Renewable Resources

Renewable & Non-Renewable Resources Review/Try It

Use this lesson to review the information about renewable and nonrenewable resources and to test your understanding.

Natural Resources

Anything found in nature that humans use or find value in is called a natural resource. We often think about natural resources in terms of energy sources. Natural resources can be renewable, meaning they can replenish themselves in a short amount of time, or non-renewable, meaning they are in limited supply OR they cannot replenish themselves in a short amount of time.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Natural resources are anything found in nature that humans use or find value in.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A __________ resource is one that will be replenished in a short amount of time.

• natural

• non-renewable

• renewable

Multiple Choice

A __________ resource is one that is found in limited supply OR cannot be replenished quickly.

• natural

• non-renewable

• renewable

Renewable Resources

• Fish

• Forests/trees

• Sun

• Water

• Wind

Non-Renewable Resources

• Fossil fuels

• Minerals

• Natural gas

• Oil (petroleum)

• Coal

Multiple Select

Select all of the non-renewable resource examples.

• Fossil fuels

• Fish

• Sun

• Minerals

• Natural gas

Multiple Select

Select all of the renewable resource examples.

• Wind

• Water

• Forests/trees

• Oil (petroleum)

• Coal

Fossil Fuels

​The three kinds of fossil fuels are natural gas, coal and oil (or petroleum). We use fossil fuels for heat and electricity by burning them. Fossil fuels are made from the decayed remains of plants and animals from millions of years ago.  These fossil fuels can cause pollution and are non-renewable resources.​

Multiple Select

Choose the two statements that are true about fossil fuels.

• Fossil fuels are an example of a clean energy source.

• Fossil fuels are an energy source that comes from dead and decaying plant and animal matter.

• Fossil fuels are an example of a renewable resource.

• Fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource and create pollution.

Humans and Natural Resources

Humans depend on Earth’s land, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere for many different resources. Minerals, fresh water, and biosphere resources are limited, and many are not renewable or replaceable over human lifetimes. These resources are distributed unevenly around the planet as a result of past geologic processes. Typically as human populations and per-capita consumption of natural resources increase, so do the negative impacts on Earth unless conservation activities are successful.  

Multiple Choice

True or False: As the human population increases, the availability of natural resources decreases.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: If the availability of natural resources were to increases, the human population could also increase.

• True

• False