WEST-E Social Studies Practice Test

Why has the global importance of biomass fuels as an energy source declined since the mid-nineteenth century?

1. The depletion of biomass resources

2. The discovery and development of fossil fuels

3. The increase in population and demand for energy

4. The rise of renewable energy technologies

The correct answer is: The discovery and development of fossil fuels

The global importance of biomass fuels as an energy source has declined since the mid-nineteenth century primarily due to the discovery and development of fossil fuels. The advent of coal, oil, and natural gas significantly transformed energy production and consumption patterns. Fossil fuels offered higher energy densities and more efficient energy conversion processes compared to traditional biomass sources like wood, which required extensive land-use and labor for collection and processing. Fossil fuels provided a more reliable and scalable energy solution, particularly with the rise of the industrial revolution, which increased energy demands across various sectors, including transportation, manufacturing, and electricity generation. As economies expanded, the easier extraction and transportation of fossil fuels made them more appealing. This shift facilitated innovations in technology that further entrenched fossil fuel reliance, which offered a level of convenience and output that biomass could not match. Although population growth and the subsequent increase in energy demand, as well as the rise of renewable energy technologies, have played a role in the energy landscape, the significant transition towards fossil fuels fundamentally altered the hierarchy of energy sources, leading to the relative decline in the importance of biomass fuels in the global energy mix.