Correct Option
The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Natural resources are classified based on their availability and durability into two main categories: Inexhaustible Natural Resources and Exhaustible Natural Resources. This classification depends on whether human activities can deplete the resource significantly over a relevant timeframe.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Sunlight is an inexhaustible natural resource. It is present in unlimited quantity in nature and is not likely to be exhausted by human activities, regardless of consumption levels.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Air is classified as an inexhaustible natural resource. Like sunlight, it is available in unlimited quantities. While the quality of air can be degraded through pollution, the resource itself (the atmosphere) is not depleted by use in the same way fossil fuels are.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Water is a renewable natural resource. It is replenished and recharged through the hydrological cycle (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation). Although freshwater scarcity is a concern due to uneven distribution and pollution, water as a resource is naturally renewed.
Key Takeaway: Inexhaustible resources (e.g., sunlight, air) are unlimited and unaffected by human consumption, whereas renewable resources (e.g., water, forests) can be replenished naturally but require management to prevent degradation.