In textile science and everyday clothing, the blended fabric known as "polycot" is a mixture of which two types of fibres?

Introduction / Context:
Modern clothing and textiles often use blended fabrics that combine natural and synthetic fibres. One such commonly used blended material is known as "polycot". This question tests your awareness of basic textile terminology by asking which two fibre types are combined to create polycot fabric, which is popular for shirts, dresses, uniforms and other garments.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The fabric name given is polycot, sometimes also written as poly-cot.
• Options list combinations of polyester, cotton, rayon, and wool.
• We assume standard usage where poly stands for polyester and cot stands for cotton.
• The question is about the composition of the blend, not about percentages.

Concept / Approach:
Blended fabrics are created to combine the strengths of different fibres and reduce their weaknesses. Polyester is a synthetic fibre that is strong, crease resistant, quick drying, and durable. Cotton is a natural fibre that is soft, breathable, and comfortable but may crease and shrink. The name polycot itself hints at the components: "poly" from polyester and "cot" from cotton. The approach is to decode the fabric name and match it with the correct pair of fibres among the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret the prefix "poly". In common textile language, "poly" usually refers to polyester, a widely used synthetic fibre. Step 2: Interpret the suffix "cot". This is a short form for cotton, the well known natural plant based fibre. Step 3: Combine these interpretations to see that polycot is a blend of polyester and cotton fibres spun or woven together. Step 4: Compare this with the answer choices. Only option A states "Polyester and cotton" explicitly. Step 5: Conclude that option A best matches the standard definition of polycot fabric.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by checking labels on many ready made garments. Clothing tags often mention "poly-cotton" or "polyester cotton" blends, sometimes with ratios like 65 percent polyester and 35 percent cotton. These labels confirm that polycot or poly-cotton is understood to mean a polyester and cotton blend. Textiles textbooks and vocational training material also describe polycot as a polyester and cotton mixture, reinforcing the same conclusion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Polyester and wool: This would be better named polywool or a polyester wool blend, not polycot, and is usually used for suiting fabrics rather than simple shirt fabric.
• Rayon and cotton: Rayon is a semi synthetic fibre, and a blend with cotton would not normally be called polycot, because poly in polycot points to polyester.
• Rayon and wool: This is another possible blend but has no connection with the common name polycot.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse rayon with polyester because both are man made, or they assume any blend is called polycot. Another pitfall is ignoring the naming clue. The short forms embedded in fabric names are often helpful: polycot for polyester and cotton, polywool for polyester and wool, and so on. Remember that in exam questions, these small naming hints are intentional and can guide you quickly to the correct answer.

Final Answer:
Polycot is a blended fabric made from polyester and cotton fibres.