Nuclear energy around the world.

• Position: GRAPH: NATIONAL

President Obama's acceptance of nuclear energy as part of the nation's effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions (see article, page 14) means the U.S. is poised to add its first new nuclear power reactors in 30 years. While safety, cost, and waste disposal issues remain, other countries in Europe and Asia have made nuclear energy a larger part of their energy mixes.

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ANALYZE THE GRAPH

(1) About 66 percent of China's energy is generated by coat--about twice the percentage of electricity generated by nuclear energy in --.

a Sweden

b Japan

c Germany

d South Korea

(2) Hydroelectric plants [which use water flow to generate electricity) account for 7.4 percent of Japan's electricity--about--percent of what it generates with nuclear energy.

a 24

b 26

c 32

d 37

(3) In 1975, nuclear energy provided 4.5 percent of the U.S.'s electricity. By 2009, that number had risen by about--percentage points.

a 5

b 12

c 15

d 19

(4) For the--countries on this graph, the average percentage of electricity generated by nuclear energy is a little less than 40 percent.

a European

b Asian

c North American

d South American

(5) The percentage of electricity generated from nuclear energy in--is about twice that in--.

a France; Japan

b Sweden; Germany

c Ukraine; the U.S.

d South Korea; Canada

GRAPH EXERCISE > PG. TE 4

(1) [d] South Korea

(2) [c] 32

(3) [c] 15

(4) [a] European

(5) [b] Sweden, Germany

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1) The United States is the world's biggest producer of nuclear energy overall, but it ranks 7th on...