Which term denotes the state of lacking money or material possessions?

• A. Income
• B. Debt
• C. Deprivation
• D. Poverty

Answer: (D)

Think of the situation where someone does not have enough money or goods to meet basic needs. That condition is poverty. It describes an ongoing lack of resources to secure essentials like food, shelter, and clothing, and is typically framed in terms of income thresholds or living standards. Income is simply the money someone earns, not the state of lacking possessions; debt is what one owes, which can exist alongside poverty but isn’t the definition of lacking resources. Deprivation is related and broader, covering not just money but other types of lack (opportunities, social participation, etc.), but the phrase “lacking money or material possessions” most directly points to poverty.