What term refers to materials found in nature that can be used for economic gain?

• A. Natural resources
• B. Fossils
• C. Capital
• D. Climate

Answer: (A)

The concept here is natural resources: materials found in nature that can be used to produce goods and services and generate wealth. These include things like water, minerals, timber, fertile land, and energy sources such as oil or coal. They are part of the natural world that economies tap into to create products and power industries.

Fossils are preserved remains of organisms, which can include fossil fuels, but the word itself doesn’t describe all material resources available in nature. Capital refers to the money and manufactured assets used in production, not natural materials. Climate describes weather patterns over time, not usable materials. So natural resources best fits the idea of natural materials from nature that can be used for economic gain.