Which of the following substances is obtained from a tree ?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — A, Asafoetida. Asafoetida (Hindi hing) is a gum-oleo-resin obtained from the living taproot and rhizome of Ferula plants (mainly Ferula asafoetida), a perennial member of the celery/fennel family — it is the only plant-derived (botanical) substance among the options. Strictly, Ferula is a tall giant-fennel herb rather than a true tree, but it is unquestionably a vegetable/plant source, unlike the two mineral options, so it is the intended answer.

Why the other options are wrong — (b) Bitumen is a sticky, black, semi-solid form of petroleum (a hydrocarbon/mineral product used in road-surfacing and waterproofing) — it does not come from a plant or tree.  (c) Tincal is crude/native borax (hydrated sodium borate), a mineral mined from dried lake beds — inorganic, not obtained from a tree.  (d) Asafoetida IS a plant product, so 'none of the above' is incorrect.

Concept: Natural substances can be classified by origin — plant, animal or mineral. Asafoetida is a gum-oleo-resin tapped from the roots of Ferula plants; bitumen is a petroleum-derived mineral hydrocarbon; and tincal is native borax, a mineral. The discriminator in this question is which item has a botanical (plant) source.

State PCS 2020 Q103 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2020 Q103 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer