Question 1

Which one of the following is not a renewable source of energy?

Accepted Answer

D

Explanation: Solar, tidal and wind are all renewables. Nuclear although 'clean' is not renewable, and has significant end-of-life disposal challenges.

Question 2

What is the chemical formula for nitrous oxide?

Accepted Answer

D

Explanation: N2O - nitrous oxide - a greenhouse gas.

Question 3

‘Some food items, such as XXX, might get damaged by vibrations from a truck’.

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: Soft fruit: peaches, raspberries, strawberries, for example.

Question 4

Which is the ISO standard for Sustainable Procurement?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: ISO 20400.

Question 5

What is being defined here: ‘The assessment of a potential supplier’s capability of controlling quali- ty, delivery, quantity, price and all other factors to be embodied in a contract’?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: Pre-contracting a supplier, the term 'supplier appraisal' is favoured by CIPS; whereas once the sup- plier is in use, 'vendor rating' is the preferred term for monitoring actual performance.

Question 6

An Environmental Impact Assessment does not necessarily include cumulative effects or impacts. True or false?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: True. EIAs can be direct, indirect or cumulative.

Question 7

‘Environmental issues are just a part of CSR’. True or false?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: True. Environmental issues are part of CSR, but only part of it. There are other parts eg social / people as- pects.

Question 8

Is the QUESTION NO : of paying at least minimum wage a valid QUESTION NO : to pose to potential suppliers as part of a socially responsible procurement policy? Choose the most appropriate answer.

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The most appropriate answer is: A socially responsible buying approach would require not only minimum wage, but in some circum- stances greater than minimum wage as this may not be sufficient to support an employee to live de- cently. This question is inspired by a recent visit to a country where there is a statutory minimum wage, but it is so low that most people would be unable to provide shelter and food based on that income. The wage to which I refer is less than $1 per hour.

Question 9

Select all of the methods shown which would contribute to improved on-road environmental effi- ciency of commercial vehicles.

Accepted Answer

A, B, D, E

Explanation: All of these ideas shown would work, except buying from local and environmentally-friendly sup- pliers - that would reduce the environmental footprint overall, but the QUESTION NO : was specifically about on-road efficiency of commercial vehicles. (L3M6)

Question 10

Which part of the world suffered huge wildfires in 2018 as a result of a Pacific Gas and Electric power
line being struck by a falling tree, resulting in the power company having to settle very large
compensation claims?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: Recriminations continue to fly regarding the annual fires in California, which often result in destruc- tion of woodland, homes and often with loss of life. These seasonal fires have become significantly larger, although less numerous, in the past few decades, with dramatic and devastating effect.

Question 11

Choose two which are from the ‘three pillars of sustainability’:

Accepted Answer

A, B

Explanation: People, planet, profit. The notion here is that commerce is not just about profit, but about people and our effect on the planet as well. This is now a widely-accepted view. The 3 P's are a useful form of shorthand.

Question 12

One international body has published Guidelines for Multinational Companies about how they
should seek to operate in a socially responsible way, including accepting their responsibilities in re-
gard to the environment. Which organisation published this document?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published this much-needed docu- ment. You probably know what ISO is and what it's role is in relation to procurement. (?) Same for CIPS. ECB is a facetious answer: English Cricket Board.

Question 13

‘ISO’ stands for:

Accepted Answer

D

Explanation: International Organisation for Standardization, sometimes known as 'International Standards Or- ganization'.

Question 14

Select all of the following which would pose a health and safety risk within a warehouse environ- ment.

Accepted Answer

A, B, C, D

Explanation: The correct answer is that all of these shown create hazards, which along with exposure to chemi- cals, gases and some forms of dust, must be guarded against. In most countries there is legislation which should be observed to promote safe working. Warehouses and factories are highly hazardous places, and managers should ensure that stringent safety procedures are followed to the letter, in some cases, upon pain of dismissal for employees. For examples, vehicles and humans should be physically separated wherever possible, and items at height should be handled with utmost care. (Yesterday I witnessed a crane manoeuvre (outside the UK) where an operative was standing di-rectly under a very heavy item, which had it fallen, would have instantly killed the operative. Such practices need to be trained out of people, irrespective of the cost.) (L3M6)

Question 15

Which of the following is not one of the 3 R’s of environmental sustainability?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: 'Re-create' is a fiction for the purposes of this question.

Free CIPS L3M5 Actual Exam Questions