Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a drawback of using windmills for energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Windmills are not always visually appealing. 
B)  Wind is not always constant. 
C)  Windmills cannot be placed on shorelines. 
D)  Windmills kill birds. 
A)  Windmills are not always visually appealing. 
B)  Wind is not always constant. 
C)  Windmills cannot be placed on shorelines. 
D)  Windmills kill birds.

Question 2

Many of the places with the greatest potential for solar and wind development are far from the urban centers where the power is needed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

In the United States, windmills played a critical role in the settlement of

Accepted Answer

A)  Appalachia 
B)  The Sierra Nevadas 
C)  The Great Plains 
D)  The Rocky Mountains 
E)  The Northeast 
A)  Appalachia 
B)  The Sierra Nevadas 
C)  The Great Plains 
D)  The Rocky Mountains 
E)  The Northeast

Question 4

United States companies currently dominate the $1 billion (US) per year market of wind technology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Where does wind energy have the greatest potential to create electricity?

Accepted Answer

A)  mountain tops and valleys 
B)  the great plains, shore lines, and mountain tops 
C)  shorelines and in valleys 
D)  the great plains and southeastern US 
A)  mountain tops and valleys 
B)  the great plains, shore lines, and mountain tops 
C)  shorelines and in valleys 
D)  the great plains and southeastern US

Question 6

Which of the following solar energy uses has been used by people for thousands of years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Parabolic solar collection 
B)  Active solar heating system 
C)  Passive heat absorption 
D)  Cogeneration 
E)  All of these are correct. 
A)  Parabolic solar collection 
B)  Active solar heating system 
C)  Passive heat absorption 
D)  Cogeneration 
E)  All of these are correct.

Question 7

The idea of cogeneration is to actively use ________ electricity generating plants.

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar as well as coal energy to produce electricity at 
B)  Warm water as well as steam to produce electricity at 
C)  Two kinds of fuel (e.g., coal and oil) at 
D)  Both electricity and waste steam heat from 
E)  Two different types of thermal conversion machines for increased efficiency at 
A)  Solar as well as coal energy to produce electricity at 
B)  Warm water as well as steam to produce electricity at 
C)  Two kinds of fuel (e.g., coal and oil) at 
D)  Both electricity and waste steam heat from 
E)  Two different types of thermal conversion machines for increased efficiency at

Question 8

Jatropha is a good source for biodiesel because

Accepted Answer

A)  It's nuts have a high energy content 
B)  It grows in most climate zones 
C)  It will grow in sun or shade 
D)  It's leaves are easily combustible 
E)  It is readily available worldwide 
A)  It's nuts have a high energy content 
B)  It grows in most climate zones 
C)  It will grow in sun or shade 
D)  It's leaves are easily combustible 
E)  It is readily available worldwide

Question 9

Ocean thermal electric conversion systems would operate best in

Accepted Answer

A)  Cold, deep polar seas 
B)  Warm, deep tropical seas 
C)  Cold, shallow temperate seas 
D)  Warm, shallow freshwater lakes 
E)  Warm, shallow tropical seas 
A)  Cold, deep polar seas 
B)  Warm, deep tropical seas 
C)  Cold, shallow temperate seas 
D)  Warm, shallow freshwater lakes 
E)  Warm, shallow tropical seas

Question 10

Ocean thermal electric conversion (OTEC) uses _________ to produce usable energy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Warm surface water and cold deep seawater 
B)  Hot water from below the seafloor 
C)  Fossil fuel-heated seawater 
D)  Heat from deep-ocean thermal vents 
E)  Cold surface water and warm deep seawater 
A)  Warm surface water and cold deep seawater 
B)  Hot water from below the seafloor 
C)  Fossil fuel-heated seawater 
D)  Heat from deep-ocean thermal vents 
E)  Cold surface water and warm deep seawater

Question 11

Photovoltaic electricity costs are __________ coal or nuclear-powered electricity.

Accepted Answer

A)  substantially less than 
B)  unlikely to become as cheap as 
C)  incomparably more expensive than 
D)  likely to be cheaper in the near future than 
E)  the same as 
A)  substantially less than 
B)  unlikely to become as cheap as 
C)  incomparably more expensive than 
D)  likely to be cheaper in the near future than 
E)  the same as

Question 12

The most serious drawback to fuel cells is the expense of providing an oxygen source.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Amorphous silicon collectors are currently being used in

Accepted Answer

A)  Lighthouses 
B)  Watches 
C)  Toys 
D)  Roof tiles 
E)  All of these 
A)  Lighthouses 
B)  Watches 
C)  Toys 
D)  Roof tiles 
E)  All of these

Question 15

Some highly efficient turbines can be submerged directly in a river and require only _______ to operate.

Accepted Answer

A)  Run-of-the-river flow 
B)  Low-head dams 
C)  A low, natural waterfall 
D)  A slow trickle of water 
E)  A high, natural waterfall 
A)  Run-of-the-river flow 
B)  Low-head dams 
C)  A low, natural waterfall 
D)  A slow trickle of water 
E)  A high, natural waterfall

Question 16

Improved insulation, energy efficient windows and curtains, and caulking and sealing cracks could reduce commercial building and household energy loss by up to __________ percent.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  20 
C)  30 
D)  50 
A)  10 
B)  20 
C)  30 
D)  50

Question 17

Very few living trees are cut down for fuel in ______________ because twigs, branches, and crop residues are used for fuel. However, in ________ the forests are nearly gone and even fruit trees are cut for fuel.

Accepted Answer

A)  Pakistan; India 
B)  Pakistan; Haiti 
C)  Haiti; Pakistan 
D)  India; Haiti 
E)  Haiti; China 
A)  Pakistan; India 
B)  Pakistan; Haiti 
C)  Haiti; Pakistan 
D)  India; Haiti 
E)  Haiti; China

Question 18

Most of North America's wind potential is located offshore.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Siltation and decreased water quality are especially significant problems with

Accepted Answer

A)  Micro-hydro dams 
B)  Mini-hydro dams 
C)  Huge dams on major rivers 
D)  Low-head hydropower technology 
E)  All of these equally 
A)  Micro-hydro dams 
B)  Mini-hydro dams 
C)  Huge dams on major rivers 
D)  Low-head hydropower technology 
E)  All of these equally

Question 20

Photovoltaic systems are characterized by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  they convert sunlight into electricity. 
B)  they are difficult to use where conventional electricity is unavailable. 
C)  they have become more efficient over the past 25 years. 
D)  they are economically competitive with fossil fuels in many places. 
A)  they convert sunlight into electricity. 
B)  they are difficult to use where conventional electricity is unavailable. 
C)  they have become more efficient over the past 25 years. 
D)  they are economically competitive with fossil fuels in many places.

Exam 20: Sustainable Energy

Which of the following is NOT a drawback of using windmills for energy?

Many of the places with the greatest potential for solar and wind development are far from the urban centers where the power is needed.

In the United States, windmills played a critical role in the settlement of

United States companies currently dominate the $1 billion (US) per year market of wind technology.

Where does wind energy have the greatest potential to create electricity?

Which of the following solar energy uses has been used by people for thousands of years?

The idea of cogeneration is to actively use ________ electricity generating plants.

Jatropha is a good source for biodiesel because

Ocean thermal electric conversion systems would operate best in

Ocean thermal electric conversion (OTEC) uses _________ to produce usable energy.

Photovoltaic electricity costs are __________ coal or nuclear-powered electricity.

The most serious drawback to fuel cells is the expense of providing an oxygen source.

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

Amorphous silicon collectors are currently being used in

Some highly efficient turbines can be submerged directly in a river and require only _______ to operate.

Improved insulation, energy efficient windows and curtains, and caulking and sealing cracks could reduce commercial building and household energy loss by up to __________ percent.

Very few living trees are cut down for fuel in ______________ because twigs, branches, and crop residues are used for fuel. However, in ________ the forests are nearly gone and even fruit trees are cut for fuel.

Most of North America's wind potential is located offshore.

Siltation and decreased water quality are especially significant problems with

Photovoltaic systems are characterized by all of the following except

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Conventional Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

Filters

Very few living trees are cut down for fuel in ______ because twigs, branches, and crop residues are used for fuel. However, in the forests are nearly gone and even fruit trees are cut for fuel.