What type of resources are defined as being in limited supply?

The correct selection is based on the understanding of resource classification. Exhaustible resources refer to natural resources that exist in finite amounts and cannot be replenished once they are used up. This means that once they are depleted, they cannot be recovered or regenerated within a human time frame. Examples of exhaustible resources include fossil fuels like coal and oil, minerals, and even water in certain contexts where usage exceeds natural replenishment.

In contrast, renewable resources, like solar or wind energy, can naturally regenerate over time and can be used repeatedly, making them less susceptible to depletion. Inexhaustible resources, by definition, are those that are essentially unlimited, such as solar energy or geothermal energy. Sustainable resources can be renewable but are specifically managed in a way that maintains their availability for future generations.

Thus, recognizing exhaustible resources as being in limited supply is key to understanding resource management and sustainability in production and environmental contexts, emphasizing the importance of conserving these resources to avoid depleting them entirely.