SUS1501 Assignment 8 PORTFOLIO
(Sustainability Studies) STUDY GUIDE
2024/2025 || DETAILED ANSWERS PACK
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS <LATEST>
Q1. Which of the following best defines sustainable development?
A) Meeting present needs without considering future generations
B) Meeting present needs while compromising environmental resources
C) Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs
D) Maximizing industrial growth at all costs
Answer: C
Explanation: Sustainable development focuses on balancing economic, social, and
environmental needs. It ensures that present development does not deplete resources, thereby
safeguarding the future for upcoming generations.
Q2. The three main pillars of sustainability are:
A) Social, cultural, and political
B) Economic, social, and environmental
C) Environmental, technological, and legal
D) Political, economic, and technological
Answer: B
Explanation: Sustainability relies on three interconnected pillars—economic growth, social
inclusion, and environmental protection. If one pillar is weak, sustainability cannot be fully
achieved.
Q3. The concept of the ecological footprint refers to:
A) The amount of pollution released per capita
B) The total resources a country produces annually
,C) The human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems
D) The physical space humans occupy on Earth
Answer: C
Explanation: The ecological footprint measures how much land and water area a population
requires to produce the resources it consumes and absorb its wastes, compared to Earth’s
ecological capacity.
Q4. Which international agreement is specifically aimed at addressing climate change?
A) Paris Agreement (2015)
B) Kyoto Protocol (1997)
C) Montreal Protocol (1987)
D) Earth Summit (1992)
Answer: A
Explanation: The Paris Agreement is the latest legally binding international treaty on climate
change. It focuses on limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.
Q5. What is the primary goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
A) To achieve economic growth only
B) To eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity
C) To promote industrialisation in developing nations
D) To regulate global trade policies
Answer: B
Explanation: The 17 SDGs, adopted in 2015, provide a universal framework to end poverty,
promote sustainability, and build equitable societies by 2030.
Q6. Which of the following is a renewable resource?
A) Coal
B) Oil
C) Natural gas
D) Solar energy
,Answer: D
Explanation: Solar energy is renewable because it is naturally replenished and does not deplete
over time, unlike fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Q7. In the context of waste management, the “3Rs” principle refers to:
A) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
B) Reuse, Replace, Remove
C) Recycle, Refill, Reduce
D) Reconsider, Reclaim, Retain
Answer: A
Explanation: The 3Rs are key strategies for minimizing waste and conserving resources by
reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling materials.
Q8. Which of the following best describes biodiversity?
A) The number of endangered species in a given area
B) The variety of life in all its forms and interactions
C) The total biomass of an ecosystem
D) The genetic similarity among species
Answer: B
Explanation: Biodiversity encompasses the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity
that support ecological balance and resilience.
Q9. Which energy source is considered the cleanest and most sustainable?
A) Coal
B) Nuclear
C) Wind power
D) Oil
Answer: C
Explanation: Wind power generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. It is
renewable, abundant, and environmentally friendly compared to fossil fuels.
, Q10. Which of the following is a negative consequence of deforestation?
A) Increased carbon sequestration
B) Habitat loss and biodiversity decline
C) Decreased soil erosion
D) Increased groundwater recharge
Answer: B
Explanation: Deforestation leads to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and contributes to
climate change by increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Q11. Which approach best supports sustainable agriculture?
A) Monocropping
B) Heavy pesticide use
C) Organic farming and crop rotation
D) Overgrazing
Answer: C
Explanation: Sustainable agriculture minimizes environmental damage by using natural
methods such as crop rotation, organic fertilizers, and integrated pest management.
Q12. The term green economy refers to:
A) An economy that focuses on industrialization
B) Economic growth that ignores environmental costs
C) An economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while reducing
environmental risks
D) A system focused only on renewable energy
Answer: C
Explanation: The green economy balances growth with sustainability by promoting clean
energy, green jobs, and eco-friendly policies.
Q13. Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
A) Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
B) Methane (CH₄)
C) Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
D) Oxygen (O₂)
(Sustainability Studies) STUDY GUIDE
2024/2025 || DETAILED ANSWERS PACK
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS <LATEST>
Q1. Which of the following best defines sustainable development?
A) Meeting present needs without considering future generations
B) Meeting present needs while compromising environmental resources
C) Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs
D) Maximizing industrial growth at all costs
Answer: C
Explanation: Sustainable development focuses on balancing economic, social, and
environmental needs. It ensures that present development does not deplete resources, thereby
safeguarding the future for upcoming generations.
Q2. The three main pillars of sustainability are:
A) Social, cultural, and political
B) Economic, social, and environmental
C) Environmental, technological, and legal
D) Political, economic, and technological
Answer: B
Explanation: Sustainability relies on three interconnected pillars—economic growth, social
inclusion, and environmental protection. If one pillar is weak, sustainability cannot be fully
achieved.
Q3. The concept of the ecological footprint refers to:
A) The amount of pollution released per capita
B) The total resources a country produces annually
,C) The human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems
D) The physical space humans occupy on Earth
Answer: C
Explanation: The ecological footprint measures how much land and water area a population
requires to produce the resources it consumes and absorb its wastes, compared to Earth’s
ecological capacity.
Q4. Which international agreement is specifically aimed at addressing climate change?
A) Paris Agreement (2015)
B) Kyoto Protocol (1997)
C) Montreal Protocol (1987)
D) Earth Summit (1992)
Answer: A
Explanation: The Paris Agreement is the latest legally binding international treaty on climate
change. It focuses on limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.
Q5. What is the primary goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
A) To achieve economic growth only
B) To eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity
C) To promote industrialisation in developing nations
D) To regulate global trade policies
Answer: B
Explanation: The 17 SDGs, adopted in 2015, provide a universal framework to end poverty,
promote sustainability, and build equitable societies by 2030.
Q6. Which of the following is a renewable resource?
A) Coal
B) Oil
C) Natural gas
D) Solar energy
,Answer: D
Explanation: Solar energy is renewable because it is naturally replenished and does not deplete
over time, unlike fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Q7. In the context of waste management, the “3Rs” principle refers to:
A) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
B) Reuse, Replace, Remove
C) Recycle, Refill, Reduce
D) Reconsider, Reclaim, Retain
Answer: A
Explanation: The 3Rs are key strategies for minimizing waste and conserving resources by
reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling materials.
Q8. Which of the following best describes biodiversity?
A) The number of endangered species in a given area
B) The variety of life in all its forms and interactions
C) The total biomass of an ecosystem
D) The genetic similarity among species
Answer: B
Explanation: Biodiversity encompasses the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity
that support ecological balance and resilience.
Q9. Which energy source is considered the cleanest and most sustainable?
A) Coal
B) Nuclear
C) Wind power
D) Oil
Answer: C
Explanation: Wind power generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. It is
renewable, abundant, and environmentally friendly compared to fossil fuels.
, Q10. Which of the following is a negative consequence of deforestation?
A) Increased carbon sequestration
B) Habitat loss and biodiversity decline
C) Decreased soil erosion
D) Increased groundwater recharge
Answer: B
Explanation: Deforestation leads to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and contributes to
climate change by increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Q11. Which approach best supports sustainable agriculture?
A) Monocropping
B) Heavy pesticide use
C) Organic farming and crop rotation
D) Overgrazing
Answer: C
Explanation: Sustainable agriculture minimizes environmental damage by using natural
methods such as crop rotation, organic fertilizers, and integrated pest management.
Q12. The term green economy refers to:
A) An economy that focuses on industrialization
B) Economic growth that ignores environmental costs
C) An economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while reducing
environmental risks
D) A system focused only on renewable energy
Answer: C
Explanation: The green economy balances growth with sustainability by promoting clean
energy, green jobs, and eco-friendly policies.
Q13. Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
A) Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
B) Methane (CH₄)
C) Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
D) Oxygen (O₂)
