Skip to content
LessonPrint

When Things Are Scarce is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on how scarcity affects production and price, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Eco.3.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 10 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next set

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

When Things Are Scarce

D2.Eco.3.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.A storm closes the roads into a town for a week. What becomes scarce in its stores?
  • A.Sunshine
  • B.The town's name
  • C.Fresh food brought in by truck
2.Lots of pumpkins grow this year. What probably happens to pumpkin prices?
  • A.They go down
  • B.Pumpkins disappear
  • C.They go up
3.A drought means farmers grow less wheat. What happens to bread prices?
  • A.They rise
  • B.They fall
  • C.Bread becomes free
4.Why are diamonds expensive while tap water is cheap in most places?
  • A.Water is harder to find than diamonds
  • B.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful
  • C.Diamonds are easy to dig up
5.Gasoline becomes scarce after a pipeline breaks. What might drivers do?
  • A.Drive more than before
  • B.Fill up two cars each
  • C.Drive less and share rides
6.What is scarcity?
  • A.Having more than anyone needs
  • B.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
  • C.A kind of tax
7.When water is scarce in summer, what might a city ask people to do?
  • A.Water their lawns less often
  • B.Leave the hoses running
  • C.Fill extra swimming pools
8.A bakery has only enough flour for 20 loaves. What must the baker decide?
  • A.Which loaves to make and who can buy them
  • B.How to close for a year
  • C.How to make flour from water

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.3.3-5 · Set 10 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — When Things Are Scarce

Set 10. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Fresh food brought in by truck
  2. 2.They go down
  3. 3.They rise
  4. 4.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful
  5. 5.Drive less and share rides
  6. 6.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
  7. 7.Water their lawns less often
  8. 8.Which loaves to make and who can buy them

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Eco.3.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.