Chapter 12: Uranium

Chapter 12: Uranium Test bank

Multiple Choice

1. The process by which an atom’s nucleus is split by neutrons into two lighter nuclei is called a. nuclear fission b. fallout c. nuclear proliferation d. nuclear power

2. ______is a form of uranium sometimes used as plating for armor and weapons. a. Yellowcake b. Depleted uranium c. Radwaste d. Uranium ore

3. People concerned about nuclear proliferation are concerned about the spread of ______around the world. a. nuclear power b. uranium mining c. nuclear fallout d. nuclear weapons

4. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act required the use of ______to determine the best site for deep- geological radwaste disposal. a. institutions b. risk assessment c. cost-benefit analysis d. environmental justice

5. The British took control over much of Australia because a. it was uninhabited. b. the Aboriginal people sold it to them. c. the Aboriginal people had no concept of private property. d. the Aboriginal people wanted the land developed.

6. The Manhattan Project a. conducted risk assessments for deep-geological storage. b. ran uranium exploration and mining in Australia. c. was primarily concerned with risk communication. d. developed the first nuclear bomb.

7. The airborne radioactive pollution caused by a nuclear explosion is known as a. fallout. b. radwaste. c. spent nuclear fuel. d. depleted uranium.

True/False

8. Since the uranium was located on the Navajo Reservation, the Navajo were able to control the conditions of production. a. true b. false

9. Australian Aboriginals want to prevent human access to Kakadu National Park. a. true b. false

10. Nuclear energy is efficient in part because the nuclear chain reaction is self-perpetuating. a. true b. false

11. Some environmentalists are proponents of nuclear energy because it has a low carbon footprint. a. true b. false

Identification Keywords: carbon footprint, conditions of production, depleted uranium, discourse, externality, fallout, the Manhattan Project, nuclear chain reaction, nuclear fission, nuclear power, nuclear proliferation, radwaste, primary sector, risk assessment, risk communication, spent nuclear fuel People: Concepts: Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA), environmental justice

Short Essay

1. Describe the political economy of uranium mining on the Navajo Reservation. In your answer, you should 1) identify the conditions of production, relations of production, and means of production; 2) explain how the first and second contradictions of capitalism apply to uranium mining.

2. Explain the social construction of nuclear energy production from proponents’ and opponents’ perspectives. For each side of the debate, you should 1) identify the key concepts and discourses used to construct their arguments, and 2) provide one or two pieces of evidence or examples that support those arguments.

3. What kinds of challenges does radwaste storage pose for risk assessment? In your answer, you should 1) provide at least three examples of challenges and indicate which ones are typical for risk assessment, and which are unique to radwaste storage.