landfill

The following question(s) refer to the following methods of solid-waste disposal and treatment (A) Sanitary landfill (B) Incineration (C) Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers (D) Chemical treatment (E) Biological treatment Which method is used most frequently in the United States today?

Incineration

The following question(s) refer to the following methods of solid-waste disposal and treatment (A) Sanitary landfill (B) Incineration (C) Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers (D) Chemical treatment (E) Biological treatment Which method reduces the volume of waste but could release toxic emissions into the atmosphere?

Chemical treatment

The following question(s) refer to the following methods of solid-waste disposal and treatment (A) Sanitary landfill (B) Incineration (C) Discharge to sewers, streams, and rivers (D) Chemical treatment (E) Biological treatment Which method would be best suited for neutralizing the acidic components of waste?

Lead

The following questions refer to this list of pollutants. (A) Radon (B) Mercury (C) Lead (D) Copper (E) Iron Was once widely used in the United States as a gasoline additive

Installing effective ventilation systems in dwellings

Throughout the world, especially the less-developed countries, burning wood or other biomass for heating or cooking in homes is common. One negative environmental impact of this practice is the production of particulates indoors, which can be a health hazard to humans. Which of the following describes the best strategy for mitigating this potential problem?

Runoff from agricultural fields

Waste from which of the following is an example of nonpoint source pollution?

Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen to generate electricity that runs the motor.

Which of the following accurately describes a fuel cell vehicle?

Offshore winds farms will produce up to three times as much electricity as wind farms on land because of increased wind speeds offshore.

Which of the following best describes a benefit of increasing the number of offshore wind farms rather than onshore wind farms?

Geothermal energy implementation in homes and businesses has a high upfront cost, and electricity is needed to operate pumps.

Which of the following best describes a disadvantage of geothermal energy production?

Persistent organic pollutants are soluble in fat, so they accumulate in an organisms' fatty tissues.

Which of the following best describes a way that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) cause harm in the environment?

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

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

Emissions from power plants that burn fossil fuels increase atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is absorbed by the ocean.

Which of the following best describes how an anthropogenic activity can increase ocean acidification?

An endocrine disruptor blocks the receptor protein binding site of a hormone so that the cell cannot receive a signal.

Which of the following best describes the action of an endocrine disruptor?

The use of a vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells because there are no carbon emissions

Which of the following best describes the method of vehicle transport that is the most environmentally sustainable?

At the anode, hydrogen is oxidized and electrons flow in a circuit to the cathode. At the cathode, oxygen reacts with the hydrogen to produce water. Water and heat are by-products of the reaction.

Which of the following best explains the process of electricity generation in a hydrogen fuel cell?

Reduce Reuse Recycle

Which of the following correctly orders the methods of solid-waste management in terms of energy required?

China

Which of the following countries has the largest coal reserves?

Increase in respiratory irritation due to increased levels of fine airborne particulates

Which of the following describes a potential human health effect most likely to be associated with a thermal inversion?

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

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

Increased burning of fossil fuels in power plants

Which of the following events would most likely lead to a decrease in the pH in the oceans?

Fertilizer from suburban lawns and wastewater from a water treatment plant

Which of the following examples includes both a point and a nonpoint source of pollution?

The United States

Which of the following has the largest proven coal reserves?

Nonrenewable energy sources typically take a longer time to replenish than renewable energy sources do.

Which of the following is a characteristic of nonrenewable energy sources that distinguishes them from renewable energy sources?

There is high energy investment in producing and processing the crops needed for ethanol production.

Which of the following is a drawback to using biofuels, such as ethanol, as a fuel source?

Oil released from the broken hull of a shipwrecked tanker

Which of the following is a point source pollutant that would likely affect the ecosystem health of a coral reef?

Carbon monoxide

Which of the following is a primary air pollutant produced from burning coal?

Individuals pay for medical treatment of lung disease aggravated by pollution from a coal- fired power plant.

Which of the following is an example of an external cost?

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

Which of the following is the best example of cogeneration?

Disposal of radioactive waste

Which of the following is the primary environmental problem associated with the use of nuclear power to generate electricity?

Decreasing taxes on recycled material

Which of the following would encourage recycling?

A

Which of the structures in the diagram is the site where the nuclear power plant accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl occurred?

The United States, the former Soviet Union, and China together contain 50% of proven reserves.

Which statement best describes the approximate global distribution of coal supplies?

Coal, oil, and natural gas

Which three sources supply the majority of commercial energy in the world today?