STS 322 Midterm EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
What was the first in a series of events that contributed to the Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear
power plant accident?
a) a routine maintenance operation, the changing of water in a system of pipes
b) production of radioactive waste
c) an order from an official with the Tennessee Valley Authority
d) clouds of radioactive material
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS a) a routine maintenance operation, the
changing of water in a system of pipes
Was the cause of TMI human or mechanical error?
a) human
b) mechanical
c) both human and mechanical
d) human agents of a hostile foreign country
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS c) both human and mechanical
Wha was a major contributing factor or what were major contributing factors to the radioactive
waste spill from the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Fukui, Japan?
a) plan worker failed to notice open valve
b) faulty valve-closure indicator light
c) both a and b
,d) neither a nor b
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS c) both a and b
Japan changed the role of nuclear power in its energy equation as a result of the Tsuruga spill
Select one:
True
False - CORRECT ANSWERS False
What uncommon type of nuclear reactor, which has been described as inherently risky to
operate as a commercial power source, was a major contributing factor to the seriousness of
the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant?
a) RBMK
b) PWR
c) PPK
d) IAEA
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS a) RBMK
What was a positive outcome of the Chernobyl accident in Russia?
a) reactor modification
b) country abandoned nuclear power
c) OSHA
d) NRC
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS a) reactor modification
, ________ ________ ________ was ________ during the Bhopal accident? - CORRECT
ANSWERS methyl, isocyanate, vapor, released
What was a positive outcome of the Bhopal vapor leak?
a. Improved concrete
b. Inquiry into accident's causes
c. Special chemical compounds
d. All of the above
e. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS b. Inquiry into accident's causes
What was a contributing factor or what were contributing factors in the sinking of the Titanic
and the seriousness of the event?
a. April is one of the worst months for icebergs
b. Lookouts were working without binoculars, which were supposed to be standard
c. There were only enough lifeboats and jackets for roughly half the passengers
d. All of the above
e. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS d. All of the above
________ was a major contributing factor or to the Andrea Doria-Stockholm collision off the
coast of Massachusetts. - CORRECT ANSWERS Fog
What was the most likely cause of the sinking of the submarine Thresher?
a. Enemy attack at depth
CORRECT ANSWERS
What was the first in a series of events that contributed to the Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear
power plant accident?
a) a routine maintenance operation, the changing of water in a system of pipes
b) production of radioactive waste
c) an order from an official with the Tennessee Valley Authority
d) clouds of radioactive material
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS a) a routine maintenance operation, the
changing of water in a system of pipes
Was the cause of TMI human or mechanical error?
a) human
b) mechanical
c) both human and mechanical
d) human agents of a hostile foreign country
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS c) both human and mechanical
Wha was a major contributing factor or what were major contributing factors to the radioactive
waste spill from the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Fukui, Japan?
a) plan worker failed to notice open valve
b) faulty valve-closure indicator light
c) both a and b
,d) neither a nor b
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS c) both a and b
Japan changed the role of nuclear power in its energy equation as a result of the Tsuruga spill
Select one:
True
False - CORRECT ANSWERS False
What uncommon type of nuclear reactor, which has been described as inherently risky to
operate as a commercial power source, was a major contributing factor to the seriousness of
the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant?
a) RBMK
b) PWR
c) PPK
d) IAEA
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS a) RBMK
What was a positive outcome of the Chernobyl accident in Russia?
a) reactor modification
b) country abandoned nuclear power
c) OSHA
d) NRC
e) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS a) reactor modification
, ________ ________ ________ was ________ during the Bhopal accident? - CORRECT
ANSWERS methyl, isocyanate, vapor, released
What was a positive outcome of the Bhopal vapor leak?
a. Improved concrete
b. Inquiry into accident's causes
c. Special chemical compounds
d. All of the above
e. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS b. Inquiry into accident's causes
What was a contributing factor or what were contributing factors in the sinking of the Titanic
and the seriousness of the event?
a. April is one of the worst months for icebergs
b. Lookouts were working without binoculars, which were supposed to be standard
c. There were only enough lifeboats and jackets for roughly half the passengers
d. All of the above
e. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS d. All of the above
________ was a major contributing factor or to the Andrea Doria-Stockholm collision off the
coast of Massachusetts. - CORRECT ANSWERS Fog
What was the most likely cause of the sinking of the submarine Thresher?
a. Enemy attack at depth
