Incentives and Choices · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Spotting the Reward Behind a Choice

Civics & Economics · Economics · ages 8-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which of these is an incentive?

    • The size of a parking lot
    • A prize for the first 50 customers
    • The color of a shop's sign

  2. A coffee shop gives a free stamp every time you buy a coffee. After ten stamps, you get a free coffee. What is this an example of?

    • A trick with no purpose
    • An incentive to keep buying coffee there
    • A rule about coffee

  3. A fine for littering was created by accident, with no reason behind it.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Look at the graph. How many more cars parked illegally when the fine was $2 compared to when it was $10?

    $2 fine8$10 fine2

    Answer: ______________

  5. A city doubles the fine for parking in a bike lane. What is most likely to happen?

    • More drivers park in the bike lane
    • Fewer drivers park in the bike lane
    • Nothing changes at all

  6. A library removes its late fees for returned books. Why did the library most likely do this?

    • So people keep books forever
    • So the library earns more money from fees
    • So people return books without fear of a fee

  7. A pocket-money deal pays kids more for chores finished before dinner than after. What will most kids probably do?

    • Wait until after dinner
    • Do no chores at all
    • Try to finish chores before dinner

  8. Ben says a 'buy two, get one free' sale is just the shop being kind, with no other reason. Is Ben's thinking right?

    • Yes, shops never think about sales
    • No, the sale has no effect on what people buy
    • No, the shop wants shoppers to buy more
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Spotting the Reward Behind a Choice W1-mt_KxkoDkbjPy-s1

  1. A prize for the first 50 customers · A prize is a reward set up to change what customers do. A sign's color is not.
  2. An incentive to keep buying coffee there · The stamp card rewards you for buying more coffee, so it is an incentive that keeps you coming back.
  3. False · Someone set the fine on purpose, to make littering less likely.
  4. 6 · 8 cars minus 2 cars is 6 fewer cars once the fine went up.
  5. Fewer drivers park in the bike lane · A bigger penalty is a stronger incentive to avoid the bike lane, so fewer drivers risk it.
  6. So people return books without fear of a fee · Without the fear of a fee, people are more willing to bring books back.
  7. Try to finish chores before dinner · The bigger reward before dinner is an incentive that pushes most kids to finish early.
  8. No, the shop wants shoppers to buy more · The shop set up the deal on purpose, to get shoppers buying more than they planned.
Worksheet · LightMySky