Question 1

​Which of these is not an accurate assessment of the conflict between public interests and private property in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A) Texas's traditionalist-individualist culture has created a healthy balance between public and private interests in Texas. 
B) ​Texas is one of fifteen states that command their environmental regulatory agencies to take the cost of regulation into account when regulating air, water, and waste pollution. 
C) People, who will make more money if the government does not interfere with their plans to exploit nature, have a powerful incentive to try to corrupt the system. 
D) ​Critics argue that TCEQ and other state agencies sacrifice environmental cleanliness when that goal comes into conflict with the need to make money. 
E) ​Texas does not keep track of those involved in the "revolving door" between government and industry. 
A) Texas's traditionalist-individualist culture has created a healthy balance between public and private interests in Texas. 
B) ​Texas is one of fifteen states that command their environmental regulatory agencies to take the cost of regulation into account when regulating air, water, and waste pollution. 
C) People, who will make more money if the government does not interfere with their plans to exploit nature, have a powerful incentive to try to corrupt the system. 
D) ​Critics argue that TCEQ and other state agencies sacrifice environmental cleanliness when that goal comes into conflict with the need to make money. 
E) ​Texas does not keep track of those involved in the "revolving door" between government and industry.

Question 2

An "acre foot" is _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the depth of irrigation necessary to grow crops in West Texas 
B) the amount of property an owner must gain rights to before he or shecan drill an oil or natural gas well 
C) the amount of electricity necessary to light an acre of property 
D) the amount of water necessary to cover an acre of land a foot deep 
E) a term for "getting one's foot in the door" before a person can occupy unclaimed farm land 
A) the depth of irrigation necessary to grow crops in West Texas 
B) the amount of property an owner must gain rights to before he or shecan drill an oil or natural gas well 
C) the amount of electricity necessary to light an acre of property 
D) the amount of water necessary to cover an acre of land a foot deep 
E) a term for "getting one's foot in the door" before a person can occupy unclaimed farm land

Question 3

​Define Faustian bargain and explain how it relates to energy policy in Texas.

Accepted Answer

The term "Faustian bargain" refers to a

Question 4

The greenhouse effect occurs when _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the burning of fossil fuels releases too much carbon dioxide into the air, causing the earth's climate to warm 
B) the overuse of water from the Edwards and Ogallala aquifers threatens access to water in the future 
C) photosynthesis in plants causes the growth of dangerous algae, threatening the life of fish and other water animals 
D) overreliance on wind energy causes the average temperature to rise downwind of the wind farms 
E) coal-burning plants in Mexico cause air pollution to drift into Texas 
A) the burning of fossil fuels releases too much carbon dioxide into the air, causing the earth's climate to warm 
B) the overuse of water from the Edwards and Ogallala aquifers threatens access to water in the future 
C) photosynthesis in plants causes the growth of dangerous algae, threatening the life of fish and other water animals 
D) overreliance on wind energy causes the average temperature to rise downwind of the wind farms 
E) coal-burning plants in Mexico cause air pollution to drift into Texas

Question 5

​A _____ is an area of coastline where a river flows into a sea,mixing salt and fresh water.

Accepted Answer

A) ​TCEQ 
B) ​river 
C) ​ocean 
D) ​estuary 
E) ​EPA 
A) ​TCEQ 
B) ​river 
C) ​ocean 
D) ​estuary 
E) ​EPA

Question 6

​Which of these isnot true of Texas's response to transportation challenges?

Accepted Answer

A) The mind-set of the Texas Department of Transportation has been to favor highway transportation over rail mass transit. 
B) There has been a complex of interest groups in place, including oil companies,cement/asphalt/tire dealers, bus and truck companies, and road-building contractors, that has had economic interests in pushing government to build more roads instead of mass transit. 
C) Texas has responded to transportation issues by being at the forefront of efforts to make cars cleaner and safer. 
D) Although Texans dislike toll roads, the state has slowly been building them. 
E) Although many city leaders have lent their support to mass transit, the construction of light-rail systems has been slow, and not always satisfactory. 
A) The mind-set of the Texas Department of Transportation has been to favor highway transportation over rail mass transit. 
B) There has been a complex of interest groups in place, including oil companies,cement/asphalt/tire dealers, bus and truck companies, and road-building contractors, that has had economic interests in pushing government to build more roads instead of mass transit. 
C) Texas has responded to transportation issues by being at the forefront of efforts to make cars cleaner and safer. 
D) Although Texans dislike toll roads, the state has slowly been building them. 
E) Although many city leaders have lent their support to mass transit, the construction of light-rail systems has been slow, and not always satisfactory.

Question 7

​How does your text refer to people who believe that economic market forces (consumers and businesses)should decide how energy is to be supplied?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Texans 
B) ​conservatives 
C) ​liberals 
D) ​government 
E) ​environmentalists 
A) ​Texans 
B) ​conservatives 
C) ​liberals 
D) ​government 
E) ​environmentalists

Question 8

The line,extending roughly between the eastern edge of the Panhandle down to the Rio Grande northwest of Laredo and marking the area where agriculture is not possible without irrigation,is the _____ meridian.

Accepted Answer

A) 80th 
B) 90th 
C) 100th 
D) 110th 
E) 120th 
A) 80th 
B) 90th 
C) 100th 
D) 110th 
E) 120th

Question 9

​Why don't state and federal governments force people to be more efficient in their use of energy?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Taxes that would discourage energy use are regressive taxes, which hit poor and middle-class people the hardest. 
B) ​People resent taxes,so elected leaders are unlikely to support them. 
C) ​Regulations and subsidies may not work well enough to encourage people to change their energy use. 
D) ​Many consumers and businesses, especially in Texas,do not support government intervention in the economy. 
E) ​All of these are reasons. 
A) ​Taxes that would discourage energy use are regressive taxes, which hit poor and middle-class people the hardest. 
B) ​People resent taxes,so elected leaders are unlikely to support them. 
C) ​Regulations and subsidies may not work well enough to encourage people to change their energy use. 
D) ​Many consumers and businesses, especially in Texas,do not support government intervention in the economy. 
E) ​All of these are reasons.

Question 10

​Which of these does not describe the recent conflict between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority?

Accepted Answer

A) ​The Lower Colorado River Authority charged farmers less than what it charged other businesses for water, thus subsidizing agriculture at the expense of other businesses. 
B) ​The policy assumed that few countries produce rice, importing was difficult, and Texans would have no rice to eat unless access to water was protected.​ 
C) ​The policy was based on an assumption that agriculture is such an important activity that it should be supported by nonagricultural interests even if it is not economical. 
D) As water became scarce,the Authority realized that they did not have enough water to satisfy the desires of farmers, urban businesses, and homeowners. 
E) The Lower Colorado River Authority cut off water to the rice farmers, and it is unclear whether the rice-growing industry will be able to survive. 
A) ​The Lower Colorado River Authority charged farmers less than what it charged other businesses for water, thus subsidizing agriculture at the expense of other businesses. 
B) ​The policy assumed that few countries produce rice, importing was difficult, and Texans would have no rice to eat unless access to water was protected.​ 
C) ​The policy was based on an assumption that agriculture is such an important activity that it should be supported by nonagricultural interests even if it is not economical. 
D) As water became scarce,the Authority realized that they did not have enough water to satisfy the desires of farmers, urban businesses, and homeowners. 
E) The Lower Colorado River Authority cut off water to the rice farmers, and it is unclear whether the rice-growing industry will be able to survive.

Question 11

​When the term Faustian bargain is appliedin the text's discussion of the oil and natural gas industries,it refers to the idea that _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the price of oil in a technical, short-term sense is low, but the price in a broad, difficult-to-define, long-term environmental sense is high 
B) ​the state must make tradeoffs between the oil industry and the natural gas industry 
C) the state must plan to transition to other industries as it runs out of oil and natural gas 
D) ​the state's tax structure overrelies on taxes from the oil and natural gas industries 
E) all of these 
A) the price of oil in a technical, short-term sense is low, but the price in a broad, difficult-to-define, long-term environmental sense is high 
B) ​the state must make tradeoffs between the oil industry and the natural gas industry 
C) the state must plan to transition to other industries as it runs out of oil and natural gas 
D) ​the state's tax structure overrelies on taxes from the oil and natural gas industries 
E) all of these

Question 12

​Which of these best explains the benefits of nuclear power?

Accepted Answer

A) ​It is cheap and produces little pollution. 
B) ​The supply of nuclear power can be made stable,andinternational politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources. 
C) ​The storage of radioactive waste is relatively easy to achieve. 
D) It is cheap and produces little pollution, the supply of nuclear power can be made stable,andinternational politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources. 
E) ​It is cheap and produces little pollution; the supply of nuclear power can be made stable;international politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources; and the storage of radioactive waste is relatively easy to achieve. 
A) ​It is cheap and produces little pollution. 
B) ​The supply of nuclear power can be made stable,andinternational politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources. 
C) ​The storage of radioactive waste is relatively easy to achieve. 
D) It is cheap and produces little pollution, the supply of nuclear power can be made stable,andinternational politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources. 
E) ​It is cheap and produces little pollution; the supply of nuclear power can be made stable;international politics will not affect the supply, since the system does not rely on external resources; and the storage of radioactive waste is relatively easy to achieve.

Question 13

​Which statement regarding water use and cost is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) ​As urban populations grow, projections are that by 2040, Texas cities will use more water than Texas farmers. 
B) ​As urban populations grow, the cities can afford to pay more for water than agricultural interests can. 
C) ​As urban dwellers move to rural areas for more land, the battle over water between rural and urban areas will even out. 
D) ​The battle between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority exemplifies the fight over cost and use of Texas's limited water resources. 
E) ​As urban populations grow, cities will inevitably crowd farmers out of the water market. 
A) ​As urban populations grow, projections are that by 2040, Texas cities will use more water than Texas farmers. 
B) ​As urban populations grow, the cities can afford to pay more for water than agricultural interests can. 
C) ​As urban dwellers move to rural areas for more land, the battle over water between rural and urban areas will even out. 
D) ​The battle between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority exemplifies the fight over cost and use of Texas's limited water resources. 
E) ​As urban populations grow, cities will inevitably crowd farmers out of the water market.

Question 14

The organization with the mission to "protect our state's human and natural resources" consistent with sustainable economic development is called _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the Texas Sustainability Commission (TS
C)  
B) the Economic Development and Tourism agency in the governor's office 
C) the Texas Game and Wildlife Agency 
D) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 
E) Ducks Unlimited 
A) the Texas Sustainability Commission (TS
C)  
B) the Economic Development and Tourism agency in the governor's office 
C) the Texas Game and Wildlife Agency 
D) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 
E) Ducks Unlimited

Question 15

Discuss the pros and cons of Texas's reliance on oil,natural gas,and coal as sources of energy.Include discussion of the impact of fossil fuels on the Texas economy as well as the environmental consequences of the various fossil fuel resources.

Accepted Answer

Texas's reliance on oil, natural gas, an

Question 16

What term is used for the concept that underground water is more or less completely controlled by the person who owns the land above the water?

Accepted Answer

A) rule of capture 
B) principle of private authority 
C) right of eminent domain 
D) Ogallala Aquifer rule 
E) right of habeas corpus 
A) rule of capture 
B) principle of private authority 
C) right of eminent domain 
D) Ogallala Aquifer rule 
E) right of habeas corpus

Question 17

Explain why the future of Texas politics is likely to be full of conflicts over water supply.Explain the nature of the disputes between eastern and western parts of the state,between cities and rural areas,between agriculture and industry,and between sports groups (particularly fishing organizations)and developers.

Accepted Answer

The future of Texas politics is likely t

Question 18

Explain the NIMBY and YBNIIMP principles.Discuss how they make policymaking difficult in many areas of natural resource policy.Provide examples to support your points.

Accepted Answer

The NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) and YBNII

Question 19

How does your text refer to people who believe the government should regulate and subsidize the energy market to protect the environment andpublic safety,and to protect the country from coercion by foreign governments?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Texans 
B) ​conservatives 
C) ​liberals 
D) ​government 
E) ​businesses 
A) ​Texans 
B) ​conservatives 
C) ​liberals 
D) ​government 
E) ​businesses

Question 20

​During the hot Texas summers,what percentage of municipal water supplies is often used for watering lawns?

Accepted Answer

A) ​65 percent 
B) ​25percent 
C) ​40percent 
D) ​14percent 
E) ​52percent 
A) ​65 percent 
B) ​25percent 
C) ​40percent 
D) ​14percent 
E) ​52percent

Which of these is not an accurate assessment of the conflict between public interests and private property in Texas?

An "acre foot" is _____.

Define Faustian bargain and explain how it relates to energy policy in Texas.

The greenhouse effect occurs when _____.

A _____ is an area of coastline where a river flows into a sea,mixing salt and fresh water.

Which of these isnot true of Texas's response to transportation challenges?

How does your text refer to people who believe that economic market forces (consumers and businesses)should decide how energy is to be supplied?

The line,extending roughly between the eastern edge of the Panhandle down to the Rio Grande northwest of Laredo and marking the area where agriculture is not possible without irrigation,is the _____ meridian.

Why don't state and federal governments force people to be more efficient in their use of energy?

Which of these does not describe the recent conflict between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority?

When the term Faustian bargain is appliedin the text's discussion of the oil and natural gas industries,it refers to the idea that _____.

Which of these best explains the benefits of nuclear power?

Which statement regarding water use and cost is not true?

The organization with the mission to "protect our state's human and natural resources" consistent with sustainable economic development is called _____.

Discuss the pros and cons of Texas's reliance on oil,natural gas,and coal as sources of energy.Include discussion of the impact of fossil fuels on the Texas economy as well as the environmental consequences of the various fossil fuel resources.

What term is used for the concept that underground water is more or less completely controlled by the person who owns the land above the water?

Explain the NIMBY and YBNIIMP principles.Discuss how they make policymaking difficult in many areas of natural resource policy.Provide examples to support your points.

How does your text refer to people who believe the government should regulate and subsidize the energy market to protect the environment andpublic safety,and to protect the country from coercion by foreign governments?

During the hot Texas summers,what percentage of municipal water supplies is often used for watering lawns?

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Judiciary

The Substance of Justice

Local Government

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: People

Filters

Exam 14: Public Policy: Resources

​Which of these is not an accurate assessment of the conflict between public interests and private property in Texas?

An "acre foot" is _____.

​Define Faustian bargain and explain how it relates to energy policy in Texas.

The greenhouse effect occurs when _____.

​A _____ is an area of coastline where a river flows into a sea,mixing salt and fresh water.

​Which of these isnot true of Texas's response to transportation challenges?

​How does your text refer to people who believe that economic market forces (consumers and businesses)should decide how energy is to be supplied?

The line,extending roughly between the eastern edge of the Panhandle down to the Rio Grande northwest of Laredo and marking the area where agriculture is not possible without irrigation,is the _____ meridian.

​Why don't state and federal governments force people to be more efficient in their use of energy?

​Which of these does not describe the recent conflict between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority?

​When the term Faustian bargain is appliedin the text's discussion of the oil and natural gas industries,it refers to the idea that _____.

​Which of these best explains the benefits of nuclear power?

​Which statement regarding water use and cost is not true?

The organization with the mission to "protect our state's human and natural resources" consistent with sustainable economic development is called _____.

Discuss the pros and cons of Texas's reliance on oil,natural gas,and coal as sources of energy.Include discussion of the impact of fossil fuels on the Texas economy as well as the environmental consequences of the various fossil fuel resources.

What term is used for the concept that underground water is more or less completely controlled by the person who owns the land above the water?

Explain the NIMBY and YBNIIMP principles.Discuss how they make policymaking difficult in many areas of natural resource policy.Provide examples to support your points.

How does your text refer to people who believe the government should regulate and subsidize the energy market to protect the environment andpublic safety,and to protect the country from coercion by foreign governments?

​During the hot Texas summers,what percentage of municipal water supplies is often used for watering lawns?

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Judiciary

The Substance of Justice

Local Government

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: People

Filters

Which of these is not an accurate assessment of the conflict between public interests and private property in Texas?

Define Faustian bargain and explain how it relates to energy policy in Texas.

A _____ is an area of coastline where a river flows into a sea,mixing salt and fresh water.

Which of these isnot true of Texas's response to transportation challenges?

How does your text refer to people who believe that economic market forces (consumers and businesses)should decide how energy is to be supplied?

Why don't state and federal governments force people to be more efficient in their use of energy?

Which of these does not describe the recent conflict between rice farmers and the Lower Colorado River Authority?

When the term Faustian bargain is appliedin the text's discussion of the oil and natural gas industries,it refers to the idea that _____.

Which of these best explains the benefits of nuclear power?

Which statement regarding water use and cost is not true?

During the hot Texas summers,what percentage of municipal water supplies is often used for watering lawns?