Which statement best describes a renewable resource?

• A. It is a resource that cannot be replenished.
• B. It can be replenished naturally, such as sunlight or wind.
• C. It is always finite.
• D. It is always found in fossil fuels.

Answer: (C)

Renewable resources are resources that can be replenished naturally within a human lifetime. This means we can use them and expect them to come back, so they don’t run out with repeated use. The description that fits this idea is that a renewable resource can be replenished naturally, such as sunlight or wind, because these sources continually renew themselves and provide energy again and again.

Saying a renewable resource cannot be replenished describes nonrenewable resources, which do run out. Saying it is always finite isn’t accurate for many renewable sources like the sun or the wind, which are effectively unlimited on human timescales. And renewables aren’t restricted to fossil fuels; they include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.