Question

What kind of tree is cocoa?
A.Coniferous tree
B.Tropical tree
C.Equatorial tree
D.Mangrove tree

Answer 1

Hint: Cocoa are seeds obtained from the Theobroma Cacao tree which are then processed to make chocolate, chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and other such variants. About 20-60 seeds are contained in the pod of a single cacao fruit. In 2018, the country which produced the largest number of cocoa beans (about 37% of the total production in the world) was Ivory Coast located in West Africa.

Complete answer:
Option A: is incorrect. Coniferous trees are characterised as tall, softwood and evergreen. Examples of coniferous trees include cedars, firs, pines, spruces etc. Theobroma Cacao is not a coniferous tree.
Option B: is correct. Tropical evergreen trees are characterised as hardwood trees found in thickly forested regions around the equator. Theobroma Cacao is an evergreen tree found in tropical regions such as between southeast Mexico and the Amazon basin. Other major producers of cocoa beans other than Ivory Coast include Ghana, Indonesia, Peru and Ecuador.
Option C: is incorrect.
Option D: is incorrect. The main feature of mangrove trees is the dense tangle of prop roots that are visible during low tide and covered during high tides. The soft tissues of these roots help the trees breathe underwater and prevent the soil from eroding. Theobroma Cacao is not a mangrove tree.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Note: Coniferous trees are found in higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere and at higher altitudes all over the world. Tropical trees are of two types both of which grow in tropical regions around the equator- Tropical evergreen which grows in regions that receive heavy rainfall throughout the year and Tropical deciduous which grows in regions that experience seasonal rainfall. Mangrove trees are found in river deltas in tropical and subtropical regions.