26. US and USSR Nuclear Stockpiles
45,000
USSR/Russia
40,000
35,000
United States
30,000 -
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
1945
1955
1965
1975
1985
1995
2005
Unsustainable military spending has been cited as a cause for the breakup of the Soviet Union. Supporters of this view point
to the cost of building and maintaining its nuclear arsenal as one factor.
Which statement is the MOST logical, based on the data on the graph?
The Soviet Union was attempting to catch up to the United States but was unable to do so.
The Soviet Union built more weapons than the United States and as a result, spent more than they could afford.

The Soviet Union was attempting to catch up to the United States but was unable to do so.

a.   it resulted in widespread unemployment.

the correct answer is “opportunity cost”. opportunity cost is what a company misses out because it decided in one option over another one. in this case, the company decided to invest in building a factory so it gave up another possible benefit or profit in order to achieve success with the factory.  

trade-off is not the correct answer since it is a situation in which you accept losing something in return for benefits in other areas.

and finally, consequence is a general term used to accept what it comes when you make a decision. it can be a positive or negative consequence depending if the decision you took was the correct one.