ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TAKS QUESTIONS
JULY 2004 – 11:
49 Battery-powered cars produce less air pollution than gasoline-powered cars. However,
one environmental concern of using battery-powered cars is that batteries —
A are heavier than gasoline engines
B waste more energy than gasoline engines
C* contain toxic substances that are difficult to dispose of
D produce direct current rather than alternating current
JULY 2004 – 11:
54 All of these materials can be recycled except —
F aluminum
G lumber
H glass
J* coal
SPRING 2003 – 11:
(54) Which of these activities can help conserve natural resources?
F* Recycling cardboard boxes
G Washing small loads of laundry
H Driving large cars
J Building wooden fences
APRIL 2004 – 11:
(45) In West Texas and Southern California, high winds drive turbines that generate
electricity. One advantage that wind energy has over energy generated from solar cells is
that wind energy —
A is plentiful everywhere
B* can be generated at night
C produces cleaner energy
D is free of environmental hazards
OCTOBER 2005 – 11, APRIL 2006 - 11:
36 Which of these produces most of the compounds responsible for causing acid rain?
F Nuclear fission
G* Fossil fuels
H Solar cells
J Windmills
OCTOBER 2005 – 11:
39 Before 1992, in order to prevent hydrogen gas from being produced, the zinc powder
in some alkaline batteries was covered with mercury. Mercury is toxic to many lifeforms. Which of the following best explains how mercury from batteries got into the
environment?
A Newly manufactured batteries were transported long distances.
B Operating batteries increased the temperature of conductors.
C* Used batteries discarded in landfills decomposed.
D Voltage loss occurred between battery terminals.
FALL 2005 – 11, FEBRUARY 2006 – 11:
10 Heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and nickel are often found in
landfills and occasionally leach into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of
water. Such heavy metals are toxic to wildlife and to humans. Which of
the following sources of environmental contamination is most often
associated with these heavy metals?
F *Batteries
G Plastics
H Automobile exhaust
I
Tobacco smoke
FEBRUARY 2006 – 11:
2 One economic benefit of using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable batteries is
that rechargeable batteries —
F are cheaper to manufacture
G can be packaged in small containers
H* can be used many times
J generate their own electricity
FEBRUARY 2006 – 11:
Use the information below and your knowledge of science to answer questions 12–14.
Gas Sylvestre
Early alchemists were able to produce various kinds of gases by mixing different substances
together. However, it was not until the early 1600s that a Belgian physician, J. B. van Helmont,
first used the term gas. Van Helmont concentrated his study on a gas he obtained from the
burning of wood. He called this substance gas sylvestre, which means “gas from wood.” He
demonstrated that gas sylvestre also formed when limestone reacted with an acid solution. Van
Helmont determined that the gas was denser than air and occurred naturally in the lower
chambers of the Grotto del Cane, a cave in Italy. He noticed that the atmosphere in the lower cave
did not support animal life. He also observed that the process of fermentation produced gas
sylvestre. Today gas sylvestre is known by a more familiar name—carbon dioxide.
13 Electric power plants that burn fossil fuels generate billions of tons of carbon dioxide
and other gases. How might replacing these power plants with solar cells affect the
environment?
A The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere might increase.
B Less land might be needed to produce the same amount of electricity.
C Forest fires resulting from highly flammable emissions might be avoided.
D* The amount of released gases that trap atmospheric heat might be reduced.
FEBRUARY 2006 – 11:
16 The typical automobile’s kinetic energy is converted to heat energy when the brakes
are applied. A braking system that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy instead of
heat energy has been designed. The electrical energy can be used later to move the car
again. How does a system like this benefit the environment?
F Greater use of solar energy
G Ability to harness wind energy
H* Decreased use of fossil fuels
J Use of renewable hydroelectricity
APRIL 2006 – 11:
4 This picture shows a small section of solar power plant. Which of these decreases the
energy production at such power plants?
F* Cloudy skies
G Ozone in the air
H Hot weather
J Low humidity
JULY 2006 – 11:
9 Which of these is an advantage of producing electricity using solar power plants rather
than using coal-fired power plants?
A Solar power plants can operate for about 10 hours per day.
B Solar power plants can produce variable amounts of energy.
C* Solar power plants produce fewer pollutants.
D Solar power plants require continuous sunlight.
JULY 2006 – 11:
19 Which of these devices uses the sun’s energy directly?
A Windmill
B Hydroelectric dam
C Nuclear power plant
D* Photovoltaic cell
JULY 2006 – 11:
28 A company has decided to market itself as environmentally friendly. If the company is
going to sell calculators, the use of which energy source would produce the fewest byproducts and the least waste?
F Rechargeable batteries
G* Solar cells
H Dry-cell batteries
J Tesla coils