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With reference to Neem tree, consider the following statements : 1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites. 2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents. 3. Neem oil has applications in pharmaceutical industry. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites[2], making statement 1 correct. It reduces insect feeding and acts as a repellent[2], and contains several active components like azadirachtin, salanin, nimbin, and meliantriol which act as a pesticide[3].
Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents[6]. However, statement 2 is not correct[6] according to the documents, which suggests this may be a factual error or misattribution regarding neem seeds' uses.
For statement 3, neem has high antibiotic and antibacterial properties[7], which indicates clear pharmaceutical applications. Given neem's medicinal properties, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, making option C (1 and 3 only) the right answer.
Sources- [3] https://www.science.gov/topicpages/n/neem+oil+azadirachta
- [7] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and Wildlife > MEDICINAL PLANTS > p. 43
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question punishes the 'All of the above' guessing habit for beneficial plants. It tests if you can distinguish between a plant's biological properties (antibacterial, pesticidal) and industrial-scale applications (biofuels). While Statement 3 is direct NCERT, Statement 2 is a 'plausible but false' trap.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is neem oil from the neem tree used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites?
- Statement 2: Are neem seeds from the neem tree used in the manufacture of biofuels?
- Statement 3: Are neem seeds from the neem tree used in the manufacture of hospital detergents?
- Statement 4: Does neem oil from the neem tree have applications in the pharmaceutical industry?
- Explicitly states neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control proliferation of insects and mites.
- Directly ties neem oil to pest-control use in the context of the neem tree.
- Affirms neem oil's pesticidal use and explains mechanisms reducing insect feeding and acting as a repellent.
- Mentions azadirachtin and effects on insect growth and egg-laying, supporting control of insect proliferation.
- Describes neem oil containing active components (azadirachtin, salanin, nimbin, meliantriol) which act as a pesticide.
- Provides an example formulation of a pesticide made from neem oil used to control armyworms, demonstrating practical pesticidal use.
States substantial production of neem oil (~2.5 lakh tonnes) for agricultural use (coating urea), showing neem oil is produced at scale for farming applications.
A student could infer that large-scale agricultural production of neem oil makes it plausible it has agronomic uses (including pest control) and then check external sources for specific pesticidal uses.
Mentions 'neem-coated urea' and suggests neem releases substances into soil, indicating neem products are intentionally applied to crop inputs for biological effects.
One could extend this to hypothesize that neem-derived compounds affect organisms (e.g., soil biota or pests) and then look up whether those compounds have insecticidal/acaricidal activity.
Notes neem has high antibiotic and antibacterial properties, demonstrating the tree contains bioactive compounds with biological effects.
A student can generalize that if neem contains bioactive compounds, some of those could act on insects/mites and should be checked in entomology or pesticide literature.
Explains that crop pests are commonly managed by applying insecticides/pesticides, framing the agricultural context in which substances (including plant-derived ones) are used to control pests.
Combine this general rule with the fact neem is applied in agriculture to motivate checking whether neem-derived products are used as such pesticides.
Describes problems with persistent synthetic pesticides (e.g., DDT), implicitly motivating the search for alternative, possibly less toxic pest-control agents like plant-based products.
A student could use this as rationale to investigate whether neem oil has been adopted as a biopesticide alternative to persistent synthetic chemicals.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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