Multiple Choice Questions

Sustainable consumption (SC) is the study of resource and energy use (domestic or otherwise) and it complements analyses of production and its processes. As the term sustainability would imply, those who study SC seek to apply the concept of ‘continuance’; the capacity to meet both present and future human generational needs. Thus it is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all.

1. The value-action gap refers to ______.

  1. the space that occurs when the values (personal and cultural) or attitudes of an individual do not correlate to his or her actions
  2. the space that diminishes when the values (personal and cultural) or attitudes of an individual mirror his or her actions
  3. the opportunity cost of lost value when making decisions

Answer: A

2. Elkington’s (1994) triple bottom line consists of ______.

  1. social, environment, economic
  2. technology, environment, economic
  3. culture, environment, economic

Answer: A

3. In the Fourth Pillar Model (Giddings et al., 2002), which of the following refers to the fourth pillar in sustainable development?

  1. technological
  2. social
  3. cultural

Answer: C

4. Which is TRUE?

  1. Ecological modernization is a school of thought in the social sciences that argues that the economy benefits from moves towards environmentalism.
  2. Ecological modernization is a school of thought in which ecologists argue for cleaner air and thus less air pollution.
  3. Ecological modernization is a school of thought in engineering that argues that the societal benefits of cleaner fuel are greater than the cost of introducing such modernization.

Answer: A

5. The primary driver behind many ecological and even societal threats is ______.

  1. out-of-control politicians
  2. human population growth
  3. CO2 emissions

Answer: B

6. Overall, environmentalism advocates ______.

  1. the removal of diesel vehicles from our roads
  2. the preservation, restoration and/or improvement of the natural environment
  3. encouraging local councils to build more cycle lanes as alternative means of transportation

Answer: B

7. People who green wash are ______.

  1. using a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization’s products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly
  2. using a form of spin in which the colour green is used in all marketing communications activity to promote the perception that an organization's products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly
  3. using green PR or green marketing to guarantee that an organization's products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly

Answer: A

8. Anti-consumerism is ______.

  1. a hate-crime against those wishing to indulge in retail therapy
  2. an international treaty designed to continue with (and in some cases bring back) a ban on Sunday trading
  3. a socio-political ideology that is opposed to consumerism, the continual buying and consuming of material possessions

Answer: C

9. The ecological footprint measures ______.

  1. how much of the planet Earth we have uncovered
  2. human demand on nature, i.e., the quantity of nature it takes to support people or an economy
  3. the biologically productive area needed to provide for everything a family uses

Answer: B

10. Which is TRUE about hyper-consumption?

  1. It is the consumption of goods for non-functional purposes and the associated significant pressure to consume those goods exerted by the modern, capitalist society, as those goods shape one's identity.
  2. It is the official name for what is colloquially known as Black Friday.
  3. Hypermarkets first instigated the notion of hyper-consumption.       

Answer: A

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