The Biofuel Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
1 min
The Biofuel Quiz
Image: Dave Reede/All Canada Photos/Getty Images

About This Quiz

What do vegetable oil, corn and salt water have in common? They're all potential fuel sources for our cars. See how much you know about the next generation of biofuels in our Biofuel Quiz.
All biofuels are made from:
corn
animal fat
biological ingredients
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Biofuels are made from renewable biological ingredients instead of fossil fuels.

Which of the following is not a potential biofuel?
grassoline
hydrogen fuel cells
algae biodiesel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hydrogen fuel cells are a feasible alternative to oil, but since they're non-living, they aren't considered biofuels.

With B20 biodiesel, the "20" indicates the percentage of what?
biodiesel fuel
standard fuel
energy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Biodiesel blends are indicated by the abbreviation Bxx, where "xx" is the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture. B20 fuel is 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent standard fuel.

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Ethanol refers to any biofuel made from:
grass
corn
plant carbohydrates
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ethanol is a form of fuel derived from the complex carbohydrates in plants. Potential sources are corn and switchgrass.

What's the primary source of biodiesel?
soybeans
plant oil
animal fat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although animal fat can be used as a source of biodiesel, plant oils are the primary source.

When was vegetable oil first proven as a fuel source?
1900
1940
1990
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, Rudolf Diesel demonstrated his engine that ran on peanut oil.

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When were algae first explored as a fuel alternative?
1978
1988
1998
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A rise in gas prices led President Jimmy Carter to encourage the government to explore alternative fuel sources like algae in 1978.

How many gallons of biodiesel could a 100-acre (40-hectare) algae biodiesel plant potentially produce in a year?
100,000 gallons (378,541 liters)
1 million gallons (3.8 million liters)
10 million gallons (38 million liters)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In just one year, a 100-acre (40-hectare) algae biodiesel plant could potentially produce 10 million gallons (38 million liters) of biodiesel. Experts estimate it would take 140 billion gallons (530 billion liters) of the biodiesel each year to replace petroleum-based products.

Which of the following is not one of the criticisms of biofuel?
increased food prices
more crowded highways
less food for hungry countries
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Critics of biofuel argue that if food and energy compete for land, food prices may go up. They also fear that since surplus food can be used as a fuel source, food surplus programs for hungry countries could dry up.

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In Brazil, what's the main source of ethanol?
corn
switchgrass
sugarcane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brazil's main source of ethanol is sugarcane, while the United States most commonly uses corn.

You Got:
/10
Dave Reede/All Canada Photos/Getty Images