AP®Environmental ScienceCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 6: Energy Resources & ConsumptionRenewable & Nonrenewable Resources

Renewable & Nonrenewable Resources (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

15 mins15 questions
1
1 mark

Which of the following is an example of a nondepletable renewable energy source?

  •  Biomass

  • Wind

  • Ethanol

  • Wood

Choose your answer

2
1 mark

Which of the following is true regarding the chemical energy stored in fossil fuels?

  • The energy originally came from chemical reactions in radioactive materials

  • The energy came from sunlight absorbed by plants through photosynthesis

  • Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived within the last century

  • The energy in fossil fuels is not renewable because it is stored in atomic bonds rather than chemical bonds

Choose your answer

3
1 mark

Country

Coal (TWh)

Natural Gas (TWh)

Hydropower (TWh)

Solar (TWh)

Wind (TWh)

Country A

200

150

50

5

10

Country B

120

100

40

50

60

Country C

80

60

150

100

20

Country D

300

180

10

5

50

Which country produces the most electricity from renewable energy sources?

  • Country A

  • Country B

  • Country C

  • Country D

Choose your answer

4
1 mark

Country

Coal (TWh)

Natural Gas (TWh)

Hydropower (TWh)

Solar (TWh)

Wind (TWh)

Country A

200

150

50

5

10

Country B

120

100

40

50

60

Country C

80

60

150

100

20

Country D

300

180

10

5

50

Which energy source contributes the most to Country A’s total energy production?

  • Coal

  • Natural Gas

  • Hydropower

  • Wind

Choose your answer

5
1 mark

Country

Coal (TWh)

Natural Gas (TWh)

Hydropower (TWh)

Solar (TWh)

Wind (TWh)

Country A

200

150

50

5

10

Country B

120

100

40

50

60

Country C

80

60

150

100

20

Country D

300

180

10

5

50

Which country has the highest percentage of energy produced from renewable sources (hydropower, solar, and wind)?

  • Country A

  • Country B

  • Country C

  • Country D

Choose your answer

6
1 mark

Country

Coal (TWh)

Natural Gas (TWh)

Hydropower (TWh)

Solar (TWh)

Wind (TWh)

Country A

200

150

50

5

10

Country B

120

100

40

50

60

Country C

80

60

150

100

20

Country D

300

180

10

5

50

What is the total amount of energy produced from non-renewable sources in Country D?

  •  480 TWh

  • 490 TWh

  • 545 TWh

  • 300 TWh

Choose your answer

7
1 mark

Country

Coal (TWh)

Natural Gas (TWh)

Hydropower (TWh)

Solar (TWh)

Wind (TWh)

Country A

200

150

50

5

10

Country B

120

100

40

50

60

Country C

80

60

150

100

20

Country D

300

180

10

5

50

Which of the following countries relies the most on energy from the sun?

  • Country A

  • Country B

  • Country C

  • Country D

Choose your answer

8
1 mark

Country

Coal (TWh)

Natural Gas (TWh)

Hydropower (TWh)

Solar (TWh)

Wind (TWh)

Country A

200

150

50

5

10

Country B

120

100

40

50

60

Country C

80

60

150

100

20

Country D

300

180

10

5

50

Which country has the highest total energy production?

  • Country A

  • Country B

  • Country C

  • Country D

Choose your answer

9
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

Which renewable energy source faces the greatest challenge in maintaining a stable power supply due to intermittency, requiring significant energy storage solutions?

  • Geothermal

  • Biomass

  • Solar

  • Hydropower

Choose your answer

10
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

Which energy source requires the largest land area relative to the energy it produces, potentially competing with agriculture and urban development?

  • Wind

  • Biomass

  • Solar

  • Geothermal

Choose your answer

11
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

Which energy source can lead to significant ecological damage by altering river ecosystems?

  • Hydropower

  • Biomass

  • Wind

  • Geothermal

Choose your answer

12
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

Which energy source poses the greatest risk to bird populations?

  • Geothermal

  • Wind Power

  • Biomass

  • Solar Power

Choose your answer

13
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

A country is trying to reduce its air pollution but still wants to use renewable energy. Which of the following energy sources is the least suitable?

  • Hydropower

  • Biomass

  • Wind

  • Solar

Choose your answer

14
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

Which energy source would be the most suitable for a country looking for a highly efficient and continuous source of renewable energy with minimal need for storage?

  • Wind

  • Geothermal

  • Solar

  • Biomass

Choose your answer

15
1 mark

Examine the data below and answer the question:

Energy Source

Efficiency (%)

Storage Requirement

Land Use Impact

Infrastructure Cost

Environmental Concerns

Solar

15-22%

High

High

Expensive

Mining for materials

Wind

35-50%

Moderate

Moderate

High Initial

Noise, wildlife impact

Hydropower

80-90%

Low

Moderate

Very Expensive

Aquatic disruption

Biomass

20-40%

Low

Low

Moderate

Air pollution, land use

Geothermal

40-50%

Low

Low

High

Induced seismic activity

Which renewable energy source is most likely to cause deforestation if not managed sustainably?

  • Hydropower

  • Biomass

  • Wind Power

  • Geothermal

Choose your answer