Deck 1: The Central Idea

Question 1

Economics is the study of how individuals become wealthy.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Economics is the study of how people cope with

A) unlimited resources.
B) too much money.
C) scarcity.
D) limited human wants.
E) political disputes.

Answer 2

scarcity.

Question 3

The reason, from an economic perspective, people are forced to choose is because of

A) social custom.
B) genetics.
C) scarcity.
D) government.
E) religion.

Answer 3

scarcity.

Question 4

An important implication of scarcity is that

A) it inhibits economic interaction.
B) people are not able to use all the available resources.
C) people must make a choice.
D) people will always be poor.
E) it is a problem that is easily abolished.

Question 5

People make decisions when choices involve

A) no benefits.
B) only benefits.
C) nominal costs.
D) opportunity costs.
E) unlimited resources.

Question 6

Choices are made in order to avoid scarcity.

Question 7

The basic economic problem is

A) lack of money.
B) unemployment.
C) poverty.
D) scarcity.
E) inflation.

Question 8

Economics deals with how

A) individuals make decisions to use scarce resources in order to satisfy their unlimited wants.
B) to run a business.
C) individuals become rich.
D) society can eliminate scarcity.
E) society creates more resources in order to raise its standard of living.

Question 9

The concept of scarcity, as used by economists, refers to

A) a situation in which an item is very expensive.
B) a situation in which an item is available only in very small quantities.
C) a situation in which a resource is nonrenewable.
D) shortages.
E) a situation in which the available resources are not enough to satisfy the wants of the people.

Question 10

If a resource is always available when needed, then it

A) will be more expensive than other resources.
B) is not scarce.
C) has a high opportunity cost.
D) is not tangible.
E) is scarce.

Question 11

Who faces the problem of scarcity?

A) Only the rich
B) Only the poor
C) Only people living next to wealthy people
D) Everyone
E) Only people living next to poor people

Question 12

The problem of scarcity is

A) a problem only for poor countries.
B) a problem only for economies under complete government control.
C) faced by all economies.
D) eliminated as the economy grows.
E) not faced by free market economies.

Question 13

A market is

A) a place where firms meet to set prices.
B) an arrangement by which economic exchanges take place.
C) an organization controlled by a government.
D) a place where goods are produced.
E) anywhere people come close to each other.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about economic interaction is not true?

A) It is a fact of economic life.
B) It requires a market.
C) It can occur within a family.
D) It makes our lives better.
E) It occurs only among different countries.

Question 15

Scarcity applies to everyone regardless of income.

Question 16

An economic transaction occurs only in a market

Question 17

A resource is not scarce if

A) there is more of this resource than people want.
B) it can be found in any store.
C) people have enough money to pay for it.
D) it has a low opportunity cost.
E) its supply exceeds its demand.

Question 18

A budget constraint

A) does not occur if there is scarcity.
B) enables choices to be avoided.
C) is a way to overcome scarcity.
D) forces people to make choices.
E) prohibits consumers from spending.

Question 19

Economics is a study of

A) choices and interactions among people when resources are scarce.
B) how to overcome scarcity.
C) how to make choices and interact in order to avoid scarcity.
D) how to avoid scarcity by making choices.
E) how to make money in stock markets.

Question 20

Where do buyers and sellers meet?

A) In a government
B) Only in a face-to-face forum
C) In a family
D) In a market
E) In a firm

Question 21

Kyle has two options to spend her school break in the summer: get a summer job that pays $2,000 or travel in Europe. The opportunity cost of the summer job is that Kyle

A) can earn more than $2,000.
B) can also travel in Europe.
C) has to give up traveling in Europe.
D) can save the money for traveling in Europe.
E) has to work and travel at the same time.

Question 22

John's budget is such that he can afford either a computer or a Caribbean vacation, both of which cost the same. Which of the following statements about his opportunity cost is correct?

A) The opportunity cost of a Caribbean vacation is the money John pays for the vacation.
B) The opportunity cost of the vacation is the same as the opportunity cost of the computer because John can afford only one or the other.
C) There is nothing to say about the opportunity cost because we don't know how much the computer or the Caribbean vacation costs.
D) The opportunity cost of going on a vacation is the loss from not being able to buy the computer.
E) The opportunity cost of the computer is the total cost of the computer and the Caribbean vacation.

Question 23

A rich individual who can afford anything and everything does not need to be concerned with opportunity costs.

Question 24

The opportunity cost of attending college

A) is zero because the return is always positive.
B) includes the skills earned from attending college.
C) is the living expenses, which are the same whether the students attend college or not.
D) includes the lost wages that would have been earned if the student had not attended college.
E) includes the scholarships for attending college.

Question 25

Gains from trade occur when there are differences in opportunity cost.

Question 26

A college student faces no opportunity cost if her parents pay her college tuition and her living expenses.

Question 27

Exhibit 1-1
Refer to Exhibit 1-1. Suppose that Jack has three hours to study for an exam in economics and another exam in math on the same day. The amount of time he spends studying economics and its relation to his grade in the two classes are shown in the table. The opportunity cost of increasing the time spent on studying economics from one hour to two hours is

A) 85 points on the math grade.
B) 55 points on the math grade.
C) 30 points on the math grade.
D) 20 points on the math grade.
E) zero.

Question 28

The opportunity cost for a student to attend college is zero if the student receives a scholarship.

Question 29

Choices are made based on

A) scarcity.
B) opportunity costs.
C) producers.
D) consumers.
E) supply.

Question 30

Of the following individuals, who bears the highest opportunity cost of going to college?

A) A pro-football player earning $1 million a year
B) A high school graduate without a job
C) A high school dropout earning the minimum wage in a fast-food restaurant
D) A person being laid off by a company
E) A retiree

Question 31

According to the textbook, the main reason for Mark Zuckerberg to leave college and to start a new company, Facebook, is that

A) he had failed many courses in college.
B) the opportunity cost is higher for him to stay in college than to run Facebook.
C) the opportunity cost is lower for him to stay in college than to run Facebook.
D) the opportunity cost is zero for him to stay in college.
E) the opportunity cost is zero for him to run Facebook.

Question 32

Trade takes place when one party gains at the expense of another party.

Question 33

A voluntary exchange of existing consumer goods is beneficial because it

A) makes those engaging in the exchange better off.
B) changes the total quantity of goods produced.
C) reallocates existing goods.
D) reduces scarcity.
E) requires choice.

Question 34

Gains from voluntary trade arise because

A) it reallocates goods between individuals.
B) it occurs in a household.
C) it reallocates goods between individuals in a way they both prefer.
D) it occurs in a market.
E) of the power involved.

Question 35

Which of the following statements is false?

A) There is an opportunity cost associated with any choice made.
B) If there is a budget constraint, there will be scarcity.
C) A financial budget constraint must exist for an opportunity cost to exist.
D) Opportunity costs occur because of scarce resources.
E) Because of scarcity, choices have to be made.

Question 36

John has only one hour to study for an exam in history or to complete a written report in economics. The opportunity cost of spending the hour writing the economics report is

A) a lower grade in the history exam.
B) a higher grade in the history exam.
C) a lower grade in both the history exam and the economics report.
D) a higher grade in both the history exam and the economics report.
E) none because history and economics are unrelated.

Question 37

When the economy is in recession, jobs are generally harder to find and more people go to college. We can conclude that the opportunity cost of

A) going to college decreases when the economy is in recession.
B) going to college increases when the economy is in recession.
C) working increases when the economy is in recession.
D) working is zero when the economy is in recession.
E) going to college is always higher than the opportunity cost of working.

Question 38

An example of opportunity cost

A) is sweets given up by a person who would never eat them even if he or she could.
B) for a professor of economics is the pleasure that he or she derives from teaching economics.
C) is the Chinese food that you gave up when you chose to eat Italian food.
D) is the tuition you pay to attend college.
E) is the price paid for a ticket when you go to the movies.

Question 39

Exhibit 1-2
According to Exhibit 1-2, if Sam did all the cooking as well as waited on tables, how many customers would he be able to serve per day?

A) 4
B) Between 2 and 20 customers
C) 0
D) 20
E) 5

Question 40

The opportunity cost of a choice is the

A) cost associated with making a choice.
B) value of the next best activity not chosen.
C) fair market price of whatever is chosen.
D) amount paid to purchase what is chosen.
E) consequence associated with failure.

Question 41

The goods individual producers specialize in are determined by absolute advantage.

Question 42

Trade enables people to specialize in activities in which they have a comparative advantage.

Question 43

Exhibit 1-2
According to Exhibit 1-2, if Anne and Sam each worked separately, how many meals per day would be served by each of them?

A) 40
B) 4
C) 2
D) 20
E) 5

Question 44

In general, what is economics the study of?

Question 45

Exhibit 1-3
Refer to Exhibit 1-3. Suppose John and Jack can produce the above combinations of candy bars and ice cream bars in one hour. John and Jack can maximize their total production if

A) both produce candy bars.
B) both produce ice cream bars.
C) John produces both candy bars and ice cream bars, while Jack produces nothing.
D) Jack produces both candy bars and ice cream bars, while John produces nothing.
E) each of them produces what he has a comparative advantage in producing.

Question 46

As a result of economic interaction,

A) the number of available choices is reduced.
B) scarcity is increased.
C) opportunity costs increase.
D) people are able to specialize.
E) scarcity is eliminated.

Question 47

A country trades with other countries because

A) it can gain in production and consumption.
B) it wants to improve foreign relations.
C) its government can earn taxes on imported goods.
D) it has an excess production capacity.
E) its residents always prefer imported goods to domestic goods.

Question 48

If an individual is able to produce a good with relatively less time, effort, or resources than somebody else, then that individual has

A) avoided opportunity costs.
B) an interaction advantage.
C) cornered the market.
D) removed scarcity.
E) a comparative advantage.

Question 49

It is impossible for two people to increase their total production if one has a comparative advantage in the production of one particular good.

Question 50

Exhibit 1-2
According to Exhibit 1-2, if Anne and Sam joined forces, the number of meals served would increase by

A) 8.
B) 20.
C) 12.
D) 4.
E) 5.

Question 51

A division of labor occurs when some workers do all tasks while others do nothing.

Question 52

International trade exists only when a country can gain a trade advantage over another country.

Question 53

Which of the following statements is true?

A) There are no gains from trade between people in different countries because, with international trade, it's the countries that trade, and not its people, that realize the gains.
B) Trade between people in different countries cannot occur.
C) Trade between people in different countries can occur, but it will not result in an increase in consumer satisfaction.
D) Trade between people in different countries can occur, but it will not lead them to better utilize their comparative advantage.
E) Trade between people in different countries can occur, and the gains that occur are the same as the gains from trade within a country.

Question 54

The division of labor enables

A) the augmentation of scarcity.
B) the elimination of scarcity.
C) opportunity costs.
D) economic interaction.
E) specialization.

Question 55

Exhibit 1-2
According to Exhibit 1-2, if Anne spent all her time cooking, how many meals would she be able to prepare per day?

A) 20
B) 2
C) 4
D) 40
E) 5

Question 56

____ must exist in order for gains from trade to be realized.

A) Governments
B) Markets
C) Households
D) Interaction
E) Firms

Question 57

Production can be increased whenever people

A) engage in activities with a high opportunity cost.
B) specialize in whichever field they have a comparative advantage in.
C) specialize in whatever interests them.
D) choose to interact.
E) make decisions.

Question 58

Trade always results in a gain for one or both participants.

Question 59

When people specialize in the activity in which they have a comparative advantage,

A) there cannot be a division of labor, though production will increase.
B) there will likely be a division of labor as well as an increase in output.
C) there will be a gain from trade, but production will not be increased.
D) there will likely be a division of labor, and output will stay the same.
E) there will likely be a division of labor, and output will decline.

Question 60

Exhibit 1-2
According to Exhibit 1-2, if Anne and Sam join forces, with Anne doing all the cooking and Sam doing all the serving, the number of customers served per day would be

A) 40.
B) 4.
C) 20.
D) 8.
E) 5.

Question 61

The production possibilities curve shows how an economy increases its output with more resources.

Question 62

After purchasing a quart of milk from a convenience store, John complains that the store ripped him off because it charged too much for the milk. Comment.

Question 63

Suppose that an economy produces only two goods: computers and movies. If the economy at all times utilizes all its resources, and it decides to use more of its available resources to produce computers,

A) the production of movies will drop.
B) the production of both movies and computers will drop.
C) the production of movies will rise.
D) the production of movies will not change but the production of computers will increase.
E) then will be no change in the production of either computers or movies.

Question 64

Choices are necessary only for individuals but not for the economy as a whole.

Question 65

What is the relationship among economic interaction, specialization, comparative advantage, and gains from trade?

Question 66

If available resources are being used efficiently,

A) a society can increase the production of one good or service only by decreasing the production of some other good or service.
B) society need no longer worry about tradeoffs.
C) a society can increase the production of one good or service only by increasing the production of some other good or service.
D) resources are no longer limited.
E) scarcity is no longer a problem.

Question 67

Which of the following does a production possibilities schedule best illustrate?

A) The concept of achieving an impossible goal
B) The concept of unlimited possibilities
C) The concept of an opportunity cost
D) The elimination of scarcity
E) The concept of a good

Question 68

Exhibit 1-4
Refer to Exhibit 1-4. The opportunity cost of producing the first television set is

A) 15 units of computers.
B) 5 units of computers.
C) 43 units of computers.
D) 42 units of computers.
E) 1 unit of computers.

Question 69

If an economy produces only movies and computers, then the opportunity cost of producing more movies is

A) the value of forgone computer production.
B) the value of more computer production.
C) the value of movie production minus the value of computer production
D) the total value of movie and computer production.
E) zero because computers and movies are unrelated.

Question 70

Why is it reasonable to assume that when trade is voluntary, those involved in the trade will gain?

Question 71

The typical production possibilities schedule shows that the opportunity cost for producing more of one good requires giving up an increasing amount of production of another good.

Question 72

Explain how trade between two different countries is similar to trade occurring within a country.

Question 73

If an economy produces only movies and computers, then producing more and more computers will most likely require

A) giving up a decreasing amount of the production of movies.
B) giving up an increasing amount of the production of movies.
C) gaining an increasing amount of the production of movies.
D) gaining a decreasing amount of the production of movies.
E) no change in movie production.

Question 74

Exhibit 1-4
Refer to Exhibit 1-4. The opportunity cost of producing the sixth television set is

A) 15 units of computers.
B) 5 units of computers.
C) 43 units of computers.
D) 42 units of computers.
E) 1 unit of computers.

Question 75

Which of the following is not considered to be scarce for an economy as a whole?

A) Money
B) Workers
C) Land
D) Machinery
E) Factories

Question 76

Josie has two classes: English and math. She finds out that the grades for both classes has improved without spending more time studying. Using the production possibilities curve, Josie's situation can be represented by

A) moving from a point on the production possibilities curve to a point inside the curve.
B) a movement along the curve from the axis for English to the axis for math.
C) a movement along the curve from the axis for math to the axis for English.
D) an inward shift of the curve.
E) an outward shift of the curve.

Question 77

What is meant by comparative advantage?

Question 78

The table below depicts the choices George and Sarah face when deciding whether to cook, wait on tables, or both. (A)In which area, if any, does Sarah have a comparative advantage? In which area does George have a comparative advantage?
(B)If George and Sarah do not get together, how many customers will be served?
(C)If George and Sarah do get together, how many customers will be served? What will be the gain resulting from this exchange?

Question 79

What is meant by a division of labor, and why is this a reason for economic interaction?

Question 80

Choices are made whenever

A) money is limited.
B) there are too many alternatives.
C) resources are limited relative to human wants.
D) the society has abundant resources.
E) different people in an economy want different things.