Josiah owns and operates the only pet supply store in his town. There are no other places to buy pet food for over 200 miles and internet service is not always reliable in this small community. This means that Josiah’s one company completely controls the sale of pet products in his area, essentially giving him a what?

a. scarcity
b. hindrance
c. monopoly
d. disadvantage

c. monopoly

The correct answer is c. monopoly.

To arrive at this answer, let's break down the options and see which one fits the scenario described in the question.

a. Scarcity: Scarcity refers to a limited supply of a particular resource. While it is true that there may be a scarcity of pet food in the town due to the absence of alternative sellers, this does not directly describe Josiah's situation.

b. Hindrance: A hindrance refers to an obstacle or something that hampers progress or success. While it can be argued that Josiah's lack of competition may hinder potential growth or development in the pet supply market in his town, it does not accurately capture the overall situation.

c. Monopoly: A monopoly occurs when a single entity or company has exclusive control over a particular product or service. In this case, Josiah's pet supply store is the only company in town selling pet products, without any competition. This effectively gives him a monopoly over the sale of pet supplies in the area, making the correct answer c. monopoly.

d. Disadvantage: A disadvantage refers to a condition or circumstance that puts someone at a disadvantage compared to others. While Josiah's lack of competition may provide him with certain advantages, such as being the sole provider in the area, it does not necessarily mean that he is at a disadvantage. Therefore, this option is not the best fit for his situation.

In conclusion, based on the given scenario, the correct answer is c. monopoly.