AP Environmental Science : Fossil Fuels
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Coal, Oil, And Natural Gas
At the current rate of consumption, available natural gas reserves are expected to last another:
50 years
100 years
75 years
600 years
25 years
75 years
Currently available natural gas reserves are expected to last another 75 years at the current rate of consumption.
Example Question #1 : Fossil Fuels
Which type of coal is the cleanest and most efficient?
Bituminous coal
Anthracite
Sub-bituminous coal
Lignite
Charcoal
Anthracite
The least efficient and most abundant form of coal is lignite; after this comes bituminous coal, then, lastly, anthracite. Anthracite is a very hard form of coal with an extremely high carbon content. Anthracite also burns the cleanest of any coal, but unfortunately it is the least abundant and hardest to reach form of coal. Charcoal is not coal at all, but rather compressed and burned wood, consisting mainly of carbon and any remaining ash.
Example Question #2 : Fossil Fuels
Which of the following is NOT a true advantage of utilizing coal as an energy source?
Coal is very energy-dense and has a high energy yield.
Clean coal technology is a promising technology that reduces the environmental impact of modern coal plants.
Coal is abundant and confirmed reserves are predicted to last three hundred years.
Coal produces relatively low sulphur emissions when burned.
Coal can be extracted and processed domestically, potentially reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil.
Coal produces relatively low sulphur emissions when burned.
Clean coal technology is a promising solution to minimizing pollution from coal plants, and coal is one of the most abundant fossil fuels on the planet, with reserves potentially lasting up to three hundred years. Coal is also very energy-dense when compared to biomass or other renewable energy sources; however, the sulphur content of coal varies based on geographic location, and in areas that depend on locally sourced, sulphur-rich coal, the resulting emissions contribute heavily to acidic precipitation.
Example Question #3 : Coal, Oil, And Natural Gas
Which of the following pairs of factors have placed the United States in a position of dependency on foreign oil?
Trade agreements made with OPEC and a per capita demand that far outpaces much of the world.
The environmental and labor regulations for oil refining in the U.S. are more costly to firms than the duties and tariffs from importing oil from less regulated countries.
Most U.S. oil reserves have been exhausted and most oil-rich Middle-Eastern nations are politically very stable and offer reliable trade agreements.
Superior fuel quality from Middle Eastern-sourced petroleum and low import tariffs.
Disproportionately high demand for fossil fuels and a low capacity to produce domestic petrol.
Disproportionately high demand for fossil fuels and a low capacity to produce domestic petrol.
The United States is 5% of the world Population and consumes 25% of global fossil fuel production. In addition, North America peaked in oil production in the 1970's which, when combined with a disproportionately high demand, results in a national dependence on foreign-sourced oil.
Example Question #2 : Fossil Fuels
Hydraulic fracturing, also called "fracking," is __________.
a method of deforestation used primarily in Northern Europe
a result of earthquakes
the splitting apart of water molecules
a way to extract oil from underground sources
a tool used by humanitarian groups to disperse water
a way to extract oil from underground sources
Fracking is the process of blasting rocks with a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals in order to extract oil from a well. It has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly in the U.S. and Canada.
Example Question #3 : Fossil Fuels
All of the following are true of fossil fuels EXCEPT for which answer choice?
It takes a very long time for fossil fuels to form.
Fossil fuels are cleaner sources of energy than geothermal energy.
At this point in history, fossil fuels are relatively plentiful.
Fossil fuels are relatively cheap to extract.
Extracting fossil fuels creates jobs and boosts the economy.
Fossil fuels are cleaner sources of energy than geothermal energy.
Fossil fuels are notoriously dirty sources of energy, and their pollution is often expensive and/or difficult to control.
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