[ 431 ] Economics GED ® TEST SOCIAL STUDIES FLASH REVIEW • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • _____________ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The data in the pie chart does NOT support which of the following conclusions? a. “Other” expenses include spending on interest on the national debt. b. Transportation constitutes a relatively small portion of the federal budget. c. National defense is an important priority for the federal government. d. The federal government spends more on income security than it spends on net interest. “You shall not deduct interest from loans to your countryman, whether in money or food or anything else that can be deducted as interest.” —Deuteronomy, 23:20 “That which you seek to increase by interest will not be blessed by God; but the alms you give for his sake shall be repaid to you many times over.” —Koran “If indeed someone has fallen into the error of presuming to stubbornly insist that the practice of interest is not sinful, we decree that he is to be punished as a heretic.” —Canon 29 of the Roman Catholic Council of Vienne (1311), 30:39 What is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the three quotations? a. Judeo-Christian law is the basis of modern economic theory. b. Many religious precepts are at odds with banking. c. Money lending was an honored position in medieval Europe. d. The Catholic Church reversed its ban on usury.