In 1971, oil and natural gas provided what fraction of total world energy?

In 1971, oil and natural gas provided what fraction of total world energy?

• A. 1/2
• B. 2/3
• C. 3/4
• D. 1/3

Answer: (B)

In the early 1970s, energy worldwide was dominated by fossil fuels, with oil and natural gas together supplying roughly two-thirds of total energy. Oil powered most transportation and many industries, while natural gas was increasingly used for electricity generation and heating. Together they outweighed the other sources (coal, hydro, etc.), so the combined share being about two-thirds makes the most sense. The other fractions would understate or overstate the typical balance of that era, and a third or half wouldn’t reflect how dominant oil and gas were at the time.

In the early 1970s, energy worldwide was dominated by fossil fuels, with oil and natural gas together supplying roughly two-thirds of total energy. Oil powered most transportation and many industries, while natural gas was increasingly used for electricity generation and heating. Together they outweighed the other sources (coal, hydro, etc.), so the combined share being about two-thirds makes the most sense. The other fractions would understate or overstate the typical balance of that era, and a third or half wouldn’t reflect how dominant oil and gas were at the time.