Fuel Types & Uses (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

9 mins9 questions
11 mark

Which of the following describes the most commonly used form of energy in developing countries?

  • Nuclear energy, because there is no chance of thermal pollution.

  • Biomass, such as wood and charcoal, due to its availability and affordability.

  • Active solar power, as no additional infrastructure is needed.

  • Hydroelectric power, due to the ease of constructing large dams.

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21 mark

Which of the following describes the processes of cogeneration?

  • The use of multiple renewable energy sources for electricity generation.

  • The conversion of biomass into liquid fuels for transportation.

  • The storage of excess energy in batteries for later use.

  • The production of electricity and useful heat from the same energy source.

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31 mark

Which of the following describes the process of peat formation?

  • Dead plant material accumulates in waterlogged, oxygen-poor conditions and partially decomposes over time.

  • High pressure and heat transform ancient marine organisms into fossil fuel. 

  • Volcanic activity compresses organic material into solid carbon deposits.

  • Rapid bacterial decomposition of plant material in dry environments creates peat.

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41 mark

Which of the following best describes tar sands?

  • A type of renewable energy source found in desert regions.

  • Sedimentary rock formations that contain large deposits of coal.

  • A mixture of sand, clay, water, and bitumen from which oil can be extracted.

  • A byproduct of natural gas extraction used for road construction.

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51 mark

Which of the following describes an advantage of natural gas?

  • It produces more air pollutants than coal when burned.

  • It  is a non-renewable resource with limited availability.

  • It burns more cleanly than coal and oil, producing fewer emissions.

  • It requires more processing than other fossil fuels before use.

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61 mark

Which of the following describes an example of cogeneration?

  • A coal power plant that recycles waste water from the process of generating electricity.

  • A factory that captures waste heat from electricity production and uses it for heating.

  • A solar farm that supplies electricity to homes during the day.

  • A privately owned wind turbine that enables the owner to sell excess electricity to the power grid.

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71 mark

Which of the following lists the forms of coal in order from highest carbon content and energy output to lowest?

  • Lignite, Bituminous, Anthracite

  • Bituminous, Lignite, Anthracite

  • Anthracite, Bituminous, Lignite

  • Anthracite, Lignite, Bituminous

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81 mark

Which of the following properties is used to separate crude oil into its various components during the process of refining?


  • Viscosity

  • Boiling point

  • Reactivity with oxygen

  • Solubility

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91 mark

Which of the following statements provides the strongest evidence to support the claim that anthracite coal is a better option than lignite coal?

  • Anthracite coal has a higher carbon content and produces more energy than lignite coal.

  • Anthracite coal is more abundant and easier to mine than lignite coal.

  • Anthracite coal is less expensive to extract and process than lignite coal.

  • Anthracite coal has a higher sulfur content than lignite coal.

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