The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Natural resources are broadly classified into two categories based on their availability and abundance: inexhaustible natural resources and exhaustible natural resources.- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Inexhaustible natural resources are those present in unlimited quantity in nature and are not likely to be exhausted by human activities. Examples include sunlight and air. Resources whose quantity is limited and can be depleted by human consumption are classified as exhaustible natural resources.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Forests and wildlife are classified as exhaustible natural resources. While they have the potential to renew, they are limited in quantity. If consumed or destroyed at a rate faster than their natural replenishment, they can be exhausted.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Minerals and natural gas are classic examples of exhaustible natural resources. These resources are finite and take millions of years to form. Once consumed, they cannot be replenished within a human timeframe.
Key Takeaway: Inexhaustible resources (e.g., solar energy, wind) are unlimited in nature, whereas exhaustible resources (e.g., fossil fuels, forests, minerals) are finite and susceptible to depletion through human usage.