Concept:
In zinc metallurgy, zinc oxide is reduced to metallic zinc by carbon (coke) at high temperature. This is a classic example of reduction by carbon.
Step 1: Identify the stage.
Final stage:
\[
ZnO + C \rightarrow Zn + CO
\]
Step 2: Reasoning.
Carbon acts as reducing agent because:
• It removes oxygen from ZnO
• It itself gets oxidized to CO
Step 3: Eliminate other options.
Al, Li → too reactive not used industrially
Water gas, H$_2$ → not used here
Step 4: Final answer.
\[
\boxed{\text{Coke}}
\]