Test: Fossil Fuels
1. What is the world’s largest source of energy today?
a. hydrogen b. solar energy c. nuclear energy d. fossil fuels
2. Energy-rich substances formed from the remains of once-living organisms are called
a. gases. b. fossil fuels. c. reserves. d. pores.
3. What type of rock are fossil fuels usually found in?
a. sedimentary b. metamorphic c. igneous d. magma
4. Which of the following is NOT a type of fossil fuel?
a. petroleum b. water c. natural gas d. coal
5. The process of burning a fossil fuel to release energy is called
a. fission. b. fusion. c. combustion. d. polarization.
6. Known fossil fuel deposits that can be obtained with current technology are called
a. pores. b. reserves. c. refineries. d. sedimentary rocks.
7. The process of searching for deposits of a natural resource is called
a. prospecting. b. reserving. c. refining. d. poring.
8. A factory that turns a raw resource into a more pure or usable form is called a(n)
a. prospect. b. refinery. c. well. d. rig.
9. A resource that is not replaced as quickly as it is used is considered
a. renewable. b. non-renewable. c. infinite. d. plentiful.
10. Energy-rich compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon molecules are called
a. hydrocarbons. b. water. c. polar . d. non-polar.
11. Which of the following things are required for the formation of fossil fuels?
a. high temperature b. high pressure c. hundreds of millions of years d. all of these
12. True or False: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas may run out some day.
a. True b. False
13. What gas is most commonly released when fossil fuels are burned?
a. oxygen b. nitrogen c. water vapor d. carbon dioxide
14. Which fossil fuel is a solid?
a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. water
15. Which fossil fuel is a liquid?
a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. water
16. Which fossil fuel is a gas?
a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. water
17. What is the most plentiful fossil fuel in the United States?
a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. water
18. Coal forms from
a. plant remains. b. dinosaur bones. c. fossilized insects. d. petroleum.
19. What type of region is most likely to produce the raw materials that can transform into coal?
a. desert b. tropical c. arctic d. mountain
20. Which of the following states has the largest coal reserves?
a. Massachusetts b. California c. West Virginia d. Louisiana
21. The process of scraping away the upper layers of rock and soil to expose shallow coal deposits is called
a. deep mining b. strip mining c. refining. d. prospecting.
22. Approximately what percentage of the United States’ energy is produced from coal?
a. 10% b. 25% c. 50% d. 75 %
23. Approximately how many years does it take for a petroleum deposit to form?
a. hundreds b. thousands c. tens of thousands d. hundreds of millions
24. Petroleum forms from
a. tree remains. b. dinosaur bones. c. fossilized insects. d. marine microorganisms.
25. Marine microorganisms are
a. tropical plants. b. bacteria that live mammal stomachs. c. tiny sea creatures. d. aquatic dinosaurs
26. What type of region is most likely to produce the raw materials that can transform into petroleum?
a. desert b. arctic c. ocean d. mountain
27. Petroleum that has just been extracted from the ground and has not yet been refined is often called
a. natural gas. b. crude oil. c. plant oil. d. refined oil.
28. TRUE or FALSE: Most of the petroleum used in the United States comes from the Middle East.
a. TRUE b. FALSE
29. Most of the world’s petroleum reserves are located in
a. the U.S.A. b. Russia. c. South America. d. the Middle East.
30. Approximately what fraction of the world’s energy is generated from petroleum?
a. 1/10 b. 1/3 c. 3/4 d. 9/10
31. The U.S.A. produces about ____ of the world’s petroleum and uses about ____ of the world’s petroleum.
a. 50%, 5% b. 5%, 25% c. 50%, 50% d. 50%, 25%
32. All of Earth’s known petroleum reserves took about _________________ years to form.
a. 400 b. 10,000 c. 500 million d. 9 billion
33. Which of the following is a use of petroleum?
a. making plastics b. powering vehicles c. generating electricity d. all of these
34. Substances made from oil are called
a. crude oil. b. natural gas. c. petrochemicals. d. reserves.
35. What does pure natural gas smell like?
a. rotten eggs b. sulfur c. burnt wood d. nothing
36. What color is pure natural gas?
a. white b. yellow c. grey d. no color
37. Natural gas forms from
a. tree remains. b. dinosaur bones. c. fossilized insects. d. marine microorganisms.
38. TRUE or FALSE: Natural gas forms in the same types of regions as petroleum.
a. TRUE b. FALSE
39. What is the most common method for transporting natural gas throughout the United States?
a. trucks b. boats c. pipelines d. airplanes
40. Of what compound is natural gas mostly composed?
a. methane (CH4) b. carbon dioxide (CO2) c. helium (He) d. nitrogen (N)
41. Most natural gas pipelines in the United States originate in what region?
a. the West Coast b. New England c. the Midwest d. the Gulf Coast
42. TRUE or FALSE: In the United States, natural gas is most commonly used as a fuel for transportation.
a. TRUE b. FALSE
43. Which type of fossil fuel releases the least amount of pollution when burned?
a. coal b. petroleum c. oil d. natural gas
44. Which type of fossil fuel releases NO pollution when burned?
a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. none of them
45. Which type of fossil fuel is renewable?
a. coal b. petroleum c. natural gas d. none of them
46. Over the last 50 years, the U.S.A.’s use of fossil fuels has
a. increased b. decreased c. stayed the same d. gone up and then down
47. Over the last 50 years, the U.S.A.’s production of fossil fuels has
a. increased sharply. b. decreased sharply c. increased slightly d. decreased slightly
48. Over the last 50 years, how has the U.S.A.’s production of fossil fuels compared to its use of fossil fuels?
a. The U.S.A. has consistently produced more fossil fuels than it has used.
b. The U.S.A. generally produces and uses equal amounts of fossil fuels.
c. The U.S.A.’s use of fossil fuels has decreased while its production has increased.
d. The U.S.A.’s use of fossil fuels has increased faster than its production.
49. What is a BTU?
a. a unit used to measure volume b. a form of energy
c. a unit used to measure energy d. a number larger than a trillion
50. What is the name of the technique used in the laboratory to determine the energy content of a fuel?
a. germination b. refining c. calorimetry d. filtration
51. TRUE or FALSE: Burning alcohol produces more emissions and pollution than burning gasoline.
a. TRUE b. FALSE
52. Which of the following equations allows you to calculate the amount of energy absorbed by water in the “Evaluating Fuels” experiment?
a. ΔT=Tf-Ti
b. Δm=mf-mi
c. E = mc2
d. E=mcwΔT
53. The main purpose of the flask of water in the “Evaluating Fuels” experiment was to
a. put out the fires.
b. support the thermometer/temperature probe.
c. absorb the energy from the fuels.
d. protect you from heat.
54. When we combined data from the entire class, what was the most appropriate conclusion about the effect of acid rain on radish seed germination?
a. Acid rain has no effect on radish seed germination.
b. After one day, acid rain causes radish seeds to germinate much faster than water does.
c. Over time, acid rain causes fewer radish seeds to germinate than water does.
d. There was no way to tell whether or not acid rain has any effect on radish seed germination.
55. Which of the following substances is a transmitter of visible light waves?
a. wood b. wall board c. metal screen d. aluminum foil
56. Which of the following substances is a transmitter of gamma rays?
a. wood b. aluminum foil c. wall board d. all of the above
57. Infrared waves can be detected by
a. your hand. b. your “naked” eye. c. your ears. d. fluorescent minerals.
58. Which form of electromagnetic wave contains the most energy?
a. radio waves b. infrared waves c. x-rays d. gamma rays
59. Which form of electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?
a. radio waves b. infrared waves c. x-rays d. gamma rays
60. In the steam engine demonstration, what were the first and last forms of energy (if the engine works right)?
a. kinetic and electrical b. thermal and kinetic
c. chemical potential and visible light d. potential and kinetic
61. In what part of a lab report do you explain how to use the materials to carry out the experiment?
a. heading b. materials c. procedure d. data and observations
62. In what part of a lab report do you state your hypothesis?
a. heading b. introduction c. materials d. calculations
63. In what part of a lab report do you describe sources of error in your experiment?
a. heading b. introduction c. procedure d. conclusion and evaluation
40. What does ANWR stand for?
a. Alaska Natural Wildlife Reserve b. Alaska Natural Wildflower Resource
c. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge d. American Natural Wonderland Reserve
41. Where is ANWR?
a. Washington b. Oregon c. Alaska d. California
42. True or False: According to polls, most Alaskan citizens support petroleum development in ANWR.
a. True b. False
43. True of False: All native Alaskans are against petroleum development in ANWR.
a. True b. False
44. True or False: Today it is legal for companies to go to ANWR and drill for oil to sell to customers.
a. True b. False
45. In 2003, there was a large oil spill near what part of Massachusetts?
a. Boston Harbor b. Buzzards Bay c. Quabbin Reservoir d. Nantasket Beach
46. True or False: Polar substances mix well with nonpolar substances.
a. True b. False
47. True or False: Water molecules are considered polar because they are composed of 3 atoms.
a. True b. False
48. True or False: Oil always floats on water because it always has less mass than water.
a. True b. False
49. True or False: Soap molecules break down oil molecules by splitting them apart.
a. True b. False
50. Approximately how many gallons leaked in the oil spill mentioned above?
a. 14 b. 147 c. 14,700 d. 147,000,000
22. Petroleum is found in
a. the atmosphere. b. fossils in igneous rocks. c. pores in sedimentary rocks. d. rivers.
23. Which of the following types of rock are most likely to contain natural gas deposits?
a. shale b. granite c. slate d. sandstone
24. Small holes or spaces in rocks are called
a. pores. b. cracks. c. layers. d. grains.
33. Of what compound is natural gas mostly composed?
a. methane (CH4) b. carbon dioxide (CO2) c. helium (He) d. nitrogen (N)