Content Benchmark E.8.C.7
Students know the characteristics, abundances, and location of renewable and nonrenewable resources found in Nevada. E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Identify properties of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Which of the following would be classified as a renewable resource?
A. A barrel of oil that would take 8 million years to form.
B. A large piece of coal that would take 4 million years to form.
C. Solar rays from the Sun that take 8 minutes to reach the Earth.
D. Methane gas from the ocean floor that takes 7 thousand years to outgas.
2. Which of the following is a property of a nonrenewable resource?
A. It takes a long time to reform after its use.
B. It can be grown with in a short time after it is used.
C. It is recyclable after it is used through a quick and easy process.
D. It releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere after it is used.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
3. One benefit to using renewable energy resources would be that
A. renewable energy resources are inexpensive.
B. solar power is available everywhere.
C. renewable energy resources require less equipment to operate.
D. The resources can be are replenished within a short amount of time.
4. Which of the following energy sources would have the least ecological impact when used in the production of electricity?
A. A hydroelectric plant that dams a river to produce electricity.
B. A nuclear power plant to produce electricity.
C. Burning wood to produce electricity.
D. Solar panels on the roof of homes to produce electricity.
2nd Item Specification: Identify the common renewable and nonrenewable resources found in Nevada (e.g., copper, oil, coal, geothermal, wind, and silver).
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
5. Use the graph below to answer the question.
(From http://www.swenergy.org/factsheets/NV-factsheet.pdf)
How much of Nevada’s energy usage is from Natural Gas?
A. 30.2%
B. 56.8%
C. 93.2%
D. 100%
6. Use the graph below to answer the question.
(From http://www.swenergy.org/factsheets/NV-factsheet.pdf)
According to the graph what percent of the energy consumed in Nevada during 2004 was renewable?
A. 6.8%
B. 26.6%
C. 30.2%
D. 36.4%
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
7. Use the graph below to answer the question.
(From http://www.swenergy.org/factsheets/NV-factsheet.pdf)
How much of Nevada’s energy usage comes from nonrenewable resources?
A. 30.2%
B. 56.8%
C. 93.2%
D. 100%
8. Geothermal, wind, and solar are some of the energy resources in which Nevada has an abundant supply. What would be a benefit of their usage compared to other energy sources?
A. They are relatively cheap to establish.
B. They are constantly being replenished.
C. They produce large amounts of carbon dioxide.
D. They cover relatively small amounts of land.
3rd Item Specification: Identify which resources are abundant and where they are found in Nevada.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
9. Large gypsum formations can take up to millions of years to form. As a result of the time it takes gypsum to form, gypsum deposits would be classified as a
A. fossil fuel.
B. nonrenewable resource.
C. precious mineral.
D. renewable resource.
10. Use the map of Nevada’s major mines, oil fields and geothermal plants as of 2006 to answer the question that follows.
(From http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/dox/mi/06.pdf)
Which portion of the state has the most abundant mineral resources?
A. Southern
B. Eastern
C. Central Northern
D. Central Southern
Depth Of Knowledge Level 2
11. Nevada is one of the largest gold producing areas in the world. One of the main reasons that Nevada produces such large amounts of gold is that
A. gold ore deposits in Nevada cost less to mine than the value of the metal.
B. the mining process requires little work because deposits in large amounts.
C. gold ore deposits are very easy to locate and mine.
D. Nevada has an unlimited supply of gold as a resource.
12. Many of the natural resources found in Nevada are mined in the northern portion of the state. This is most likely because the mineral resources
A. are not found in the southern portion of the state.
B. in the north are found farther from water sources.
C. in the south are found in higher concentrations.
D. in the north are found in greater amounts.
Constructed Response E.8.C.7
1. Use the map of Nevada’s major mines, oil fields and geothermal plants from 2006 to answer the following questions.
(From http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/dox/mi/06.pdf)
- Describe the factors that denote whether a resource is classified as renewable or nonrenewable.
- Is oil a renewable or nonrenewable resource? Explain your answer.
- As mining technology improves, how would the classification of resources change? Use evidence to support you thoughts.
Content Benchmark E.8.C.7
Students know the characteristics, abundances, and location of renewable and nonrenewable resources found in Nevada. E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. C, DOK Level 1
2. A, DOK Level 1
3. D, DOK Level 2
4. D, DOK Level 2
5. A, DOK Level 1
6. A, DOK Level 1
7. C, DOK Level 2
8. B, DOK Level 2
9. C, DOK Level 1
10. C, DOK Level 1
11. A, DOK Level 2
12. D, DOK Level 2
Constructed Response E.8.C.7 Score Rubric:
3 points / Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.A. A resource is classified as renewable or nonrenewable according to the time it takes to regenerate (replenish) the resource.
B. Oil is classified as a nonrenewable resource because of the time it takes the Earth to replenish petroleum compared to the rate of its use.
C. As mining technology improves we will be able to mine in new locations and discover new reserves. Our ability to access resources may greatly improve, but the time it takes the Earth to regenerate or replenish these resources may not change. Therefore, mining technology will only increase the supply of resources not change the classification.
2 points / Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor errors.
1 point / Response does not address all parts of the question.
0 points / Response is totally incorrect or no response provided.