Question 1

Which statement best describes a solar power plant?

Accepted Answer

A)  It pollutes air and water. 
B)  It produces electricity at twice the price of a nuclear plant. 
C)  It can be built as large or as small as needed. 
D)  It takes three to five years to construct. 
A)  It pollutes air and water. 
B)  It produces electricity at twice the price of a nuclear plant. 
C)  It can be built as large or as small as needed. 
D)  It takes three to five years to construct.

Question 2

A disadvantage of using hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles is its low efficiency.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Biofuels are not efficient energy sources because of the associated high land use and high net energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Photovoltaic cells do not produce any of the greenhouse or acid gas emissions associated with electricity generated by the combustion of fossil fuels.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which pair of terms best describes the net useful energy of oil,natural gas,and coal?

Accepted Answer

A)  high and decreasing 
B)  high and increasing 
C)  moderate and stable 
D)  low and increasing 
A)  high and decreasing 
B)  high and increasing 
C)  moderate and stable 
D)  low and increasing

Question 6

What type of feedback loop is utility companies' encouragement of customers to use even more electricity so they can make more money by selling more electricity?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a helpful negative feedback loop. 
B)  It is a helpful positive feedback loop. 
C)  It is a harmful positive feedback loop. 
D)  It is a harmful negative feedback loop. 
A)  It is a helpful negative feedback loop. 
B)  It is a helpful positive feedback loop. 
C)  It is a harmful positive feedback loop. 
D)  It is a harmful negative feedback loop.

Question 7

Which statement best describes cogeneration?

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural gas is used as a backup for renewable energy sources. 
B)  Both heat and electricity are produced using the same fuel source. 
C)  It involves instruments, such as heat pumps, that can generate heating and cooling. 
D)  It combines passive solar and active solar technologies. 
A)  Natural gas is used as a backup for renewable energy sources. 
B)  Both heat and electricity are produced using the same fuel source. 
C)  It involves instruments, such as heat pumps, that can generate heating and cooling. 
D)  It combines passive solar and active solar technologies.

Question 8

What is the most important way to save energy and money in transportation?

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles 
B)  switch to hydrogen-powered cars 
C)  switch to electric engines 
D)  ban cars in cities 
A)  increase the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles 
B)  switch to hydrogen-powered cars 
C)  switch to electric engines 
D)  ban cars in cities

Question 9

What converts solar energy directly into electricity?

Accepted Answer

A)  photovoltaic cells 
B)  photoelectric cells 
C)  helioelectric units 
D)  electrosolar chips 
A)  photovoltaic cells 
B)  photoelectric cells 
C)  helioelectric units 
D)  electrosolar chips

Question 10

One of the four keys to sustainability based on learning from nature is to rely mostly on renewable ____________________ energy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the four keys to sustainability...

Question 11

What is one means of conserving energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  using high-quality energy whenever possible 
B)  increasing the efficiency of equipment 
C)  recycling energy 
D)  using wind turbines 
A)  using high-quality energy whenever possible 
B)  increasing the efficiency of equipment 
C)  recycling energy 
D)  using wind turbines

Question 12

What cost should consumers take into consideration when making more economically and environmentally conscious appliance purchases?

Accepted Answer

A)  the operating cost 
B)  the life cycle cost 
C)  the external cost 
D)  the initial cost 
A)  the operating cost 
B)  the life cycle cost 
C)  the external cost 
D)  the initial cost

Question 13

What are the production characteristics of a biogas digester?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is very efficient, slow, and unpredictable. 
B)  It is very inefficient, slow, and unpredictable. 
C)  It is very efficient, fast, and predictable. 
D)  It is very inefficient, fast, and predictable. 
A)  It is very efficient, slow, and unpredictable. 
B)  It is very inefficient, slow, and unpredictable. 
C)  It is very efficient, fast, and predictable. 
D)  It is very inefficient, fast, and predictable.

Question 14

Which issue presents the greatest challenge in designing electric cars?

Accepted Answer

A)  the noise level 
B)  the slow acceleration 
C)  the maintenance cost 
D)  the energy-storage system 
A)  the noise level 
B)  the slow acceleration 
C)  the maintenance cost 
D)  the energy-storage system

Question 15

Overall,the net energy from nonrenewable resources is lower than that from renewable resources.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What would happen if the Canadian government required that all vehicles must be able to travel 17 kilometres per litre of fuel?

Accepted Answer

gasoline consumption

Question 17

What is gasohol?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is gasoline mixed with methane. 
B)  It is gasoline mixed with ethanol. 
C)  It is gasoline mixed with butane. 
D)  It is gasoline mixed with methanol. 
A)  It is gasoline mixed with methane. 
B)  It is gasoline mixed with ethanol. 
C)  It is gasoline mixed with butane. 
D)  It is gasoline mixed with methanol.

Question 18

Which statement best describes fuel-cell cars?

Accepted Answer

A)  They produce more pollution than combustion engine cars. 
B)  They are half as efficient as internal combustion engines. 
C)  They produce very loud noises. 
D)  They use a fuel cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen gas to produce electricity and water. 
A)  They produce more pollution than combustion engine cars. 
B)  They are half as efficient as internal combustion engines. 
C)  They produce very loud noises. 
D)  They use a fuel cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen gas to produce electricity and water.

Question 19

Which statement best describes hydroelectric power?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has relatively low construction costs. 
B)  It can have high environmental impacts. 
C)  It cannot be done on a small scale. 
D)  It delivers low net energy. 
A)  It has relatively low construction costs. 
B)  It can have high environmental impacts. 
C)  It cannot be done on a small scale. 
D)  It delivers low net energy.

Question 20

What is one advantage of solar space heating?

Accepted Answer

A)  It produces only moderate levels of carbon dioxide additions to the atmosphere. 
B)  It is free to construct. 
C)  There are well-developed active and passive technologies to choose from. 
D)  It produces low-to-moderate net useful energy. 
A)  It produces only moderate levels of carbon dioxide additions to the atmosphere. 
B)  It is free to construct. 
C)  There are well-developed active and passive technologies to choose from. 
D)  It produces low-to-moderate net useful energy.

Exam 18: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Which statement best describes a solar power plant?

A disadvantage of using hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles is its low efficiency.

Biofuels are not efficient energy sources because of the associated high land use and high net energy.

Photovoltaic cells do not produce any of the greenhouse or acid gas emissions associated with electricity generated by the combustion of fossil fuels.

Which pair of terms best describes the net useful energy of oil,natural gas,and coal?

What type of feedback loop is utility companies' encouragement of customers to use even more electricity so they can make more money by selling more electricity?

Which statement best describes cogeneration?

What is the most important way to save energy and money in transportation?

What converts solar energy directly into electricity?

One of the four keys to sustainability based on learning from nature is to rely mostly on renewable ____________________ energy.

What is one means of conserving energy?

What cost should consumers take into consideration when making more economically and environmentally conscious appliance purchases?

What are the production characteristics of a biogas digester?

Which issue presents the greatest challenge in designing electric cars?

Overall,the net energy from nonrenewable resources is lower than that from renewable resources.

What would happen if the Canadian government required that all vehicles must be able to travel 17 kilometres per litre of fuel?

What is gasohol?

Which statement best describes fuel-cell cars?

Which statement best describes hydroelectric power?

What is one advantage of solar space heating?

Environmental Problems: an Introduction and Overview

Environmental History: Learning From the Past

Science, systems, matter, and Energy

Ecosystems: What Are They, and How Do They Work

Evolution and Biodiversity

Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Aquatic Biodiversity

Community Ecology

Population Ecology

Applying Population Ecology: the Human Population

Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: Managing and Protecting Ecosystems

Sustaining Biodiversity: the Species Approach

Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity

Food and Soil Resources

Water Resources

Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Risk,toxicology,and Human Health

Air Pollution

Climate Change and Ozone Loss

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Sustainable Cities

Economics, environment, and Sustainability

Politics, environment, and Sustainability

Environmental World-views, ethics, and Sustainability

Filters