Unit 6 Review

Which of the following statements best describes a difference between nonrenewable and renewable energy sources?

• Nonrenewable energy sources release carbon dioxide when used, whereas renewable energy sources do not release carbon dioxide.

• Renewable energy sources are often obtained a long distance away from the customer, whereas nonrenewable energy sources are obtained locally.

• Renewable energy sources can be replaced naturally at current consumption rates, whereas nonrenewable energy sources cannot be replaced easily.

• Renewable energy sources produce energy that can be recycled after use, whereas the energy from nonrenewable energy sources cannot be recycled.

Which of the following statements best explains why renewable energy sources are more sustainable than nonrenewable sources?

• Renewable energy sources do not have negative environmental impacts, whereas nonrenewable energy sources have many negative environmental impacts.

• Renewable energy sources are replenishable and are virtually inexhaustible by human consumption, whereas nonrenewable sources do not form in a short period of time.

• Renewable energy sources are available uniformly throughout the world, whereas nonrenewable sources are unequally distributed.

• Renewable energy technologies are more developed and more readily available than nonrenewable energy technologies.

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Which of the following statements best explains why there is continued widespread use of nonrenewable fossil fuels in energy production in the United States?

• Established technology and transportation infrastructure for fossil fuels allows these resources to be converted into energy to meet consumer demand.

• Fossil fuels are significantly cheaper than renewable resources, so they do not require government subsidies, which ultimately saves the government money.

• The environmental effects of fossil fuels are easy to mitigate, while the environmental effects of renewable resources are difficult to understand and reverse.

• Fossil fuels will always be present and are plentiful in quantity, so there is little pressure to find a replacement for them as an energy source.

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Which of the following statements best explains why natural gas is often used as a fuel when countries are transitioning from nonrenewable to renewable energy sources?

• Natural gas burns more efficiently and cleanly than other sources of carbon-based fossil fuels, thus contributing to a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

• The infrastructure for storing and transporting natural gas can be used in the future in conjunction with hydrogen fuel technologies.

• Natural gas can be used in industrial applications only, but it has great potential to replace coal as a fuel source.

• The process of extracting natural gas, known as hydraulic fracturing, requires very little water or energy.

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NGSS.HS-ESS3-2

Which of the following best describes why people in less developed countries use wood as a primary energy source?

• The infrastructure required to transport wood is well established.

• Wood produces fewer carbon emissions than other energy sources, such as geothermal or natural gas.

• Wood can be converted to peat and cheaply burned for fuel.

• Wood, in the form of firewood and charcoal, is often readily available.

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NGSS.HS-ESS3-1

The diagram illustrates the constant formation and destruction of rock, known as the rock cycle. If a country possesses large oil and gas reserves within its borders, which of the labeled rock types must be present in the underlying geology of the country?

• A

• B

• C

• D

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NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

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Which of the following describes a step in the generation of electricity using fossil fuels that can most directly lead to an environmental problem?

• Fossil fuel is burned to boil water.

• Water is converted to steam.

• Steam turns a turbine.

• Turbines power a generator.

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Which of the following best describes an environmental problem that is often linked to the process of fracking?

• Fracking operations require large tracts of land, which degrades habitat and harms wildlife.

• Fracking can increase stream flow and water volume, disrupting fish migration pathways.

• Wastewater from fracking operations is injected into porous rock formations, which can induce seismic activity.

• Excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, run off the land near fracking sites, which can lead to large algal blooms in nearby waterways.

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NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

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Which of the following best describes a potential negative environmental effect of fossil fuel extraction?

• Fossil fuel extraction requires new infrastructure and has a high start-up cost.

• Birds are injured or killed when they fly around extraction sites.

• Thermal energy produced during the extraction process is released into nearby streams and lakes.

• Air pollutants, such as methane and particulate matter, are emitted into the atmosphere.

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

A diagram of a pressurized water nuclear reactor is shown below. In the diagram above, which letter correctly identifies the step where kinetic energy is converted to mechanical energy?

• A

• B

• C

• D

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