Which of the following describes a disadvantage of natural wood?

• A. Highly combustible
• B. Is isotropic with identical properties in all directions
• C. Very resistant to fungi and insects
• D. Structural properties improve when wet

Answer: (A)

Wood’s main drawback in many designs is its high flammability. Being an organic material, it can ignite and burn readily, which raises fire-safety concerns and often leads to the use of fire retardants, protective coatings, or specific detailing to meet safety standards. The other statements aren’t accurate descriptions of wood: it is not isotropic (its properties vary with grain direction, so it doesn’t have identical properties in all directions); while some woods resist fungi and insects, natural wood is generally susceptible to decay and pests unless treated; and moisture typically weakens wood—structural properties do not improve when wet.