In ancient Egypt, which plant-based material was used for writing?

Correct answer: Papyrus

The direct answer is A, papyrus. Ancient Egyptians used papyrus, a plant that grew abundantly in the marshy areas near the Nile. The stem of the plant was cut into strips, arranged in layers, pressed and dried to make a writing surface. This material was lighter and easier to carry than stone, so it was useful for records, religious texts, letters and administration. Option A is correct because papyrus is specifically the plant-based writing material associated with ancient Egypt. Option B, cotton, produces fibre and cloth; it was not the standard Egyptian writing sheet meant here. Option C, silk, is an animal-based fibre obtained from silkworms and is strongly associated with ancient China, not the usual writing material of Egypt. Option D, bamboo, was used in several regions for tools or writing surfaces, especially in parts of Asia, but it is not the answer for ancient Egyptian writing in this question. The Nile connection is important: papyrus grew near the Nile, and its name is related to the origin of the word paper. Memory cue: Nile plus writing equals papyrus.