Energy and Public Lands
The United States boasts substantial energy resources. Federal lands provide a good deal of U.S. energy production; the U.S. Department of the Interior manages federal energy leasing, both on land and on the offshore Outer Continental Shelf. Production from these sources amounts to nearly 30 percent of total annual U.S. energy production.
In 2000, 32 percent of U.S. oil, 35 percent of natural gas, and 37 percent of coal were produced from federal lands, representing 20,000 producing oil and gas leases and 135 producing coal leases. Federal lands are also estimated to contain approximately 68 percent of all undiscovered U.S. oil reserves and 74 percent of undiscovered natural gas.
Revenues from federal oil, gas, and coal leasing provide significant returns to U.S. taxpayers as well as State governments. In 1999, for example, $553 million in oil and gas revenues were paid to the U.S. Treasury, and non-Indian coal leases accounted for over $304 million in revenues, of which 50 percent were paid to State governments. Public lands also play a critical role in energy delivery. Each year, federal land managers authorize rights of way for transmission lines, rail systems, pipelines, and other facilities related to energy production and use.
Alternative energy production from federal lands lags behind conventional energy production, though the amount is still significant. For example, federal geothermal resources produce about 7.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, 47 percent of all electricity generated from U.S. geothermal energy. There are 2,960 wind turbines on public lands in California alone, producing electricity for about 300,000 people. Federal hydropower facilities produce about 17 percent of all hydropower produced in the United States.
Because of the growing U.S. thirst for energy and increasing public unease with dependence on foreign oil sources, pressure on the public lands to meet U.S. energy demands is intensifying. Public lands are available for energy development only after they have been evaluated through the land use planning process. If development of energy resources conflicts with management or use of other resources, development restrictions or impact mitigation measures may be imposed, or mineral production may be banned altogether.
31. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Public lands are one of the main sources of revenues.
B. Public lands play an important role in energy production.
C. Public lands should be developed to ease energy shortage.
D. Public lands store huge energy resources for further development.
32. Which of the following statements is true of public lands in the U.S.?
A. The majority of undiscovered natural gas is stored there.
B. Half of U.S. energy is produced there.
C. Most of coal was produced from there in 2000.
D. Most energy resources are reserved there.
33. Geothermal resources, wind turbines, and hydropower facilities in Paragraph 4 are cited as examples to illustrate that
A. the amount of alternative energy production from public lands is huge.
B. alternative energy production is no less than conventional energy production.
C. they are the most typical conventional energy resources from public lands.
D. geothermal resources are more important than the other two.
34. There is a mounting pressure on public lands to satisfy US energy demands because
A. the US is demanding more and more energy.
B. many Americans are unhappy with energy development in foreign countries.
C. quite a few public lands are banned for energy development.
D. many Americans think public lands are being abused.
35. Public lands can be used for energy development when
A. energy development restrictions are effective.
B. federal land managers grant permissions.
C. they go through the land use planning process.
D. there is enough federal budget.
网考网参考答案：B、A、A、A、C
网考网解析：进入考试题库查看解析
大数据分析：根据网考网与考试题库的统计，该试题：
64%的考友选择了A选项
7%的考友选择了B选项
2%的考友选择了C选项
27%的考友选择了D选项
考友解析与评论：
· 题目都看不懂，整个就是乱蒙。
· 悲剧 好多题没有头绪 赶紧做题啊
· 出题的估计语文没学好
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