Which of the following statements best describes a loan?

• A. A loan is a gift that does not need to be repaid.
• B. Borrowing money without any agreement.
• C. A loan is money you borrow that must be paid back, usually with interest.
• D. A loan is an investment that grows automatically.

Answer: (C)

A loan is when you receive money now and promise to pay it back later, usually with extra money called interest. The amount you borrow is the principal, and the interest is the cost of borrowing. The total you repay equals the principal plus the interest, and you repay it according to an agreed schedule or contract that lists the due dates and the terms. This setup explains why a loan is about paying back money you borrowed, not a gift or an automatic increase in value. It’s not just money you borrow without an agreement, and it’s not an investment that grows on its own. For a simple example, borrowing $100 at 5% interest would lead to $105 owed if you kept the loan for a year without making payments along the way.