Having a profit motive means which statement?

• A. Charging high prices
• B. Increasing the number of products offered
• C. Producing what consumers want
• D. Making decisions to use resources in ways that result in the greatest profit

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how a profit motive guides decision-making. A profit motive means making choices about how to use resources with the aim of earning the most profit. The statement that best captures this is the one that says decisions are made to use resources in ways that result in the greatest profit. That directly ties actions to maximizing earnings, which is the essence of a profit-driven approach.

The other ideas describe tactics that can affect profitability but don’t define the motive itself. Charging high prices might boost profits in some cases, but it isn’t guaranteed and can backfire if demand drops. Increasing the number of products isn’t required for profit and can increase costs or dilute focus. Producing what consumers want reflects meeting demand, which can lead to profits, but it’s not the defining basis for why resources are allocated—the motive is specifically to maximize profit.