1)

Which of the following has the fewest characteristics of a public good?

a. government-provided public school lunches

b. national defense

c. the fire department

d. the light from a lighthouse

The correct answer is a. government-provided public school lunches.

• This is because the school lunches are not for the entire population but rather only for students (which is not the same as for the other options). Therefore, the government can technically stop a citizen from benefiting from these lunches by limiting access only to students.