Chapter 12 AP® Environmental Science Practice Exam

Section 1: Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the best answer for questions 1–11.

Question 1

1. Which of the following is NOT a nonrenewable energy resource?

  1. Oil

  2. Coal

  3. Natural gas

  4. Wind

  5. Nuclear fuels

Question 2

2. The fact that global transfer of energy from fuels to electricity is about 35 percent efficient is mostly a consequence of

  1. the Hubbert curve.

  2. the law of conservation of matter.

  3. the first law of thermodynamics.

  4. the second law of thermodynamics.

  5. the law of limiting factors.

Question 3

3. Which of the following is the most fuel-efficient mode of transportation in terms of joules per passenger-kilometer?

  1. Train

  2. Bus

  3. Airplane

  4. Car with one passenger

  5. Car with three passengers

Question 4

4. Which of the following is NOT associated with the surface extraction of coal?

  1. Low death rates among miners

  2. Land subsidence and collapse

  3. Large piles of tailings

  4. Underground tunnels and shafts

  5. Acid runoff into streams

Question 5

5. Which of the following statements regarding petroleum is correct?

  1. It is formed from the decay of woody plants.

  2. It contains natural gas as well as oil.

  3. It migrates through pore spaces in rocks.

  1. I, II, and III

  2. I and III

  3. II only

  4. I and II

  5. II and III

Question 6

6. Which is a disadvantage of natural gas?

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  1. High sulfur emissions

  2. Groundwater contamination

  3. High carbon dioxide emissions

  4. Low EROEI due to extraction processes

  5. Significant waste disposal

Question 7

7. Nuclear power plants produce electricity using energy from the radioactive decay of

  1. uranium-235.

  2. uranium-238.

  3. uranium-239.

  4. plutonium-235.

  5. plutonium-238.

Question 8

8. Currently, most high-level radioactive waste from nuclear reactors in the United States is

  1. stored in deep ocean trenches.

  2. buried in Yucca Mountain.

  3. reprocessed into new fuel pellets.

  4. chemically modified into safe materials.

  5. stored at the power plant that produced it.

Question 9

9. A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 40 years and a radioactivity level of 4 curies. How many years will it take for the radioactivity level to become 0.25 curies?

  1. 80

  2. 120

  3. 160

  4. 200

  5. 240

Question 10

10.Which of the following energy sources is responsible for the largest fraction of electricity generation in the United States?

  1. Natural gas

  2. Coal

  3. Uranium

  4. Oil

  5. Wood

Question 11

11.In 1969, M. King Hubbert published a graph known as the Hubbert curve. This graph shows

  1. the amount of nuclear fuel available in North America.

  2. the amount of nuclear fuel available in the world.

  3. the point at which world oil production will reach a maximum and the point at which we will run out of oil.

  4. the point at which world oil production will increase.

  5. the coal reserves found in the United States, China, and Russia.

Section 2: Free-Response Questions

Write your answer to each part clearly. Support your answers with relevant information and examples. Where calculations are required, show your work.

Question 1

1. Many college students have a mini fridge in their dorm room. A standard mini fridge costs roughly $100, uses about 100 watts of electricity, and can be expected to last for 5 years. The refrigerator is plugged into an electrical socket 24 hours a day, but is usually running only about 12 hours a day. Assume that electricity costs $0.10/kWh.

  1. Calculate the lifetime monetary cost of owning and operating the refrigerator. (2 points)

  2. Assume that the electricity used to power the refrigerator comes from a coal-burning power plant. One metric ton of coal contains 29.3 GJ (8,140 kWh) of energy. Because of the inefficiency of electricity generation and transmission, only one-third of the energy in coal reaches the refrigerator. How many tons of coal are used to power the refrigerator during its lifetime? (2 points)

  3. Assume that 15 percent of the mass of the coal burned in the power plant ends up as coal ash, a potentially toxic mixture that contains mercury and arsenic. How many tons of coal ash are produced as a result of the refrigerator’s electricity use over its lifetime? (2 points)

  4. What externalities does your answer from part (a) not include? Describe one social and one environmental cost associated with using this appliance. (2 points)

  5. Describe two ways a college student could reduce the electricity use associated with having a mini fridge in his or her dorm room. (2 points)

Question 2

2. A number of U.S. electric companies have filed applications with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for permits to build new nuclear power plants to meet future electricity demands.

  1. Explain the process by which electricity is generated by a nuclear power plant. (2 points)

  2. Describe the two nuclear accidents that occurred in 1979 and 1986, respectively, that led to widespread concern about the safety of nuclear power plants. (2 points)

  3. Discuss the environmental benefits of generating electricity from nuclear energy rather than coal. (2 points)

  4. Describe the three types of radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants and explain the threats they pose to humans. (2 points)

  5. Discuss the problems associated with the disposal of radioactive waste and outline the U.S. Department of Energy’s proposal for its long-term storage. (2 points)