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

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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.Why do people sometimes stand in long lines when something is scarce?
  • A.There is too much of it
  • B.There is not enough for everyone, so they hurry to get some
  • C.Lines make things cheaper
2.A storm closes the roads into a town for a week. What becomes scarce in its stores?
  • A.Fresh food brought in by truck
  • B.Sunshine
  • C.The town's name
3.Gasoline becomes scarce after a pipeline breaks. What might drivers do?
  • A.Drive less and share rides
  • B.Fill up two cars each
  • C.Drive more than before
4.A shortage of computer chips slows car factories. What happens?
  • A.Cars become free
  • B.More cars are made than ever
  • C.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
5.When water is scarce in summer, what might a city ask people to do?
  • A.Leave the hoses running
  • B.Fill extra swimming pools
  • C.Water their lawns less often
6.What is scarcity?
  • A.Having more than anyone needs
  • B.A kind of tax
  • C.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
7.A bakery has only enough flour for 20 loaves. What must the baker decide?
  • A.How to make flour from water
  • B.How to close for a year
  • C.Which loaves to make and who can buy them
8.Why are diamonds expensive while tap water is cheap in most places?
  • A.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful
  • B.Water is harder to find than diamonds
  • C.Diamonds are easy to dig up

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.3.3-5 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — When Things Are Scarce

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.There is not enough for everyone, so they hurry to get some
  2. 2.Fresh food brought in by truck
  3. 3.Drive less and share rides
  4. 4.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
  5. 5.Water their lawns less often
  6. 6.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
  7. 7.Which loaves to make and who can buy them
  8. 8.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful

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