Natural Resources and Their Use

A teacher explains that forests are a renewable resource. Harish says forests can therefore never run out, since trees grow back. Sunaina says it is not that simple. Who is right?

In a village the borewell water is found deeper every year. Nitin says there is nothing to worry about, since the rains come every year. Parveen says rain arriving does not by itself bring the water back. Who is right?

A class reads that some countries hold very large reserves of oil and metals. Tarun says those countries must be wealthy and their people well off. Anjum says that has not worked out that way for many of them. Who is right?

A village well dried up this year. A new factory opened nearby in the same year. Many people say the factory dried the well. What else would you need to know before accepting that?

A village sits on a coal seam. Bhola argues: this is our coal, prices are high now, so we should dig it all out quickly and sell it. Kavita says the argument is forgetting something. Who is right?

A municipality plans to plant trees on a bare hillside so that rainwater is held there. Aditya says planting will help because trees pull the clouds in. The plan is sound — but is his reason sound?