Of renewable energy sources, which is the most realistic short-term alternative to nonrenewables?
a. wind
b. solar
c. geothermal
d. natural gas
e. ocean tidal
Q. 2What is meant by the term renewables?
a. the contracts that consumers have with energy companies to deliver the consumers' electricity
b. sources of energy that come directly from nature, such as power from wind and the sun
c. a renewed debate between citizens as to the environmental impact of oil and natural gas
d. nuclear power
e. the continuing damage done to land and water from fracking
Q. 3Which of these is the best assessment of the Faustian bargain with regard to nuclear energy?
a. Nuclear energy is far too expensive to compete with oil and natural gas, even if it makes the United States more energy independent.
b. Renewable energy is less expensive and has fewer risks than nuclear energy.
c. Citizens would have to be willing to pay for expensive construction costs.
d. Concerns about a nuclear disaster and the storage of radioactive waste are so severe that they overbalance the advantages of using nuclear power.
e. All of these are good assessments.
Q. 4Which of these best explains the benefits of nuclear power?
a. It is cheap and produces little pollution.
b. The supply of nuclear power can be made stable, and international 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, and international 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.
Q. 5Which of these is a major problem associated with nuclear power?
a. It is a very dirty energy, throwing hydrocarbons into the air, and there is a potential that a meltdown would release radioactivity into the air.
b. There is a potential that a meltdown would release radioactivity into the air, and sources of nuclear fuel are, for the most part, only available in other nations.
c. Sources of nuclear fuel are, for the most part, only available in other nations, and disposing of the radioactive waste by-products is difficult politically.
d. It is a very dirty energy, throwing hydrocarbons into the air, and sources of nuclear fuel are, for the most part, only available in other nations.
e. There is a potential that a meltdown would release radioactivity into the air, and disposing of the radioactive waste by-products is difficult politically.
Q. 6The two nuclear energy plants in Texas, Comanche Peak and South Texas Nuclear Project, produce what percentage of Texas electricity?
a. 10 percent
b. 25 percent
c. 48 percent
d. 70 percent
e. 90 percent
Q. 7Most of the coal mined in Texas is of what variety?
a. lignite
b. anthracite
c. stalagmite
d. bituminous
e. graphite
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