Which softwood is straight grained with knots and is cheap for construction and low-cost furniture, pale yellow?

• A. Scots Pine
• B. Spruce
• C. Redwood
• D. Yellow Cedar

Answer: (A)

Softwoods used for budget construction and low-cost furniture are chosen for being inexpensive, easy to work with, and having a light, visible grain. Scots Pine fits this description well: it has a straight grain with occasional knots, is widely available and cheap, and its pale yellow sapwood (with lighter heartwood) gives the pale yellow appearance described. This combination of straight grain, knot presence, low cost, and light color is what makes Scots Pine the best match for the scenario. The other options don’t align as well: Redwood isn’t pale yellow but has a reddish tint, Yellow Cedar is usually not the go-to for cheap construction, and Spruce, while light and straight-grained, isn’t as commonly associated with the knotty, low-cost furniture context described.