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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 3 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.Fresh food brought in by truck
  • B.Sunshine
  • 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.Diamonds are easy to dig up
  • C.Water is harder to find than diamonds
3.What is scarcity?
  • A.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
  • B.Having more than anyone needs
  • C.A kind of tax
4.Gasoline becomes scarce after a pipeline breaks. What might drivers do?
  • A.Fill up two cars each
  • B.Drive more than before
  • C.Drive less and share rides
5.A drought means farmers grow less wheat. What happens to bread prices?
  • A.They rise
  • B.Bread becomes free
  • C.They fall
6.A shortage of computer chips slows car factories. What happens?
  • A.Cars become free
  • B.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
  • C.More cars are made than ever
7.A bakery has only enough flour for 20 loaves. What must the baker decide?
  • A.How to make flour from water
  • B.Which loaves to make and who can buy them
  • C.How to close for a year
8.When water is scarce in summer, what might a city ask people to do?
  • A.Water their lawns less often
  • B.Fill extra swimming pools
  • C.Leave the hoses running

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.3.3-5 · Set 3 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — When Things Are Scarce

Set 3. 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.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
  4. 4.Drive less and share rides
  5. 5.They rise
  6. 6.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
  7. 7.Which loaves to make and who can buy them
  8. 8.Water their lawns less often

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