Which resource is renewable because it can be replaced?

Which resource is renewable because it can be replaced?

• A. Gold
• B. Oil
• C. Coal
• D. Soil

Answer: (D)

Renewable resources are those that can be replenished naturally or through human action. Soils can be replenished because they continuously form from the breakdown of rocks and from the accumulation of organic matter and nutrients. With good land practices—like keeping vegetation cover, reducing erosion, and adding organic material—soil structure and fertility can be restored over time, making it renewably available again. This renewal happens slowly, so careful management is essential. By contrast, gold, oil, and coal come from deposits formed over geological timescales and, once used, are not replaced on human timescales, so they are nonrenewable.

Renewable resources are those that can be replenished naturally or through human action. Soils can be replenished because they continuously form from the breakdown of rocks and from the accumulation of organic matter and nutrients. With good land practices—like keeping vegetation cover, reducing erosion, and adding organic material—soil structure and fertility can be restored over time, making it renewably available again. This renewal happens slowly, so careful management is essential. By contrast, gold, oil, and coal come from deposits formed over geological timescales and, once used, are not replaced on human timescales, so they are nonrenewable.