What characterizes a renewable resource?

A renewable resource is characterized as a natural resource that can be replenished naturally over time. This means that it is capable of being regenerated, allowing for sustainable use without depleting the resource completely. Examples of renewable resources include solar energy, wind energy, and biomass, which can be harnessed repeatedly over time as they naturally regenerate.

In contrast, the other options describe different scenarios. A resource that cannot be replenished indeed refers to non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels, which once consumed are gone and cannot be replaced within a human timescale. A resource that can be extracted quickly may refer to the ease of accessing a resource but does not address its ability to regenerate. Lastly, a resource that is always in limited supply indicates a scarcity, which is characteristic of some non-renewable resources, rather than renewable ones that can replenish themselves. Thus, the defining attribute of a renewable resource is its natural ability to recover and regenerate over time.