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Day 22 (Assignment 2 )
Use the following passage to answer Questions 9–16.
Americans Use Many Types of Energy
1. Petroleum (oil) is the largest share of US primary energy
consumption, followed by natural gas, coal, nuclear electric
power, and renewable energy (including hydropower, wood,
biofuels, biomass waste, wind, geothermal, and solar).
Electricity is a secondary energy source that is generated from
primary forms of energy.
2. The major energy users are residential and commercial
buildings, industry, transportation, and electric power
generators. The pattern of fuel use varies widely by sector. For
example, petroleum oil provides 92% of the energy used for
transportation, but only 1% of the energy used to generate
electricity.

Domestic Energy Production versus Demand

3. In 2013, energy produced in the United States provided about
84% of the nation’s energy needs. The remaining energy was
supplied mainly by imports of petroleum.
4. The three major fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and
coal—accounted for most of the nation’s energy production in
2013: • Natural gas—30%
• Coal—24%
• Petroleum (crude oil and natural gas plant liquids)—24%
• Renewable energy—11%
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• Nuclear electric power—10%

The Mix of US Energy Production Changes

5. The three major fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and
coal—have dominated the US energy mix for more than 100
years. There have been several recent changes in US energy
production. The share of coal produced from surface mines
increased significantly from 25% in 1949 to 51% in 1971 to
66% in 2012. The remaining share was produced from
underground mines. In 2013, natural gas production was
higher than in any previous year. In recent years, more
efficient and cost-effective drilling and production techniques
have resulted in increased production of natural gas from shale
formations.
6. Total US crude oil production generally decreased each year
from a peak in 1970, but the trend reversed in 2010. In 2013,
crude oil production was the highest since 1989. These
increases were the result of increased use of horizontal drilling
and hydraulic fracturing techniques, notably in North Dakota
and Texas.
7. Natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs) are hydrocarbons that are
separated as liquids from natural gas at processing plants.
They are important ingredients for manufacturing plastics and
gasoline. Propane is the only NGPL that is widely used for
heating and cooking. Production of NGPL fluctuates with
natural gas production, but the NGPL share of total US crude
oil and petroleum field production increased from 8% in 1950
to 26% in 2013.
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8. In 2013, total renewable energy production and consumption

reached record highs of about 9 quadrillion Btu each.
Hydroelectric power production in 2013 was about 9% below the
50-year average, but increases in biofuels’ use and wind power
generation increased the overall total contribution of renewable
energy. Production of energy from wind and solar were at record
highs in 2013.

9. Which information is conveyed in both the text and the pie

chart?
A. Electricity is a secondary energy source generated by oil and
gas.
B. Fossil fuels account for most of US energy production.
C. Renewable energy production reached a high point in 2013.
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D. Oil is the most-consumed energy source in the United States.

10. How does the data in the pie chart support the main idea
in paragraph 1?
A. The vertical bar in the chart represents renewable energy
consumption.
B. The same color in the chart represents both oil and coal
consumption.
C. The largest section in the chart represents petroleum
consumption.
D. The headings in the chart represent the total Btus of energy
consumption.

Use the following sentence to answer Question 11:

In 2013, energy produced in the United States provided 84% of
the nation’s energy needs.
11. What inference can you make from this sentence?
A. The United States is a country with few energy sources.
B. The United States has discovered new forms of energy.
C. The United States uses more energy than it can produce.
D. The United States generates more energy than other nations.
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12. Based on the passage, what conclusion can you draw

about US energy consumption?
A. The United States is committed to exploring renewable
sources of oil.
B. The United States is dependent on petroleum oil as an energy
source.
C. The United States is the world’s largest consumer of oil and
natural gas.
D. The United States is producing more oil and electricity than
ever before.

13. Which of the following would be the most relevant

evidence to support the author’s claim that trends in US
energy production have changed in the past 50 years?
A. Use of renewable sources of energy in the United States was
only 5% in 1970.
B. Natural gas plant liquids are hydrocarbons produced from
natural gas.
C. US crude oil production had been increasing since 1970 but
decreased in 2010.
D. Fossil fuels accounted for most of the nation’s energy
production in 2013.
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14. Paragraphs 1–2 describe energy consumption in the

United States. The remaining paragraphs develop the passage
further by
A. explaining how much energy the United States wastes each
year.
B. focusing on energy the United States obtains from foreign
sources.
C. discussing energy production in the United States and its
recent changes.
D. exploring new ways to generate renewable energy in the
United States.

15. The underlying premise of paragraph 2 is that most

energy consumption in the United States is due to
A. residential use.
B. manufacturing.
C. transportation.
D. technology.

16. What does paragraph 8 imply about energy production in

the United States?
A. Production of crude oil is stable.
B. Production of renewable energy is rising.
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C. Production of hydroelectric power is outdated.

D. Production of coal is unpopular.