Question

peat is a mixture of partially decomposed plant and animal material found in waterlogged, acidic, anaerobic environments. people debate whether peat is a fossil fuel. to be considered a fossil fuel, a material must be of biologic origin, be used as a source of energy, and replenish on a time - scale greater than human lifetimes. peat reserves have declined over time. however, peat harvesters claim that a restoration process is outlined in the table.

stages of peatland restoration

stage	description	time
regeneration	replaces vegetation	several decades
rejuvenation	accumulates new peat	100 years or more

which conclusion can be drawn based on the information in the table?
a. peat is a fossil fuel because rewetting it takes only 3 - 5 years.
b. peat is a fossil fuel because the total time for restoration is lengthy.
c. peat is not a fossil fuel because it has biologic origins, making it a biofuel.
d. peat is not a fossil fuel because humans can promote the replenishment of peat.

Explanation:

Fossil fuels are formed over extremely long - geological time scales. Peat re - wetting takes only 3 - 5 years and the total restoration time is not extremely long compared to fossil fuel formation. Also, peat has biologic origins and can be replenished with human intervention. So, it is not a fossil fuel.

Answer:

C. Peat is not a fossil fuel because it has biologic origins, making it a biofuel.