Page 1 of 95
SUS1501 EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
SUS1501: Sustainability and Greed – UNISA
DOMAIN 1: INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY AND GREED
Questions 1–25
1. What is the primary purpose of the SUS1501 signature module according to the study
guide?
A) To teach students advanced accounting principles
B) To remind commerce students of their humanity and present them with a primer to a lifetime
of critical thinking
C) To prepare students for careers in environmental science
D) To provide a comprehensive overview of economic theory
Rationale: The purpose of the signature module is to remind commerce students of their
humanity, and to present them with a primer to a lifetime of critical thinking. This purpose is
pursued by exploring moral and political philosophy theories and applying them to
contemporary social themes including sustainability and greed.
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2. Which of the following best defines "sustainability" as presented in the SUS1501 study
guide?
A) The ability to maximise short-term profits
B) The capacity to endure and support human life into the distant future
C) The efficient use of natural resources for economic growth
D) The process of reducing business costs through automation
Rationale: Sustainability is defined as being all about long-term continuance; it is about the
capacity to endure, our ability to keep going, or our ability to support life, and human life
specifically, into the distant future.
3. In the context of SUS1501, what does the term "greed" refer to?
A) A healthy desire for professional achievement
B) An intense and selfish desire for wealth or possessions beyond what is needed
C) A strategic approach to business expansion
D) The natural human instinct for survival
Rationale: Greed refers to an intense desire for wealth or possessions beyond what is
necessary, often without regard for the consequences to others or the environment.
4. What are the two contemporary social themes that form the central focus of the SUS1501
module?
A) Technology and innovation
B) Sustainability and greed
C) Education and employment
D) Politics and religion
Rationale: The module is titled "Sustainability and Greed," and these two themes are central to
all the case studies and ethical discussions throughout the course.
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5. Which of the following is NOT one of the key words associated with the purpose of the
SUS1501 module?
A) Your humanity
B) Critical thinking
C) Profit maximisation
D) Moral and political philosophy and logic
Rationale: The key words associated with the module's purpose are: Your humanity, Critical
thinking, Moral and political philosophy and logic, Sustainability, and of course greed. Profit
maximisation is not a key word.
6. What is "sustainable development" according to the Brundtland Report?
A) Development that prioritises economic growth above all else
B) Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
C) Development that focuses exclusively on environmental protection
D) Development that is driven by technological innovation
Rationale: Sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
7. What are the three core pillars of sustainability?
A) Political, economic, and cultural
B) Environmental, social, and economic
C) Individual, collective, and societal
D) Local, national, and global
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Rationale: The three core pillars of sustainability are Environmental, Social, and Economic (often
referred to as Planet, People, and Profit).
8. Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between sustainability
and greed as presented in the module?
A) They are mutually exclusive concepts with no relationship
B) Greed is the driving force behind all sustainable development
C) Greed can undermine sustainability by prioritising short-term gain over long-term
continuance
D) Sustainability encourages greed by promoting economic growth
Rationale: Greed can undermine sustainability by prioritising short-term profit and resource
extraction over the long-term capacity to endure and support human life into the distant future.
9. What is a "signature module" in the context of the College of Economic and Management
Sciences (CEMS)?
A) A module that is optional for all students
B) A compulsory module that reflects the core values and identity of the college
C) A module that is only offered online
D) A module that focuses exclusively on accounting
Rationale: A signature module is a compulsory module that reflects the core values and identity
of the college, designed to provide students with a unique and transformative educational
experience.
10. Which of the following best describes the ethical traditions introduced in SUS1501?
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SUS1501 EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
SUS1501: Sustainability and Greed – UNISA
DOMAIN 1: INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY AND GREED
Questions 1–25
1. What is the primary purpose of the SUS1501 signature module according to the study
guide?
A) To teach students advanced accounting principles
B) To remind commerce students of their humanity and present them with a primer to a lifetime
of critical thinking
C) To prepare students for careers in environmental science
D) To provide a comprehensive overview of economic theory
Rationale: The purpose of the signature module is to remind commerce students of their
humanity, and to present them with a primer to a lifetime of critical thinking. This purpose is
pursued by exploring moral and political philosophy theories and applying them to
contemporary social themes including sustainability and greed.
1|Page
,Page 2 of 95
2. Which of the following best defines "sustainability" as presented in the SUS1501 study
guide?
A) The ability to maximise short-term profits
B) The capacity to endure and support human life into the distant future
C) The efficient use of natural resources for economic growth
D) The process of reducing business costs through automation
Rationale: Sustainability is defined as being all about long-term continuance; it is about the
capacity to endure, our ability to keep going, or our ability to support life, and human life
specifically, into the distant future.
3. In the context of SUS1501, what does the term "greed" refer to?
A) A healthy desire for professional achievement
B) An intense and selfish desire for wealth or possessions beyond what is needed
C) A strategic approach to business expansion
D) The natural human instinct for survival
Rationale: Greed refers to an intense desire for wealth or possessions beyond what is
necessary, often without regard for the consequences to others or the environment.
4. What are the two contemporary social themes that form the central focus of the SUS1501
module?
A) Technology and innovation
B) Sustainability and greed
C) Education and employment
D) Politics and religion
Rationale: The module is titled "Sustainability and Greed," and these two themes are central to
all the case studies and ethical discussions throughout the course.
2|Page
,Page 3 of 95
5. Which of the following is NOT one of the key words associated with the purpose of the
SUS1501 module?
A) Your humanity
B) Critical thinking
C) Profit maximisation
D) Moral and political philosophy and logic
Rationale: The key words associated with the module's purpose are: Your humanity, Critical
thinking, Moral and political philosophy and logic, Sustainability, and of course greed. Profit
maximisation is not a key word.
6. What is "sustainable development" according to the Brundtland Report?
A) Development that prioritises economic growth above all else
B) Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
C) Development that focuses exclusively on environmental protection
D) Development that is driven by technological innovation
Rationale: Sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
7. What are the three core pillars of sustainability?
A) Political, economic, and cultural
B) Environmental, social, and economic
C) Individual, collective, and societal
D) Local, national, and global
3|Page
, Page 4 of 95
Rationale: The three core pillars of sustainability are Environmental, Social, and Economic (often
referred to as Planet, People, and Profit).
8. Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between sustainability
and greed as presented in the module?
A) They are mutually exclusive concepts with no relationship
B) Greed is the driving force behind all sustainable development
C) Greed can undermine sustainability by prioritising short-term gain over long-term
continuance
D) Sustainability encourages greed by promoting economic growth
Rationale: Greed can undermine sustainability by prioritising short-term profit and resource
extraction over the long-term capacity to endure and support human life into the distant future.
9. What is a "signature module" in the context of the College of Economic and Management
Sciences (CEMS)?
A) A module that is optional for all students
B) A compulsory module that reflects the core values and identity of the college
C) A module that is only offered online
D) A module that focuses exclusively on accounting
Rationale: A signature module is a compulsory module that reflects the core values and identity
of the college, designed to provide students with a unique and transformative educational
experience.
10. Which of the following best describes the ethical traditions introduced in SUS1501?
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