Which description best defines natural resources?

• A. Resources found only in the oceans
• B. Living things created by humans
• C. Resources that you must mine yourself
• D. Resources that the earth provided for you

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is what counts as a natural resource. Natural resources are things that come from the natural world and can be used by people without being made by humans. They include air, water, soil, minerals, forests, plants and animals, as well as energy sources like sunlight and wind, and fossil fuels. They exist in nature and may be renewable or nonrenewable, and people may use or transform them into food, shelter, fuel, or goods, but the resource itself originates from the earth.

The description that fits best is that resources are those the earth provided for you, because it captures the origin and availability of natural resources in nature, not created by people. The other statements are more limited or incorrect: natural resources aren’t only found in oceans, they aren’t living things created by humans, and not all natural resources require mining.