What would be an example of a firm in the Secondary Industry?

A construction company is an excellent example of a firm in the secondary industry because it is involved in the processing of raw materials and converting them into finished goods or infrastructure. The secondary industry encompasses activities that take these raw materials—often sourced from primary industries like mining or agriculture—and transform them through manufacturing or construction processes.

In the case of a construction company, the firm utilizes materials such as steel, concrete, and wood to build structures like homes, offices, and bridges. This value-added activity distinguishes it from primary industries, which focus on extracting raw materials, and tertiary industries, which provide services rather than goods.

The other options represent different sectors: mining operations belong to the primary industry as they extract natural resources; software development firms are part of the tertiary industry, focusing on services rather than physical goods; and retail stores operate in the tertiary industry, providing goods to consumers but not manufacturing them. Thus, the construction company is the correct representation of the secondary industry within the context of the given options.