Question 1

Parabolic mirrors ________ sunlight on a collecting medium.

Accepted Answer

A) selectively focus the brightest 
B) selectively reflect the brightest 
C) deflect the most 
D) diffuse intense 
E) focus intense 
A) selectively focus the brightest 
B) selectively reflect the brightest 
C) deflect the most 
D) diffuse intense 
E) focus intense E

Question 2

Mixing ethanol with gasoline makes the gasoline burn cleaner and is now required by most states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

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 D

Question 4

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 5

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In the United States and Canada, the MOST common problem with using wood as a major heat source is

Accepted Answer

A) The cost 
B) Wood shortages 
C) That it separates people from the utility grid 
D) The production of pollutants 
E) None of these is correct 
A) The cost 
B) Wood shortages 
C) That it separates people from the utility grid 
D) The production of pollutants 
E) None of these is correct

Question 7

Burning methane from dung

Accepted Answer

A) Is more efficient than burning the dung directly 
B) Provides more heat than burning the dung directly 
C) Allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer 
D) Is more efficient than burning the dung directly and it allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer 
E) All of these are correct 
A) Is more efficient than burning the dung directly 
B) Provides more heat than burning the dung directly 
C) Allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer 
D) Is more efficient than burning the dung directly and it allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer 
E) All of these are correct

Question 8

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 9

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 10

Manure or dung makes a good fuel except that it is

Accepted Answer

A) Scarce 
B) Not clean 
C) Needed to rebuild the soil 
D) Difficult to burn 
E) Commonly full of pathogens 
A) Scarce 
B) Not clean 
C) Needed to rebuild the soil 
D) Difficult to burn 
E) Commonly full of pathogens

Question 11

A drawback of lead-acid batteries being used to store large amounts of energy is

Accepted Answer

A)  They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass. 
B)  The acid is corrosive. 
C)  They require an operating temperature of almost 600o F. 
D)  They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass and the acid is corrosive. 
E)  They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass, the acid is corrosive, and they require an operating temperature of almost 600o F. 
A)  They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass. 
B)  The acid is corrosive. 
C)  They require an operating temperature of almost 600o F. 
D)  They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass and the acid is corrosive. 
E)  They can store only moderate amounts of energy per unit mass, the acid is corrosive, and they require an operating temperature of almost 600o F.

Question 12

____________ is being used to produce ethanol and lessen the dependance on oil.

Accepted Answer

A) Palm oil 
B) Corn 
C) Miscanthus grass 
D) Soybeans 
E) All of the above are being grown for ethanol production. 
A) Palm oil 
B) Corn 
C) Miscanthus grass 
D) Soybeans 
E) All of the above are being grown for ethanol production.

Question 13

Describe the best energy source option(s) for a rural area in a tropical developing country with no coastal access.Be sure you support why this is the best energy source for the area.

Accepted Answer

Solar energy would be the best option fo

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) Parabolic collection 
B) An active solar heating system 
C) Passive heat absorption 
D) Cogeneration 
E) Charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use 
A) Parabolic collection 
B) An active solar heating system 
C) Passive heat absorption 
D) Cogeneration 
E) Charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use

Question 15

Low-head hydropower involves ___________ dams on ___________ rivers.

Accepted Answer

A) Large; major 
B) Small; minor 
C) Large; minor 
D) Small; major 
E) Medium-sized; minor 
A) Large; major 
B) Small; minor 
C) Large; minor 
D) Small; major 
E) Medium-sized; minor

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

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

Active solar energy systems involve

Accepted Answer

A) Large volumes of massive heat absorbers 
B) Pumps and moving fluids 
C) Photovoltaic cells 
D) Cogeneration 
E) Stationary materials to gather and hold heat 
A) Large volumes of massive heat absorbers 
B) Pumps and moving fluids 
C) Photovoltaic cells 
D) Cogeneration 
E) Stationary materials to gather and hold heat

Question 19

Which of the following is true regarding fuel cell technology?

Accepted Answer

A) They were first designed by NASA. 
B) They must be recharged with an electrical current. 
C) They are only about 40-45% efficient. 
D) They must receive a constant supply of water and oxygen. 
E) A fuel cell stack providing all of the electricity for a typical home is not feasible because it would be too large. 
A) They were first designed by NASA. 
B) They must be recharged with an electrical current. 
C) They are only about 40-45% efficient. 
D) They must receive a constant supply of water and oxygen. 
E) A fuel cell stack providing all of the electricity for a typical home is not feasible because it would be too large.

Question 20

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.

Exam 20: Sustainable Energy

Parabolic mirrors ________ sunlight on a collecting medium.

Mixing ethanol with gasoline makes the gasoline burn cleaner and is now required by most states.

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

Siltation and decreased water quality are especially significant problems with

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

In the United States and Canada, the MOST common problem with using wood as a major heat source is

Burning methane from dung

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

Jatropha is a good source for biodiesel because

Manure or dung makes a good fuel except that it is

A drawback of lead-acid batteries being used to store large amounts of energy is

____________ is being used to produce ethanol and lessen the dependance on oil.

Describe the best energy source option(s) for a rural area in a tropical developing country with no coastal access.Be sure you support why this is the best energy source for the area.

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

Low-head hydropower involves ___________ dams on ___________ rivers.

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

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.

Active solar energy systems involve

Which of the following is true regarding fuel cell technology?

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

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity

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

Low-head hydropower involves _ dams on _ rivers.

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.