QUIZ: Alternative Energy
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Fortunately, alternative energy sources already exist with the potential to improve the situation. Some derive from little known, cutting-edge technologies, and some date back to the ancient Romans. But they all add up to the possibility of a future in which American reliance on foreign oil is minimized, if not eliminated.
How much do you know about alternative energy? Take our quiz and find out.
Posted 21 April 2010
In the 2008 New Hampshire Democratic primary debate, which candidate opposed the use of nuclear energy?
- Bill Richardson
- Cynthia McKinney
- John Edwards
- Tom Vilsack
In the 2004 Democratic primaries, Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate to oppose the use of nuclear energy. But four years and a failed presidential bid can change a man, and so in 2008, John Edwards joined the Ohio congressman 's side. In 2002, the North Carolina senator had voted for a nuclear waste storehouse in Yucca Mountain, but he later reversed his position and claimed that nuclear power would have "no place" as an energy source in an Edwards administration. This stance won him the support of celebrities such as Bonnie Raitt and anti-nuclear crusaders like Ralph Nader, but it didn't add up to too many votes, and he dropped out of the primaries less than one month later.
In a 2007 interview, energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens predicted that oil would reach what price per barrel in 2008?
- $50
- $75
- $100
- $125
In late 2007, BP Capital Chairman T. Boone Pickens made a bold prediction: Oil would go up to $100 a barrel in the following year. "Demand is up and supply is flat, so it's got to go on up," he stated. Right on cue, the price not only reached, but also exceeded the $100-mark in March 2008, spelling bad news for drivers everywhere. Today, Pickens often speaks about the merits of natural gas and other alternate forms of energy, and has spent millions of dollars of his own money lobbying for measures to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Of course, Pickens is also the founder of Clean Energy Fuels, a major supplier of natural gas.
As of May 2009, 88% of new cars sold in Brazil use what kind of fuel?
- Algae fuel
- Flex fuel
- Methanol fuel
- Wood fuel
As of 2003, cars with flexible-fuel capability have been on the rise. Also known as "Flex fuel," this energy source is a mixture of gasoline and alcohol, and its job-creation potential so impressed former president George W. Bush that he entered into a 2007 trade agreement with Brazil in exchange for it. Since then, the energy source has emerged as a major factor in the South American nation's economy, and since May 2009, 88% of all new cars sold in that country have been powered by it.
When did Ed Begley, Jr. buy his first electric car?
- 1970
- 1980
- 1990
- Never
Actor Ed Begley, Jr. first became aware of environmental issues as a child growing up in Los Angeles under the city's thick curtain of smog. He decided not to be part of the problem, and he has remained one of Hollywood's greenest celebrities ever since. It wasn't always easy though, particularly before the environmental movement went mainstream. For example, in 1970 he bought his first electric car, a Taylor-Dunn, which he describes as looking utterly ridiculous. "It was essentially a golf cart," Begley explained in an interview with the New York Times. "It had canvas doors. It had a tiller instead of a steering wheel. I drove it around L.A. and got the reaction I deserved." Today, he drives an electricity-powered S.U.V., the Toyota RAV4, and he likely gets a better reception than he did in 1970.
What type of dwelling is designed to harness its energy from natural factors like sunlight and body heat?
- Dogtrot
- Geodesic dome
- Passive house
- Trullo
The passive house was pioneered in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1991, creating a warm indoor environment without using conventional energy sources like electricity or gas. Using thick insulation and complex door and window designs, the passive house is contained within an airtight exterior that prevents heat from escaping or cold from entering. This allows the house to be heated by natural sources, such as sunlight and even bodily warmth from the people living in it. The design principle used in these homes has extended to non-residential buildings in Germany, and the United States Army is currently considering building passive barracks on its German bases.
An actor who drives a hydrogen-powered BMW once portrayed James Bond. Who was it?
- Daniel Craig
- Pierce Brosnan
- Roger Moore
- Sean Connery
Pierce Brosnan was the fifth actor to play 007, and is without question the most liberal actor to do so. He supported the presidential campaign of John Kerry in 2004, and has been an outspoken backer of gay marriage. The Irish actor also has the distinction of driving a BMW Hydrogen 7, one of only 100 ever produced. He was also named the "Best Dressed Environmentalist" by the Sustainable Style foundation, an honor that Ralph Nader seems unlikely to take from him anytime soon.
Which dam is the largest electricity-producing facility in the United States?
- Coolidge Dam
- Grand Coulee Dam
- Hoover Dam
- J. Strom Thurmond Dam
The largest electricity-producing facility in America is the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State. In addition to its status as a natural source of energy, it is also the largest concrete structure in the United States, and the fifth largest hydroelectricity producer in the world. The dam was completed on the watch of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who became the namesake of the reservoir that it overlooks.
What type of car did Willie Nelson retrofit to run on fast food restaurant grease?
- Cadillac
- Lamborghini
- Mercedes
- Prius
What's that heavenly aroma wafting down the highway? Why, it's Willie Nelson's customized Mercedes, and it smells like French fries! The country superstar has been a consistent champion of environmentalism, and when he heard about biodiesel from his wife, it seemed like a good way to address the cause. Nelson test-drove her Volkswagen Jetta, which was powered by fuel derived from restaurant grease traps, and was impressed by its performance. Shortly thereafter, he bought a Mercedes and modified it to run on similar fuel. He became a convert immediately. "I get better gas mileage, it runs better, the motor runs cleaner, so I swear by it," he said.
What food source is used in Brazil to make ethanol fuel?
- Cassava
- Corn
- Potato
- Sugarcane
Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of alcohol fuel, which is made from the country's vast supply of sugarcane. The nation produces almost 5 billion gallons per year and exports just nearly 20 percent of that amount. The United States imports the majority of it, at over 500 million gallons. Brazil owes its impressive status in the ethanol market to its relatively early use of the fuel. Alcohol-fueled cars began appearing in the Brazilian marketplace in 1978, decades ahead of countries that are only now starting to appreciate this technology's potential.
Which cast member from "Gunsmoke" was an advocate of alternative-fuel vehicles?
- Burt Reynolds
- Dennis Weaver
- James Arness
- William Conrad
Dennis Weaver portrayed limping deputy Chester Goode for nine years on the television western "Gunsmoke." Weaver was an accomplished actor with many high-profile film and television roles, but he was just as passionate as an advocate for alternative energy and environmental issues. Since 1990, he and his wife lived in a solar-powered home in Colorado built from recycled tires and aluminum cans. Three years later, he founded the Institute of Ecolonomics, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing ecological concerns. One of their most high-profile campaigns was "Drive To Survive," in which the actor led a convoy of alternative-fuel vehicles from California to Washington D.C., to raise awareness about America's reliance on foreign oil.
Your score:
- RAV4
You're a battery-powered electric dynamo.
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Beyond the Barrel - Prius
You're a gas/electric hybrid vehicle.
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Beyond the Barrel - SUV
You're a classic gas-guzzler.
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Beyond the Barrel
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