Question : Comprehension:
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Chanhudaro was a tiny settlement (less than 7 hectares) as compared to Mohenjodaro (125 hectares), almost exclusively devoted to craft production, including bead-making, shell cutting, metal-working, seal-making and weight-making. The variety of materials used to make beads is remarkable: stones like carnelian (of a beautiful red colour), jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite; metals like copper, bronze and gold; and shell, faience and terracotta or burnt clay. Some beads were made of two or more stones, cemented together, some of stone with gold caps. The shapes were numerous - disc-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, barrel-shaped, and segmented. Some were decorated by incising or painting, and some had designs etched onto them.
Techniques for making beads differed according to the material. Steatite, a very soft stone, was easily worked. Some beads were moulded out of a paste made with steatite powder. This permitted making a variety of shapes, unlike the geometrical forms made out of harder stones. How the steatite micro bead was made remains a puzzle for archaeologists studying ancient technology. Archaeologists' experiments have revealed that the red colour of carnelian was obtained by firing the yellowish raw material and beads at various stages of production. Nodules were chipped into rough shapes, and then finely flaked into the final form. Grinding, polishing and finally drilling completed the process. Specialised drills have been found at Chanhudaro, Lothal and more recently at Dholavira. Nageshwar and Balakot, both settlements are near the coast. These were specialised centres for making shell objects including bangles, ladles and inlay - which were taken to other settlements. Similarly, it is likely that finished products (such as beads) from Chanhudaro and Lothal were taken to the large urban centres such as Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
Question:
Which of these stones is very soft and easy to mould?
Option 1: Quartz
Option 2: Steatite
Option 3: Jasper
Option 4: Crystal
Correct Answer: Steatite
Solution : The second option is the correct choice.
Steatite is a stone that is very soft and easy to mould.
Explanation:
The passage mentions that steatite is a very soft stone and is easily worked. It also describes that some beads were moulded out of a paste made with steatite powder, allowing the creation of various shapes. Steatite is contrasted with harder stones in terms of workability, and its soft nature makes it suitable for producing beads in different forms.
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