Which pair correctly matches a marine resource with its classification?

• A. Coral is a geological resource; Sand and gravel are atmospheric resources
• B. Coral is a biological resource; Sand and gravel are geological resources
• C. Sand and gravel are biological resources; Oil and gas are surface water resources
• D. Fish are geological resources; Coral are atmospheric resources

Answer: (B)

Understanding how marine resources are classified means separating living things and their ecosystems from nonliving materials that come from the Earth’s crust. Coral is a living organism that forms reef ecosystems, so it belongs to the biological category. Sand and gravel are mineral materials formed from weathered rock and sediments, which places them in the geological category. The combination here matches living, biological resources with nonliving mineral resources, which is the correct pairing.

Other options mix up these categories: coral isn’t a geological resource because it’s not a rock or mineral; sand and gravel aren’t atmospheric resources because they aren’t derived from the air. Oil and gas are geological resources (fossil fuels found in rocks), not surface water resources, and fish are biological resources, not geological.