Final answer:
Without considering braided nylon, nylon (option B) would generally support the greatest load compared to polypropylene and manila ropes, due to its superior strength characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine which 1 ½" diameter rope would support the greatest load without considering braided nylon, we need to look at the load-bearing capacities of the materials listed: nylon, polypropylene, and manila. Given the context of the information provided, we cannot ascertain these capacities directly from the text. However, typically, nylon has a greater load-bearing capacity compared to polypropylene and manila, especially in areas such as climbing where the strength of the rope is critical. While braided nylon ropes are often stronger than standard nylon, in this question braided nylon is not being considered. Therefore, the answer would be option B, Nylon, presuming it follows the general trend of nylon having superior strength characteristics compared to the other options given.