The table provided shows the maximum daily production of Radios and Tires for two countries, Alpha and Beta, assuming constant opportunity costs and equal resources.
Daily Production Possibilities
Country
Radios
Tires
Alpha
40
80
Beta
20
120
A.
Calculate the opportunity cost of producing one Radio in Country Alpha. Show your work.
B.
Explain which country has the comparative advantage in the production of Tires using numbers.
C.
Suppose the two countries decide to trade.
i.
Calculate the opportunity cost of producing one Tire in Country Beta. Show your work.
ii.
If the terms of trade are 1 Radio for 4 Tires, will Country Alpha benefit from the trade? Explain.
iii.
Suppose Country Beta adopts a new technology that doubles its production of both Radios and Tires. Will Country Beta's comparative advantage in the production of Tires change? Explain.
What the Question 2 Short FRQ asks
FRQ 2 is the first of two short questions on the AP Microeconomics exam. It focuses on one model, such as a factor market, an externality, or a monopoly, and asks for calculations and short explanations.
Subparts i to iii, each worth 1 point, that calculate and explain as the scenario changes
3 pts
How Question 2 Short FRQ practice works
Each question follows the exam’s format, from the full prompt to a score on every part.
1
Read the full question
The scenario, any data or tables, and every part, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2
Write on a 12-minute timer
The time to plan for on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3
Submit for a score out of 5
Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.
Feedback on every part
A summary at the top tells you what to work on next. Below it, each part shows whether you earned the point and what the scoring guidelines were looking for.
Earned the point. You correctly calculated the total utility by adding the marginal utilities from the first two pretzels (48 + 40 = 88) and the first water (24), arriving at the correct answer of 112 utils with clear work shown.
Part B: 1/1 point
Earned the point. You correctly identified that Alex will purchase 3 pretzels and 3 bottles of water to maximize utility within the $18 budget. Your reasoning about opportunity costs (comparing marginal utilities when deciding whether to purchase the 4th pretzel) demonstrated understanding of utility maximization, and you verified the total utility of 180 utils.
Part C(i): 0/1 point
Did not earn the point. You did not provide any response to Part C(i), which asked you to calculate the new optimal combination of pretzels and bottles of water with a $24 budget. To earn this point, you needed to show work demonstrating that 4 pretzels and 4 bottles of water would be optimal with the increased budget.
Detailed feedback on a practice Question 2 Short FRQ
Questions about the Question 2 Short FRQ
How many responses can I get scored?
You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.
What does FRQ 2 usually cover?
One model, such as a factor market, an externality, a price control, or a monopoly. Part C changes the scenario and asks three follow-up questions.
How is FRQ 2 different from FRQ 3?
On the exam both short questions are worth 5 points, with about 12 to 15 minutes suggested for each. Our FRQ 2 questions end with a 3-point part C, and most of our FRQ 3 questions have five 1-point parts.
Do I need to show my work?
Yes, on any part that says calculate. Write the setup first, then the numbers. A four-function calculator is built into the writing screen.
Can I write my answer by hand?
Yes. Switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page.
