Which term refers to the system of public works such as roads, bridges, and utilities?

• A. Disparity
• B. Policy
• C. Capital
• D. Infrastructure

Answer: (D)

The concept here is infrastructure—the system of public works and the underlying physical networks that allow a society to function. Roads, bridges, and utilities are infrastructure because they provide the essential pathways and services that make travel, power, water, and communication possible. This foundational layer supports everything else, including health care delivery and everyday activities, by connecting people to services and enabling communities to operate smoothly. It’s different from policy, which is the rules or plans guiding actions; from disparity, which refers to inequality; and from capital, which is the money or assets used to create value. When you think of the visible, built networks that keep everyday life running, you’re thinking about infrastructure.