Which resource is finite and cannot be replenished in a short period of time?

• A. Renewable Resource
• B. Oil
• C. Nonrenewable Resource
• D. Environment

Answer: (C)

Nonrenewable resources are those that form over geological timescales and are consumed much faster than they can be replaced. They are finite, so once they’re used up, there isn’t a quick way to replenish them. Oil is a prime example: it takes millions of years to form, and there is only a limited amount available that humans can access today. Renewable resources, by contrast, can replenish on human timescales—sunlight, wind, and forests can renew as they’re used. The environment refers to the broader natural system that supports all resources; it isn’t a single stock that runs out in the same way. So the resource described as finite and not replenished quickly is a nonrenewable resource.