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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 18 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.A storm closes the roads into a town for a week. What becomes scarce in its stores?
  • A.Sunshine
  • B.Fresh food brought in by truck
  • C.The town's name
2.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
3.Lots of pumpkins grow this year. What probably happens to pumpkin prices?
  • A.They go down
  • B.They go up
  • C.Pumpkins disappear
4.A shortage of computer chips slows car factories. What happens?
  • A.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
  • B.More cars are made than ever
  • C.Cars become free
5.A factory runs short of workers. What happens to how much it can make?
  • A.It makes exactly the same
  • B.It makes fewer goods
  • C.It makes more goods
6.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
7.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
8.Gasoline becomes scarce after a pipeline breaks. What might drivers do?
  • A.Drive more than before
  • B.Drive less and share rides
  • C.Fill up two cars each

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.3.3-5 · Set 18 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — When Things Are Scarce

Set 18. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Fresh food brought in by truck
  2. 2.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful
  3. 3.They go down
  4. 4.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
  5. 5.It makes fewer goods
  6. 6.Which loaves to make and who can buy them
  7. 7.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
  8. 8.Drive less and share rides

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