Which term describes a resource that cannot be replenished quickly enough to meet demand?

Which term describes a resource that cannot be replenished quickly enough to meet demand?

• A. Renewable resource
• B. Nonrenewable resource
• C. Infinite resource
• D. Sustainable resource

Answer: (B)

This question tests how we compare how fast a resource renews with how fast we use it. A renewable resource can replenish over time and generally meet demand if we use it not too aggressively. A nonrenewable resource, on the other hand, forms so slowly that its natural renewal is effectively negligible on human timescales, so once it’s used, it can’t be replenished quickly enough to keep up with demand. That mismatch in replenishment speed is why the term fits. Real-world examples include fossil fuels and many minerals, which form over millions of years. Infinite resources are a theoretical idea, and sustainable use describes using a resource at a rate that allows renewal, not a resource that can’t be replenished.

This question tests how we compare how fast a resource renews with how fast we use it. A renewable resource can replenish over time and generally meet demand if we use it not too aggressively. A nonrenewable resource, on the other hand, forms so slowly that its natural renewal is effectively negligible on human timescales, so once it’s used, it can’t be replenished quickly enough to keep up with demand. That mismatch in replenishment speed is why the term fits. Real-world examples include fossil fuels and many minerals, which form over millions of years. Infinite resources are a theoretical idea, and sustainable use describes using a resource at a rate that allows renewal, not a resource that can’t be replenished.