What natural resource is characterized by being consumed faster than it can be replenished?

The correct answer is identified as a nonrenewable resource. Nonrenewable resources are natural resources that exist in finite quantities and cannot be replaced at the same pace they are consumed. This includes fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as minerals and metals. The formation of these resources takes millions of years, far exceeding the rate at which humans consume them. Thus, once depleted, nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished in a human timescale, leading to scarcity and potential long-term environmental issues.

In contrast, renewable resources, such as solar energy, wind, and biomass, can be replenished naturally at a rate that can meet or exceed consumption. Sustainable resources refer to the management of resources in a way that maintains their availability for future generations. Biodegradable resources include materials that can be broken down by natural processes, but they do not pertain to the concept of consumption and replenishment in the same way that nonrenewable resources do.