Understanding Oil Spills and Their Impact

How much oil does the United States consume annually?

• Over 7 billion barrels

• Exactly 10 million barrels a day

• Around 20 million barrels a day

• Less than 1 billion barrels

What is a common cause of oil spills?

• Alien invasions

• Natural disasters only

• Careless mistakes and equipment failure

• Intentional dumping

What is true about the frequency of oil spills in US waters?

• Only in Alaska

• They never happen

• Only one big spill per decade

• Thousands occur every year

What happens to oil after a spill in water?

• It sinks to the bottom

• It evaporates immediately

• It forms a thin layer called a sheen

• It disappears

How can oil spills affect sea otters?

• They become faster swimmers

• They lose their ability to insulate themselves

• They learn to avoid oil

• Their color changes

How do oil spills primarily impact marine birds?

• They sing more

• They fly higher

• They lose water repellency of their feathers

• Their beaks change color

What long-term effect can oil spills have on fish?

• Enlarged livers and reduced growth rates

• Improved vision

• Glow in the dark

• Increased speed

What tool is used to contain oil spills?

• Booms

• Giant vacuums

• Underwater robots

• Magic wands

What is a challenge in cleaning up oil spills?

• Collecting and removing oil is often ineffective

• Oil evaporates before cleanup

• It's too easy to do

• Oil turns into gold

Why is it important to prevent oil spills?

• Oil spills are not important

• To make oil more expensive

• To keep the ocean clean and protect marine life

• Because it's fun