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What Are Natural Resources — Reading Comprehension

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MS-ESS3-1

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This comprehensive middle school science reading passage explores natural resources and their classification into mineral, energy, water, and biological types. Students in grades 6-8 will learn how natural resources are materials or substances found in nature that humans use to meet their needs. The passage explains the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources, emphasizing how the rate of use compared to the rate of replenishment determines sustainability. Real-world examples include copper mining, fossil fuels, freshwater supplies, and forest resources. Aligned with NGSS MS-ESS3-1, this passage helps students understand human dependence on Earth's resources and the importance of sustainable resource management. The content is audio-integrated for accessibility and includes differentiated versions for English Language Learners and struggling readers. Activities include comprehension questions, writing prompts, and graphic organizers to reinforce understanding of resource classification and sustainability concepts.

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"Australia, her natural and industrial resources (1946)" by MacDonald Gill / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

Natural resources are materials or substances found in nature that humans use to meet their needs. These resources include everything from the water we drink to the metals used in computers and smartphones. Natural resources make modern life possible, but they are not unlimited. Scientists classify natural resources into four main types based on their characteristics and how we use them.

The first type is mineral resources, which are solid materials found in Earth's crust. Mineral resources include metals like copper, iron, and gold, as well as nonmetallic minerals like salt and limestone. These resources form through geological processes that take millions of years. Once we extract and use mineral resources, they cannot be replaced within a human lifetime. For example, copper used in electrical wiring comes from copper ore mined from the ground, and there is a limited supply available.

The second type is energy resources, which provide power for transportation, heating, and electricity. Energy resources include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, which formed from ancient plant and animal remains over millions of years. Energy resources also include renewable sources like solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy. The key difference is that fossil fuels cannot be replaced quickly, while solar and wind energy are continuously available from natural processes.

The third type is water resources, which include all freshwater sources that humans depend on for drinking, agriculture, and industry. Water resources include rivers, lakes, groundwater, and glaciers. Although water covers most of Earth's surface, only about 3% is freshwater, and much of that is frozen in ice caps. Water moves through the water cycle, making it a renewable resource, but local water supplies can be depleted if used faster than they are naturally refilled.

The fourth type is biological resources, which come from living things or ecosystems. Biological resources include forests, fisheries, crops, and wildlife. These resources can reproduce and regenerate, but only if we manage them carefully. For instance, a forest can regrow after logging, but only if enough trees remain to produce seeds and if soil quality is maintained.

Understanding sustainability is essential when studying natural resources. A resource is sustainable when the rate of use does not exceed the rate of replenishment. In other words, we can continue using a resource indefinitely if we use it no faster than nature can replace it. For example, if a forest produces 100 new trees per year, harvesting only 100 trees per year would be sustainable. However, harvesting 200 trees per year would deplete the forest over time. The same principle applies to all natural resources, from water to minerals to energy sources.

Scientists and engineers work to develop technologies that use resources more efficiently and find alternatives to nonrenewable resources. This includes developing solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity, creating recycling programs for metals and plastics, and designing water treatment systems that allow water to be reused. These efforts help ensure that future generations will have access to the resources they need.

Interesting Fact: Earth has a fixed amount of most mineral resources, but through recycling, we can use the same materials over and over. For example, aluminum cans can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality, and recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a laptop for three hours.

What are natural resources?

Materials made in factoriesMaterials or substances found in nature that humans useOnly water and airResources that never run out

Which of the following is an example of a mineral resource?

SunlightWindCopperTrees

What is the main difference between fossil fuels and solar energy?

Fossil fuels are cheaperSolar energy cannot produce electricityFossil fuels cannot be replaced quickly, while solar energy is continuously availableThere is no difference

According to the passage, what percentage of Earth's water is freshwater?

About 10%About 50%About 3%About 25%

What does the term 'sustainability' mean in relation to natural resources?

Using all resources as quickly as possibleNever using any natural resourcesUsing a resource at a rate that does not exceed its rate of replenishmentOnly using renewable resources

Which of the following is a biological resource?

CoalIron oreForestsNatural gas

If a forest produces 100 new trees per year and humans harvest 200 trees per year, what will happen over time?

The forest will grow largerThe forest will stay the same sizeThe forest will be depletedMore trees will grow automatically

Why do mineral resources take millions of years to form?

Because they form through slow geological processesBecause humans use them slowlyBecause they are renewableBecause they come from living things

Water is considered a renewable resource because it moves through the water cycle.

TrueFalse

Aluminum cans cannot be recycled more than once.

TrueFalse