9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 8 of 8
Government & the Economy
Taxes, budgets and policy
What your child practices
How governments raise and spend money, deficits and debt, fiscal and monetary policy, regulation, trade and the role of civil society.
Washington State Learning Standards learning standard: C3.9-10.2; E3.9-10.2; E1.9-10.2 · relationships among government, civil society and markets: taxes, budgets and economic policy
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What is the main source of money for the federal government?
- Individual income taxes
- Sales taxes
- Property taxes
- Lottery tickets
Individual income taxes
Hint: Withheld from paychecks.
Question 2
What is a budget?
- A kind of tax
- A loan
- A plan for how money will be raised and spent
- A law court
A plan for how money will be raised and spent
Hint: Governments make one every year or two.
Question 3
Why do governments invest in education?
- To lower productivity
- Skilled workers raise productivity and incomes
- Because schools are free to run
- It has no economic effect
Skilled workers raise productivity and incomes
Hint: Human capital.
Question 4
Which is an example of government regulation of the economy?
- Picking a favorite store
- Food safety inspections
- Setting your allowance
- Choosing your lunch
Food safety inspections
Hint: Rules protect consumers.
Question 5
Why might the Federal Reserve raise interest rates?
- To lower taxes
- To print more coins
- To slow inflation
- To make prices rise faster
To slow inflation
Hint: Borrowing gets more expensive.
Question 6
Social Security is a federal program that…
- Pays benefits to retired workers and people with disabilities
- Funds the military
- Pays for highways
- Runs schools
Pays benefits to retired workers and people with disabilities
Hint: Paid for by payroll taxes.