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The 2018 Year-End Energy Quiz

This article is more than 5 years old.

MCT Limited

Are you an energy genius or an energy couch potato? It’s hard to tell whether or not Americans are really aware of the energy that controls our lives. The following energy quiz should be revealing. The answers are given at the end.

Zero to five correct answers out of the 20 questions means you may need to read up on energy in order not to be at the mercy of unethical energy salespeople. Six to ten correct answers is a good passing grade. Eleven to fifteen right answers means you’re really energy-literate. Sixteen to nineteen correct answers means you should be advising Congress – that or you’ve been reading my blog regularly. Twenty right answers suggests you’re Mr. Spock reincarnated but only because he came back in time to mind-meld me in order to find that one trick question!

1) In late August 2018, California passed legislation creating a 100% clean energy standard that instructs energy agencies to plan for 100% of total retail sales of electricity in California to come from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources by what date?   a. 2030    b. 2045   c. 2050   d. 2060

2) What country will emit the most carbon in 2019?   a. India   b. Brazil   c. United States   d. China

3) Most of the energy we use originally came from:   a. the sun   b. the air   c. the soil   d. the oceans

4) Which source will produce more total energy, not just electricity, in America in 2019?   a. wind   b. natural gas   c. hydroelectric   d. oil   e. nuclear

5) What uses the most energy each year in American homes? a. lighting   b. water heating   c. heating and cooling rooms   d. refrigeration

6) About how many people in the world use wood and manure as their major source of energy?   a. 2.5 million   b. 25 million   c. 250 million   d. 2.5 billion

7) What energy source has the biggest deathprint (kills more people per kilowatt-hour produced)?   a. coal   b. natural gas   c. nuclear   d. wind

8) Which state has the lowest carbon footprint, primarily because of their energy mix?   a. Vermont   b. California   c. Washington   d. Oregon

9) Hybrid electric cars will account for less than 2% of the global fleet in 2019, but what percentage will they be by 2040 if subsidies continue? If they don't?   a. 10%    b. 35%    c. 50%    d. 75%

10) California could produce all of its clean water needs from desalination using only local wave energy?   a. True   b. False

11) Which of these is not made from petroleum or natural gas?   a. perfume   b. lipstick   c. aspirin   d. soft contact lenses

12) Which country has the most fossil fuel in the ground?   a. Saudi Arabia   b. Russia   c. United States   d. China

13) What energy source has the smallest deathprint (kills fewest people per kilowatt-hour produced)?   a. coal   b. natural gas   c. nuclear   d. wind

14) Which type of new power plants built in 2018 will collectively generate the most power?   a. coal   b. natural gas   c. wind   d. solar

15) There are now 7.7 billion people on planet Earth, how many will there probably be in 2050?   a. 8 billion   b. 9 billion   c. 10 billion   d. 11 billion

16) With that many more people, and assumed growth in prosperity, the global economy will grow by 150%. How much more energy will be needed?   a. 40%   b. 75%   c. 100%   d. 150%

17) What subjects someone to the least radiation?   a. flying across country ten times a year   b. eating a 6 oz bag of potato chips every day   c. standing next to a nuclear reactor   d. living in Guarapari, Brazil

18) The United States set a new record of monthly oil production in 2018, 11.5 million barrels per day, breaking its previous record of 10 million bpd set in what year?   a. 1930   b. 1970   c. 1990   d. 2014

19) What energy source has Bill Gates invested in, and championed, over the last five years?   a. tidal energy   b. solar power   c. wind energy   d. nuclear energy

20) What is the biggest power plant in the United States (produces the most power)?   a. Grand Coulee Dam   b. Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station   c. Scherer Coal-fired Power Plant   d. Topaz Solar Farm

For more insight, there are many great energy quizzes online (just search on Energy Quizzes).

Answer Key

1) 2045   2) d. China, more than twice that of the U.S.   3) a. the sun   4) d. oil   5) c. heating and cooling rooms   6) d. 2.5 billion   7) a. coal   8) c. Washington   9) b. 35% if subsidies continue, a. 10% if they don't   10) a. True   11) Oops, trick question – all are made from petrochemicals   12) c. United States   13) c. nuclear   14) b. natural gas   15) c. 10 billion although it depends upon how well we distribute energy in the developing world   16) a. 40% thanks to increased efficiency   17) c. standing next to a nuclear reactor   18) b. 1970   19) d. nuclear energy   20) Palo Verde produces the most energy, about 30 billion kWhs/yr; the Grand Coulee Hydroelectric Dam only produces about 20 billion kWhs/yr and comes in 5th place behind four nuclear plants.

Have a wonderful and Happy New Year!

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