Question

Wood-pulp as raw material for paper was developed because of:

• A. the need to produce large quantities of paper.
• B. the shortage of linen.
• C. the need to develop non-acidic paper.
• D. scientific research.

Hint:

Look for cause-and-effect clues in the passage — here, high demand and cost concerns directly led to the adoption of wood pulp paper.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The passage explains that until the 1850s, paper was made from linen or cotton rags, which was durable but limited in supply.
By the mid-19th century, public demand for books had increased, and there was a commercial need for a more economical method of production to meet large-scale demand.
This led to the adoption of mechanically ground wood pulp, which could be produced in large quantities at lower cost, despite being chemically unstable.
Option (b) the shortage of linen — while linen was more expensive and slower to produce, the main driver was mass demand rather than an explicit shortage mentioned in the passage.
Option (c) the need to develop non-acidic paper — is the opposite of what happened; wood pulp paper was acidic.
Option (d) scientific research — although technology was involved, the passage emphasizes commercial necessity, not purely scientific curiosity.
Thus, (a) correctly captures the main reason: the need to produce large quantities of paper economically.