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Costs a Government Chooses is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on comparing the benefits and costs of a public choice, aligned to Common Core standard D2.Eco.1.3-5. 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 pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 22 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.

Costs a Government Chooses

D2.Eco.1.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.The government builds through councils rather than firms. Cost?
  • A.It loses whatever speed competing firms might have brought
  • B.It loses the timber
  • C.It loses the land
2.A country signs a five-year fixed-price supply deal. Benefit?
  • A.It gains territory
  • B.It knows the cost of timber for five years
  • C.It gains a fleet
3.A family waits seven years for a council home. What is the cost to them?
  • A.The rent they will pay
  • B.Seven years living in whatever they can get instead
  • C.The size of the home
4.A country signs a five-year fixed-price supply deal. Cost?
  • A.It loses its ports
  • B.Timber gets heavier
  • C.If prices fall it is locked into paying more than the market
5.A minister publishes figures that show a shortfall. Cost?
  • A.Radio time is expensive
  • B.The failure is on the record for opponents to use
  • C.Figures take long to add
6.A minister publishes figures that show a shortfall. Benefit?
  • A.Bricks arrive faster
  • B.More homes get built
  • C.The public can judge progress rather than take his word
7.A newspaper prints letters attacking the programme. Benefit to readers?
  • A.The paper is longer
  • B.They learn what people outside the official figures are experiencing
  • C.Letters are free
8.The government builds through councils rather than firms. Benefit?
  • A.Materials go where destruction was worst rather than where profit is
  • B.Bricks cost less
  • C.Councils build faster

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.1.3-5 · Set 22 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Costs a Government Chooses

Set 22. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It loses whatever speed competing firms might have brought
  2. 2.It knows the cost of timber for five years
  3. 3.Seven years living in whatever they can get instead
  4. 4.If prices fall it is locked into paying more than the market
  5. 5.The failure is on the record for opponents to use
  6. 6.The public can judge progress rather than take his word
  7. 7.They learn what people outside the official figures are experiencing
  8. 8.Materials go where destruction was worst rather than where profit is

More practice for D2.Eco.1.3-5

Weigh up what a choice gains against what it costs.

Teaching this next? Costs a Government Chooses is the 55-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Eco.1.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.