Question

Read the following passage carefully:

(1)	Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. Silk has a long history in India. It is known as Resham in eastern and northern India, and Pattu in the southern parts of India. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China.
(2)	Silk is renowned for its luxurious qualities with a natural soft and smooth texture that feels comfortable on the skin. One of its unique qualities is to absorb and release moisture, regulating the body temperature, and keeping the wearer cool and dry.
(3)	Silk is one of the strongest natural fibres, but it loses up to 20% of its strength when wet. Its elasticity is moderate to poor; if elongated, even a small amount, it remains stretched. It can be weakened if exposed to too much sunlight. It may also be attacked by insects, especially if left dirty.
(4)	The process of silk production is known as sericulture. Silk is produced by several insects, but, generally, only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing. To produce 1 kg of silk. 104 ke of mulberry leaves must be caten by 3000 silkworms.
(5)	So what makes silk so costly? Firstly, cultivation of silk is a labour-intensive work. Secondly, the silk fabric is carefully derived from the larvae of the silkworms which spin silk threads around themselves to make cocoons from natural sources. This makes the production limited due to factors like – climate, availability of quality mulberry leaves and time required by silkworms to complete their lifecycle. Thirdly, the intensive work can only be carried out with specialized knowledge and expertise by skilled artisans and craftsmanship. Lastly, superior-quality silk fabrics are made from long and uniform silk fibres giving them a smooth and lustrous appearance. Thus, production requires careful selection, adding to the cost. In 2021, Karnataka was the highest producer of raw silk at 8483 metric tonnes followed by Andhra Pradesh at 5520 metric tonnes with Assam close behind at 5038 metric tonnes. At the other end of the spectrum there was Chhattisgarh (248 metric tonnes), Nagaland (230 metrictonnes) and UP trailed behind at 179 metric tonnes.

Answer the following questions, based on the above passage:

1. What does the phrase ‘luxurious qualities’ in paragraph (2) tell you about the silk fabric? Write in 40 words with evidence from the text.  [2]
2. Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below.  [1]
   Assertion: Silk production requires careful selection.
   Reason: Long and uniform silk fibres give silk a glossy apperance.
   
   1. Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
   2. Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
   3. The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
   4. The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
3. Justify the following statement:  [1]
   Silk whispers luxury! Its price reflects not just its rarity but the value of the meticulous process behind its creation.
4. According to the passage, mention the top two countries that produce silk.  [1]      
5. “Factors like climate, availability of quality mulberry leaves and time required by silkworms to complete their lifecycle are important factors for the production of silk.” 
   State any one inference that can be drawn from this.  [1]
6. Complete the following with a suitable reason from the text:  [1]
   Though silk is considered one of the strongest fibres, it is ______.
7. Based on the given text, mention the states which produced the most and the least amount of raw silk in India in the year 2021.   [1]
8. Complete the sentence suitably.  [1]
   104 kgs of mulberry leaves eaten by 3000 silkworms results in ______.                 
9. With reference to the given passage, give one reason why silk production is considered labour-intensive.  [1]

Answer 1

1. The phrase “luxurious qualities” highlights silk’s soft and smooth texture, which feels comfortable on the skin. It also absorbs and releases moisture, regulating body temperature and keeping the wearer cool and dry, making it highly desirable and elegant.
2. Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
   Reason:
   Silk production requires careful selection because long and uniform silk fibres contribute to its smooth and lustrous appearance, which enhances its quality.
3. Silk is rare and expensive due to its labor-intensive production process. It requires specialized knowledge and skilled craftsmanship to extract long, uniform silk fibers from silkworm cocoons. Factors like climate, mulberry leaf quality, and silkworm lifecycle also contribute to its high cost.
4. The top two silk-producing countries are:
   
   • China (largest producer)
   • India (second-largest producer)
5. Inference: Silk production is highly dependent on environmental conditions and requires a controlled, favorable climate for quality output.
6. Though silk is considered one of the strongest fibres, it is weakened when wet and can be damaged by excessive sunlight or insects.
7. • Most raw silk produced: Karnataka (8483 metric tonnes)
   • Least raw silk produced: Uttar Pradesh (179 metric tonnes)
8. 104 kgs of mulberry leaves eaten by 3000 silkworms results in 1 kg of silk.
9. Silk production is labour-intensive because extracting silk threads from silkworm cocoons requires specialized knowledge and expertise, making the process long and detailed.