Question

which statement about the waste materials from nuclear power plants is true?
○ the waste gives off bursts of radiation over a short time.
○ the waste produces small amounts of greenhouse gases for a long time.
○ the waste emits harmful radiation for a long time.
○ the waste generates a large amount of carbon dioxide over a short time.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: Nuclear waste radiation is long - term, not short - term bursts. So this is false.
2. Analyze Option 2: Nuclear power plants don't produce greenhouse gases (like CO₂) from waste. Nuclear reactions don't involve carbon - based greenhouse gas production. So this is false.
3. Analyze Option 3: Nuclear waste (like spent fuel rods) contains radioactive isotopes with long half - lives, so it emits harmful radiation for a long time. This is correct.
4. Analyze Option 4: Nuclear power generation doesn't produce large amounts of CO₂. The process of nuclear fission doesn't involve carbon - based reactions that produce CO₂. So this is false.

Answer:

The waste emits harmful radiation for a long time.