Consider the following pairs: Plant Description I. Cassava : Woody shrub II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber IV. Mint : Annual shrub V. Papaya : Woody shrub How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. A. Only two
2. B. Only three
3. C. Only four
4. D. All the five

Answer: B

Explanation

Pair I: Cassava is indeed a woody shrub, cultivated for its starchy roots. This is correctly matched. Pair II: Ginger is a perennial herb that produces a pseudostem from its tightly packed leaf bases. This is correctly matched. Pair III: Malabar spinach is a fast-growing herbaceous climber, valued for its edible leaves and stems. This is correctly matched. Pair IV: Mint is a perennial herb, not an annual shrub. It spreads rapidly through underground rhizomes. This is incorrectly matched. Pair V: Papaya is botanically classified as a large herb with a soft, non-woody stem, despite its tree-like appearance. It is not a woody shrub. This is incorrectly matched. Therefore, only three pairs (Cassava, Ginger, Malabar spinach) are correctly matched. Basic biological classification and common plant characteristics are fundamental knowledge relevant to the UPSC syllabus, often appearing in the Science & Technology or Environment & Ecology sections.