Title: Review of Quiz Answers
Course: BFM 101 Biofuels Fundamentals > Section: BFM 101 Biofuels Fundamentals

Breadcrumb Navigation

Review of Quiz Answers »

Review of Quiz Answers

Review of Quiz Answers

1. How does carbon dioxide enter the plant?

Answer:

2. If you were planting a species of tree for use as coppice, what characteristics would you be looking for in the tree species you use?

Answer:

3. Summarize why grasses are particularly suitable for biofuel.

Answer:

4. What are the main ways in which humans use energy?

Answer:

5. What are the properties of a good fuel?

Answer:

6. What carbon-containing compound from the atmosphere is used by trees and plants (living things) for photsynthesis?

Answer:

7. What is the green pigment in Chloroplasts?

Answer:

8. Where in the plants cells does photosynthesis take place?

Answer:

9. Which color of visible light is not absorbed by plants?

Answer:

10. Which fuels provide this energy?

Answer:

11. At the start of this unit you were introduced to the terms 'carbon offsetting' and 'carbon neutral'. Now that you have finished reading the unit, explain in your own words the difference between the terms 'carbon offsetting' and 'carbon neutral' in the context of biofuels.

Answer:

12. Figure 14 shows the stages involved in making biodiesel, summarize these stages in your own words.

Answer:

13. List some of the crops used for biodiesel production.

Answer:

14. What is the product of fermentation?

Answer:

15. Which of the three biofuels mentioned - biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas - requires the least processing in order to produce it?

Answer:

16. Agriculture accounts for what percentage of the nation's consumptive water use?

a. 33%

b. 59%

c. 72%

d. 80%

Answer: _____

17. Converting land from CRP to crop production requires careful planning to achieve these goals (check all that apply)?

a. avoid violating CRP contracts by killing grass too early

b. provide sufficient nutrients to the crop in the first year after CRP

c. remove all grass cover so soil can be worked more easily

d. provide a long-term goal of crop productivity and soil and water protection

Answers: ____________________

18. Marginal lands are those not cropped because of what reasons (check all that apply)?

a. they are less economically productive than currently cultivated land

b. more pesticide and nutrient use is required to gain productivity

c. there is greater potential for erosion and nutrient runoff

d. they are best suited to other uses

Answers: ____________________

19. The Environmental Protection Agency identifies what as the number one water pollutant?

a. agricultural chemicals

b. agricultural animal wastes

c. sediment

d. litter

Answer: _____

20. The need for Ecological Intensification is driven by which of the following (check all that apply).

a. the increasing global demand for grain

b. the demand for biofuels

c. the desire to protect the environment

d. All of the above

Answer: _____

21. A watershed is the land area from which water drains to

a. a lake

b. a river

c. the ocean

d. the same point

Answer: _____

22. Water quality impacts to watersheds include which of the following?

a. industrial waste spills

b. nonpoint source pollution

c. soil erosion and sedimentation

d. all of the above

Answer: _____

23. Where possible, planting soybeans the first year after CRP has which of the following advantages.

a. can be planted later in spring, allowing for one more application of herbicide

b. seed soil contact is not critical since soybeans compensate well for skips

c. little need for nitrogen application if soybeans are inoculated well

d. easy to plant no-till

e. all of the above

Answer: _____

24. Which of the following is not likely to happen if more land is needed to grow corn for corn-grain ethanol production?

a. marginal land will be brought into production

b. land in CRP will increase

c. crop rotations will change to support bioenergy demand

d. increases in the use of fertilizers and pesticides

e. ecological intensification of crop production

Answers: ____________________

25. Which of the following in not a goal of Ecological Intensification?

a. producing grain crops nearer their genetic potential yield

b. increasing food, feed and fuel supply

c. reducing environmental impacts of cultivating marginal lands

d. avoiding use of modern technologies

e. preserving habitat

Answer: _____

26. Consumptive water use in ethanol processing is defined as the following:

a. drinking water consumed by operators of the facility

b. water recycled and reused in a production facility

c. water lost to evaporation and discharge that is not returned for use

d. water withdrawn from a well

Answer: _____

27. Embedded water in ethanol is greatest in what state?

a. Ohio

b. Kansas

c. Iowa

d. Nebraska

Answer: _____

28. It is estimated that 95 percent of all corn-grain ethanol is made with corn grown with what?

a. rain water

b. irrigation water

c. a combination of irrigation and rain water

Answer: _____

29. Studies have shown that field-to-pump water use to produce one gallon of ethanol is what range?

a. 69 to 201 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol

b. 5 to 528 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol

c. 10,000 to 50,000 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol

d. over 100,000 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol

Answer: _____

30. The greatest water use in the life-cycle of corn-grain ethanol is what?

a. water used in the processing facility

b. water consumed to grow the feedstock

c. water used to harvest, dry and deliver the grain

d. none of the above

Answer: _____

31. The North Central states produced how many gallons of ethanol in 2010?

a. less than 6 billion gallons

b. nearly 12 billion gallons

c. over 25 billion gallons

d. just under 53 billion gallons

Answer: _____

32. Various surveys indicate that water use per gallon of ethanol produced has dropped from 5.8 gallons per gallon of ethanol in 1998, to 1.75 gallons per gallon of ethanol produced in 2008.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

33. When cellulosic-based ethanol becomes economically viable, its production will likely be more water efficient for what reasons (check all that apply)?

a. woody and native species will be grown in adapted climates under rainfed conditions

b. processing facilities will adopt mature water reuse and recycling technologies

c. cellulosic conversion technology does not need water

d. none of the above

Answers: ____________________

34. Which of the following processes in corn-grain ethanol dry mill processing uses the most water?

a. drying

b. cooling tower

c. boiler

Answer: _____

35. Zero Liquid Discharge includes which of the following (check all that apply):

a. diverting cooling tower water to the supply water tank

b. management changes, like recycle loops

c. allowing only a small fraction of steam to escape the system

d. treating the supply water tank as a blend tank

Answers: ____________________

36. Agriculture accounts for what percentage of the nationÕs consumptive water use?

a. 33%

b. 59%

c. 72%

d. 80%

Answer: _____

37. Converting land from CRP to crop production requires careful planning to achieve these goals (check all that apply)?

a. avoid violating CRP contracts by killing grass too early

b. provide sufficient nutrients to the crop in the first year after CRP

c. remove all grass cover so soil can be worked more easily

d. provide a long-term goal of crop productivity and soil and water protection
Ê

Answers: ____________________

38. Marginal lands are those not cropped because of what reasons (check all that apply)?

a. they are less economically productive than currently cultivated land

b. more pesticide and nutrient use is required to gain productivity

c. there is greater potential for erosion and nutrient runoff

d. they are best suited to other uses
Ê

Answers: ____________________

39. The Environmental Protection Agency identifies what as the number one water pollutant?

a. agricultural chemicals

b. agricultural animal wastes

c. sediment

d. litter
Ê

Answer: _____

40. The need for Ecological Intensification is driven by which of the following (check all that apply).

a. the increasing global demand for grain

b. the demand for biofuels

c. the desire to protect the environment

d. All of the above

Answer: _____

41. A watershed is the land area from which water drains to É

a. a lake

b. a river

c. the ocean

d. the same point
Ê

Answer: _____

42. Water quality impacts to watersheds include which of the following?

a. industrial waste spills

b. non-point source pollution

c. soil erosion and sedimentation

d. all of the above
Ê

Answer: _____

43. Where possible, planting soybeans the first year after CRP has which of the following advantages.

a. can be planted later in spring, allowing for one more application of herbicide

b. seed soil contact is not critical since soybeans compensate well for skips

c. little need for nitrogen application if soybeans are inoculated well

d. easy to plant no-till

e. all of the above
Ê

Answer: _____

44. Which of the following is not likely to happen if more land is needed to grow corn for corn-grain ethanol production?

a. marginal land will be brought into production

b. land in CRP will increase

c. crop rotations will change to support bioenergy demand

d. increases in the use of fertilizers and pesticides

e. ecological intensification of crop production

Answer: _____

45. Which of the following in not a goal of Ecological Intensification?

a. producing grain crops nearer their genetic potential yield

b. increasing food, feed and fuel supply

c. reducing environmental impacts of cultivating marginal lands

d. avoiding use of modern technologies

e. preserving habitat
Ê

Answer: _____

46. True or False: Most of all current ethanol production in the U.S. uses advanced processes to derive sugars from cellulosic biomass crops to ferment into ethanol.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

47. What are the drivers of Bioenergy development?

a. Policy initiatives that promote research and development

b. Concern about United States' energy independence

c. Environmental and climate concerns associated with climate change due partially to use of non-renewable energy resources

d. Potential for new means of economic development

e. All of the above

Answer: _____

48. What are the main sources of biomass for bioenergy?

a. Aquatic invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria

b. Corn grain, corn stover, and switchgrass

c. Agriculture, forests, and waste

Answer: _____

49. What are the three types of conversion technology?

a. Thermal, chemical and biochemical

b. Combustion, pyrolysis and gasification

c. Chemical agents, enzymes, microorganism

Answer: _____

50. What role does policy have in Bioenergy development?

a. Providing incentives for farmers to grow bioenergy crops, in the absence of a mature and reliable market

b. Providing incentives to industry to develop commercial scale bioenergy facilities, in the absence of tested technologies,

c. Providing assistance in developing infrastructure needed to support a nascent industry

d. Providing funding for research and development of potential technologies, in that commercial enterprises cannot commit extensive financial resources to technologies and products that may not be commercially viable for many years.

e. All of the above

Answer: _____

51. Why is Bioenergy considered a renewable form of energy?

a. Feedstocks for bioenergy production are derived from materials formed thousands of years ago through geological processes

b. Feedstocks for bioenergy production are derived from materials formed from recently living biological material, which can be harvested and replanted

c. The energy contained in the biomass is solar energy captured through natural processes of photosynthesis

d. Both a & c

e. Both b & c

Answer: _____

52. How are liquid and gas biofuels produced?

a. Fermentation (to produce bioethanol)

b. Gasification (to produce syngas)

c. Pyrolysis (to produce syngas and char)

d. Torrefaction (to produce bio-coal)

e. Transesterification (to produce biodiesel)

f. Anaerobic digestion (to produce pipeline quality gas)

g. All of the above

Answer: _____

53. True or False: Bioenergy by-products are insignificant in determining the profitability of a bioenergy enterprise.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

54. True or False: The technical parameters for biopower (electricity generated from combustion of biomass) are well developed.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

55. What are examples of waste-based feedstocks?

a. Sawdust

b. Landfill gases

c. Construction wastes

d. Compostable materials

e. Manure

f. All of the above

Answer: _____

56. What are potential reasons that an electric utility might opt to burn woody biomass in a power plant?

a. To meet renewable energy standards

b. To reduce amount of materials that would have to be transported to the boiler

c. To cut back on pollution from coal burning

d. To improve boiler efficiency

e. A and C above

f. B and D above

Answer: _____

57. What are second generation biofuels?

a. Ethanol derived from cellulosic materials, such as switchgrass or miscanthus

b. Ethanol derived from the fermentation of sugar and starch crops, such as wheat, corn, or sugar cane

c. Pretreatment of cellulosic biomass to break apart and release sugars for fermentation to ethanol

Answer: _____

58. What are the main sources of woody biomass?

a. Forests

b. Agriculture

c. Sawmill waste

d. A & B above

e. A & C above

Answer: _____

59. What are the main types of agriculture based energy crops?

a. Corn, switchgrass, and miscanthus

b. Soybean, sunflower, and canola

c. Willow and poplar

d. Perennial lignocellulosic crops, lignocellulosic residues, sugar and starch crops, and oil-producing crops.

e. Corn stover, rice chaff, oat husks

Answer: _____

60. What is a first generation biofuel?

a. Ethanol derived from cellulosic materials, such as switchgrass or miscanthus

b. Ethanol derived from the fermentation of sugars, derived from crops such as wheat, corn, or sugar cane

c. Pretreatment of cellulosic biomass to break apart and release sugars for fermentation to ethanol

Answer: _____

61. Why is it important to develop combined heat and power (CHP) units?

a. Federal policy mandates it

b. Large scale electricity generation facilities have invested heavily in it

c. Combined heat and power is many times more efficient than combustion for electricity generation alone.

Answer: _____

62. True or False: Bioenergy has the potential to be carbon-neutral.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

63. What are the food vs. fuel concerns with respect to bioenergy?

a. Diversion of food crops for use in bioenergy

b. Diversion of land that could be utilized for food crops toward cultivation of bioenergy crops

c. Concern that small scale farmers in developing countries will produce and sell bioenergy commodity crops to the detriment of utilizing land, labor, and capital for the production of food crops

d. Concern that policy initiatives will incentivize research and development of energy crops to the deficit of research and development initiatives that increase the productivity (and other attributes) of food crops.

e. All of the above.

Answer: _____

64. What is life-cycle assessment when applied to biofuels?

a. An evaluation of the energy balance in production and utilization of the biofuel

b. An accounting of all greenhouse gas emissions generated in the production of the biofuel, including both agricultural and industrial processes

c. An accounting of human health impacts of production and utilization of the biofuel

d. All of the above.

Answer: _____

65. What is the relationship between ecosystem service trade-offs and bioenergy crops?

a. Bioenergy crop production will reduce the ability of natural ecosystems to regulate natural processes.

b. Use of land to grow bioenergy crops will reduce the net productive output of that land and the ecosystem associated with it.

c. Bioenergy crop production will impede regulating and supportive functions of ecosystems.

d. Use of land for one function may alter the ecosystem such that it detract from other functions or services provided by that ecosystem.

Answer: _____

66. Why consider using marginal lands for bioenergy crops?

a. Cultivation of agricultural row-crops on marginal lands can lead to high rates of soil erosion; cultivation of perennial grass crops on these lands would minimize environmental degradation.

b. Cultivation of perennial crops on marginal lands would not compete with land for food crops.

c. Conversion of steep or wet land currently in food crop production to less intensive bioenergy crops has the potential to generate more ecosystem services.

d. All of the above.

Answer: _____

67. The idea of Fossil Energy Ratio is:

a. How much fossil fuel is used to produce a biofuel crop

b. Fossil energy used to produce a crop / the energy in the biomass crop

c. Diesel fuel used in farming / ethanol produced by the biomass

d. Fossil energy used to produce a crop / the bioenergy derived from the crop

Answer: _____

68. The renewable fuel standard calls for ____ gallons of biofuels by the year 2020.

a. 20 billion gallons

b. 36 billion gallons

c. 50 billion gallons

d. 30 billion gallons

Answer: _____

69. What ecosystem services are provided by perennial biomass crops?

a. Erosion control

b. Reduced pesticide use

c. Reduced fertilizer use

d. All of the above

Answer: _____

70. As a fuel for heat and power applications, which fuel has the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG)?

a. Coal

b. Natural Gas

c. Corn Stover

Answer: _____

71. Ethanol co-product streams include:

a. Distillers wet grains (DWG)

b. Condensed solubles (syrup)

c. Distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS)

d. All of the above

Answer: _____

72. From Table 2 on the Cost-Benefit Analysis section, what is the most profitable (net return/A) biofuel crop priced at $60/ton?

a. Corn + Stover

b. Switchgrass

c. Native Prairie

d. Miscanthus spp. (cheap rhizomes)

Answer: _____

73. In the BCAP, what is the biomass crop establishment and annual payments contract length?

a. 2 years (5 years for woody crops)

b. 3 years (10 years for woody crops)

c. 5 years (15 years for woody crops)

d. 10 years (20 years for woody crops)

Answer: _____

74. Under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), what is the maximum CHST matching payment ($/dry ton) to producers delivering eligible biomass material?  (CHST - Collection, Harvest, Storage and Transportation)

a. $30

b. $45

c. $50

d. $65

Answer: _____

75. What are some questions producers should ask before planting a biofuel crop?  (check all that apply)

a. Is there a reliable market?

b. What additional equipment or labor is needed?

c. What is the cost of production?

d. Will the yield and price be comparable to my current crop?

e. All of the above.

Answer: _____

76. What are the likely markets for biomass?  (check all that apply)

a. Gasoline or Diesel

b. Chemical or Enzymatic

c. Methanol or Butanol

d. Thermal or Pyrolysis

Answers: ____________________

77. When determining the value of biomass delivered, weight in tons and moisture content is extremely important.  The recommended biomass moisture content percent should be:

a. < 20 %

b. > 20 %

c. > 30 %

d. < 30 %

Answer: _____

78. Which biomass feedstocks below are NOT eligible for BCAP?

a. Switchgrass

b. Miscanthus spp.

c. Algae

d. None of the above

Answer: _____

79. Corn grain yields a national average 152 bushels per acre. How much aboveground corn stover would this produce?

a. 6.0 tons

b. 2.5 tons

c. 3.4 tons

d. 4.2 tons

Answer: _____

80. How much biodiesel can be made from 1 gallon of canola oil?

a. 1.4 gallons

b. 2.3 gallons

c. 0.75 gallons

d. 1.0 gallons

Answer: _____

81. Miscanthus is planted using which of the below methods? (Check all that apply.)

a. Vegetative propagation with rhizomes

b. Seeded with a drill

c. Transplanted

d. A and C above

Answer: _____

82. Most U.S. biodiesel is made from what oilseed crop?

a. Soybean

b. Canola

c. Sunflower

d. Corn

Answer: _____

83. Sorghum and tropical maize grow very large when planted in the Midwest because:

a. The region has highly fertile soils

b. More sunlight means increased photosynthesis

c. Day length does not initiate reproductive growth

d. Cooler nights slow respiration, causing more growth

Answer: _____

84. _________ is essential for stand establishment for switchgrass and other perennial biomass grasses.

a. Fertilizer

b. Weed control

c. Soybean as previous crop

d. Properly tilled seedbed

Answer: _____

85. Which of these perennial biomass crops has the highest yield potential in tons per acre per year.

a. _____ Soybean

b. _____ Canola

c. _____ Sunflower

d. _____ Corn

Answer: _____

86. Which sugar crops can be grown in the northern U.S.?

a. Sweet Millet

b. Sugar Beets

c. Sweet Sorghum

d. Sugarcane

e. A and C

f. B and C

Answer: _____

87. Woody biomass crops are harvested every _____ years

a. 3

b. 5

c. 2

d. 7

Answer: _____

88. If the minimum-use volumes of cellulosic-based ethanol are not met in the near future what will happen?

a. corn-based ethanol production will increase to meet the demand

b. large imported volumes of ethanol will fill the gap

c. congress will revise the standard to a lower level

d. research will increase production to meet the demand

e. any of the above

Answer: _____

89. The Renewable Fuels Standard suggests voluntary minimum-use volumes of biofuels in the national transportation system.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

90. The same federal policies that drive ethanol production indirectly drive the land use and water resources impacts of bioenergy production.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

91. The growth of corn-grain ethanol production in the U.S. can be attributed to federal tax credits, renewable fuels standards, and research and development funding.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

92. A community development perspective would include which of the following considerations in evaluating a proposed bioenergy project?

a. Whether the critical infrastructure is in place

b. Whether the project is economically viable, or if a subsidy will be necessary

c. The social and political climate surrounding the project/product

d. The social, economic, and environmental implications of the project

e. All of the above

Answer: _____

93. In considering the economic feasibility of a bioenergy facility, what are some aspects of economic development that are important to communities?

a. Community aesthetics

b. Recreational opportunities

c. Volunteerism

d. Labor trading

e. All of the above.

Answer: _____

94. In the case of a community considering the siting of a bioenergy facility, whose job is it to determine if the bioenergy venture is a good fit for the community?

a. The project owner

b. The investors

c. The community

d. All of the above

Answer: _____

95. The benefits of bioenergy development over fossil fuel production and utilization far outweigh the costs; thus bioenergy development should always be pursued in communities in proximity to available biomass.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

96. The following stakeholders have a concern in bioenergy development, and should be involved in public planning processes:

a. Property owners

b. Farmers

c. Elected officials

d. Conservationists

e. Planners

f. Existing businesses

g. All of the above

Answer: _____

97. True or False: Bio-fuel project developers are increasingly being asked to consider community dynamics in project development such as: job creation, infrastructure needs, social impacts, community values?

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

98. True or False: Federal, state, and local policies should all be considered before a community chooses to undertake a bio-energy venture

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

99. True or False: In order to minimize community risks, the community should become actively engaged with the developer.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

100. The success of a bioenergy facility rests solely on whether the economic bottom-line of the facility is positive.

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

101. What are some of the human resource/labor considerations that should be part of project evaluation?

a. The availability of a skilled workforce

b. Whether the project will bring in new residents/laborers, and how the community will adjust to changing population and/or demographics

c. The impact on existing businesses

d. All of the above

Answer: _____

102. Farmers utilizing crop residue as a bioenergy crop might do the following to assure a sustainable production system:

a. Remove as much residue as the market can handle.

b. Consider how residue removal will impact the land based on the geophysical characteristics of the specific location.

c. Always apply extra N fertilizer to subsequent crops to offset the impact of residue removal

d. Utilize scientific models (such as RUSLE2) to estimate the likely impact of residue removal for specific conditions.

e. Both a & c

f. Both b & d

Answer: _____

103. How can storage cost of biomass materials be reduced?

a. Allow the materials to decompose prior to transporting them to the storage facility

b. Pre-treat with chemicals to convert materials into a smaller form

c. Compress biomass materials into pellets or bricks to increase bulk density (densification)

d. Locate all biomass combustion or conversion facilities in areas where land values are low.

Answer: _____

104. True or False: a "fuelshed" is the area of feedstock supply surrounding a bioenergy conversion facility?

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

105. True or False: Biotechnology is a tool being used to advance the development of bioenergy crops and a bioenergy industry?

a. True

b. False

Answer: _____

106. What factors affect the land that is available for biomass production?

a. Policy incentives

b. Availability of markets for biomass

c. Opportunity costs - other uses that the farmer might have for the land

d. Land owner experience and knowledge of production practices

e. All of the above.

Answer: _____

107. What is meant by "intangible infrastructure"?

a. Software programs for trading feedstock in the futures market

b. Enzymatic processes for cellulosic feedstock conversion

c. Public works projects, such as road construction, that support the bioenergy industry

d. Public policy, regulatory structures, quality standards, and marketing institutions.

Answer: _____

108. Which of the following physical infrastructure elements need to be in place for expansion and growth of the Bioenergy industry?

a. Commercially viable conversion facilities

b. Farm and forest harvest equipment

c. Transportation networks

d. Means to store quantities of biomass

e. Pre-processing facilities

f. All of the above.

Answer: _____

109. Why is it more costly to convert cellulosic material into ethanol compared to use of grain for ethanol?

a. On a per weight basis, cellulosic feedstock materials take up greater volume of storage and transportation space than grains.

b. Pretreatment of cellulosic biomass is required to break apart hemicellulose into sugars for fermentation to ethanol.

c. With thermochemical technologies, additional processing of product is necessary in order to achieve a drop-in transportation fuel.

d. All of the above.

Answer: _____

Click on the item below to download and read the quiz quesions for review
- final review study guide revison 2.pdf (134.72 KB)