Final answer:
The glossopharyngeal nerve supplies the 3rd and 4th arches of the tongue and is associated with taste buds. It carries gustatory and general sensations to the brain and plays a role in the gag reflex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nerve that supplies the 3rd and 4th arches of the tongue and the type of receptors found there are part of the glossopharyngeal nerve, which connects to taste buds in the posterior two thirds of the tongue. This suggests that the answer to the student's question is 'c) Glossopharyngeal; Taste buds'. The facial nerve is responsible for taste in the anterior third of the tongue, while the vagus nerve is responsible for the extreme posterior and can stimulate the gag reflex. The glossopharyngeal nerve carries gustatory information from the tongue to the brain and mediates general sensation from the pharyngeal walls, which can lead to the gag reflex when stimulated. Unlike the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the motor functions of the tongue, the glossopharyngeal nerve is involved in sensory functions including taste.