Question

If paper has to last long …

• A. it should be made of cotton rags.
• B. it should be non-acidic.
• C. it should be alkaline.
• D. preservatives must be used.

Hint:

When dealing with preservation-related questions, focus on the root cause of deterioration mentioned in the passage.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The passage emphasizes that the main cause of deterioration in books printed in the past 150 years is the acidity of wood pulp paper.
Acidic paper contains lignin, which accelerates discoloration and disintegration, limiting a book’s life to a few decades.
To ensure paper lasts for a long time, it must be non-acidic, as acid-free paper resists these chemical breakdown processes.
Option (a) — cotton rag paper is indeed durable and was used before the 1850s, but the key property that ensures longevity is the lack of acidity, not necessarily the source material.
Option (c) — alkaline paper can neutralize acids, but in the context of the passage, the broader requirement is non-acidic composition; alkaline is a related but more specific property.
Option (d) — preservatives are not mentioned as the primary factor for durability in the passage.
Thus, (b) is correct because the primary condition for longevity is that the paper be non-acidic.