In order for nuclear power to be acceptable, new reactors would have to meet all of the following, except

In order for nuclear power to be acceptable, new reactors would have to meet all of the following, except

a. Spent fuel can be no more than 50% higher in radioactivity.

b. Runaway chain reactions must be impossible.

c. Fuel can not be used to make nuclear weapons.

d. They must generate higher net energy yields than alternatives.

e. Energy cycle must generate fewer greenhouse gases than alternatives.






Answer: A

Compared to building an equivalent natural gas plant, wind farm, or coal plant, a new generation nuclear plant will be

Compared to building an equivalent natural gas plant, wind farm, or coal plant, a new generation nuclear plant will be

a. 50% as much

b. the same as

c. 50% more

d. 100% more

e. 2-4 times as much







Answer: E

The useful operating life of today's nuclear power plants is supposed to be how long?

The useful operating life of today's nuclear power plants is supposed to be how long?

a. 20 years

b. 30 years

c. 40 years

d. 50 years

e. 60 years





Answer: C

Waste from the production of nuclear weapons must be stored for how long before it is safe?

Waste from the production of nuclear weapons must be stored for how long before it is safe?

a. 25 years

b. 100 years

c. 1,000 years

d. 150,000 years

e. 240,000 years






Answer: E

Which of the following is not true of nuclear powered electricity generation?

Which of the following is not true of nuclear powered electricity generation?

a. plenty of uranium

b. low CO2 emissions

c. less land disruption than coal

d. high net energy yield

e. requires huge subsidies

Answer: D

Which of the following is not a reason nuclear power has declined in the United States?

Which of the following is not a reason nuclear power has declined in the United States?

a. nuclear accidents in the U.S. and the Ukraine

b. declining amount of available uranium

c. poor management

d. concerns about radioactive waste disposal

e. extremely high cost of plant construction

Answer: B

The worst nuclear power accident in the United States occurred in 1979 in what state?

The worst nuclear power accident in the United States occurred in 1979 in what state?

a. New York

b. Connecticut

c. Pennsylvania

d. California

e. Washington






Answer: C

How much of the energy in a light-water reactor is lost?

How much of the energy in a light-water reactor is lost?

a. 26%

b. 42%

c. 63%

d. 76%

e. 83%






Answer: E

In China air pollution is causing as many as _____ premature deaths per year.

In China air pollution is causing as many as _____ premature deaths per year.

a. 1,000

b. 30,000

c. 200,000

d. 700,000

e. 1,000,000







Answer: D

Who has the world's largest coal reserves?

Who has the world's largest coal reserves?

a. India

b. U.S.

c. Russia

d. China

e. Australia






Answer: B

In the U.S., coal-burning power plants produce what percentage of the electricity?

In the U.S., coal-burning power plants produce what percentage of the electricity?

a. 2%

b. 21%

c. 49%

d. 19%

e. 9%





Answer: C

Which of the following countries is expected to increase its use of coal by 400% by 2031?

Which of the following countries is expected to increase its use of coal by 400% by 2031?

a. India

b. China

c. U.S.

d. Russia

e. Egypt






Answer: A

Which of the following would be a place you would expect to find methane hydrate gas?

Which of the following would be a place you would expect to find methane hydrate gas?

a. Arctic ice sheet

b. Greenland ice sheet

c. high mountain glaciers

d. permanent snow pack

e. Tundra permafrost






Answer: E

Which of the following is true of natural gas?

Which of the following is true of natural gas?

a. It is to transport.

b. It has a high net energy ratio.

c. It does not require drilling.

d. The price is kept artificially low by subsidies.

e. The U.S. has more natural gas reserves than Russia.

Answer: D

Which of the following is the primary gas in natural gas?

Which of the following is the primary gas in natural gas?

a. ethane

b. methane

c. propane

d. butane

e. hydrogen sulfide

Answer: B

The disadvantages of shale oil as an energy source include all of the following, except

The disadvantages of shale oil as an energy source include all of the following, except

a. Net energy is lower than oil sand.

b. Very high environmental impact.

c. Would only supply U.S. needs for about five years.

d. Production requires a lot of water in an arid region.

e. Expensive to mine.

Answer: C

Almost 72% of the world's reserves of oil shale are found in

Almost 72% of the world's reserves of oil shale are found in

a. The United States

b. Russia

c. Canada

d. Iraq

e. Ukraine






Answer: A

Kerogen is

Kerogen is

a. the active ingredient in kerosene

b. a waste product from production of oil from oil shale

c. a fuel supplement added to diesel oil

d. a waxy mixture of hydrocarbons in oil shale

e. sludge from removing bitumen from oil sand

Answer: D

Oil sand is made up of all of the following except

Oil sand is made up of all of the following except

a. bitumen

b. water

c. clay

d. natural gas

e. sand






Answer: D

The disadvantages of using conventional oil include all of the following, except

The disadvantages of using conventional oil include all of the following, except

a. Substitute must be found within 50 years.

b. Environmental costs not in market price.

c. Low price discourages search for alternatives.

d. Pollutes air when produced and burned.

e. Technology is not well developed.

Answer: E