Question

the graph shows how the federal budget grew between 1980 and 2010.
us government revenue and expenditures, 1980 - 2010
(orange line: money spent; black line: money received)
a conclusion that can be drawn from the graph is

• the federal government has to borrow money to meet its expenditures.
• the federal government spent more on programs in each of the last 30 years.
• the federal government consistently receives enough money to meet its expenditures.
• the federal government has almost always spent more than it receives.

Explanation:

To determine the correct conclusion, we analyze the graph:

• The orange line (Money Spent) and blue line (Money Received) are compared.
• Option 1: While borrowing may occur, the graph directly shows spending vs. revenue, not borrowing action.
• Option 2: The graph shows growth but doesn't confirm "more on programs each year" (spending growth doesn't imply program spending increase).
• Option 3: The graph shows spending (orange) often above revenue (blue), so it does not consistently receive enough.
• Option 4: The orange line (spent) is almost always above the blue line (received), so this matches the graph.

Answer:

D. the federal government has almost always spent more than it receives.