Could you tell me the difference between need and desire?

[Coral]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #293 "Economics Questions test (1)", question 1

People often like to have a lot of material goods but water, food and shelter are basic ......... people and other animals require to stay alive.

(a) wants
(b) needs
(c) desires

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #293 "Economics Questions test (1)", answer 1

People often like to have a lot of material goods but water, food and shelter are basic needs people and other animals require to stay alive.

Correct answer: (b) needs

Your answer was: incorrect
People often like to have a lot of material goods but water, food and shelter are basic desires people and other animals require to stay alive.
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Could you tell me the difference between need and desire?

Coral

[Mister Micawber]

.
'Needs' are necessary; they are requirements. 'Desires' are merely things we want or would like to have.
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[auldglory]

The reasoning behind it is as follows: If there is anything in this world that anyone truly needs, then you could charge an infinite price for it. If you examine the demand curve for a need, you'll find that it is perfectly vertical. This means that it will always be demanded, no matter how much someone already has or how much is availible.

The test for it is this: if there is anything anyone would trade for something, under any cirumstances -- then it is not a need, according to economics that is.
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And so they buried Hector, Breaker of Horses.