English Language Questions for CLAT | QB Set 18

The history of the needle offers a fascinating glimpse into human innovation and technological evolution. Originating around 40,000 years ago during the Upper Paleolithic period, needles are among the oldest surviving tools, playing a pivotal role in the survival and development of human societies. The oldest known needles, dating back to the Gravettian period some 25,000 years ago, were crafted from animal bones, antlers, and tusks. These early needles enabled humans to stitch together hides for warmth, which was crucial for expanding settlements into colder regions after the Ice Age. By this time, needles were not only utilitarian but also served an aesthetic function, used to sew and decorate textiles.

The development of the needle, as highlighted by textile archaeologist Elizabeth Wayland Barber, represents a significant moment in human history—what she called the “String Revolution.” This innovation set the stage for new forms of clothing, fishing nets, and carrying bags, which were essential for human adaptation and mobility. 

The history of the needle also reflects the West’s relatively recent technological advancements. The ancient Vedic texts from India, written around 3,500 years ago, contain some of the earliest known specialised knowledge of needles, describing high-quality steel needles with straight and curved shapes and familiar oval eyes. These texts illustrate the early expertise in needle-making outside Europe. Meanwhile, in medieval Europe, cities in Germany developed guilds of specialised needle-makers by the fourteenth century, while Spain and England inherited and advanced steel needle-making techniques.

By the time of Henry VIII in sixteenth-century England, the art of needle-making was still a specialised trade, with only a few craftsmen, such as a Spanish immigrant, mastering the entire process. Needles were precious items, often kept in special cases and carried by women attached to their belts.

The golden age of needle production arrived in the nineteenth century, driven by industrial advancements, the sewing machine, and the expansion of global trade through the steamship and the British Empire. The widespread availability of cheap textiles and machinery spurred the mass production and consumption of needles. By 1906, needle production reached astonishing levels, with 3 million needles manufactured daily worldwide, and the U.S. purchasing 300 million annually, most of which were British-made.

Despite the increased capacity for needle production and consumption, it wasn’t until the contemporary period that the United States began to challenge British dominance in needle-making, marking a shift in this long-standing global trade.

1. What role did needles play in human societies during the Upper Paleolithic period?
a) They were primarily used for decorative purposes.
b) They were used to stitch hides together, crucial for survival in colder regions.
c) They were used to create weapons for hunting.
d) They were mainly ornamental, with no practical function.

2. According to the passage, how did the Vedic texts from India contribute to the history of needles?
a) They introduced the first known method of mass-producing needles.
b) They emphasised the importance of curved needles for fishing.
c) They revealed the first use of needles for decorating textiles.
d) They described high-quality steel needles, showcasing early expertise in needle-making.

3. What does the passage suggest about the needle-making trade in Europe by the sixteenth century?
a) It was highly specialised, with only a few craftsmen mastering the entire process.
b) It was a simple and widespread trade across many European countries.
c) It had already been industrialised and mass-produced by the fourteenth century.
d) It was limited to the production of curved needles for fishing nets.

4. What led to the mass production of needles in the nineteenth century?
a) The development of medieval needle-making guilds.
b) The invention of the sewing machine and the expansion of global trade.
c) The import of advanced needle-making techniques from India.
d) The rise of needle production in Spain and Germany.

5. How did needle production shift in the contemporary period, according to the passage?
a) Needle production became decentralised, with multiple countries producing needles equally.
b) The production of needles shifted entirely to India.
c) British needle-making ceased to be significant in global trade.
d) The U.S. started to challenge British dominance in needle-making.