GURUKUL HIGH SCHOOL ROLL NO:

CHAPTER 1: FIBRE TO FABRIC - SILK

NAME
CLASS: SECTION:
I. Name the following:
1. The nutrient silk fibre is made of _____________________________________________________
2. The process of taking out silk fibres from the cocoon for use as silk. _________________________
3. The stage next to the caterpillar in the life cycle of the silk moth. ____________________________
4. The covering of silk fibres inside which the caterpillar covers itself. __________________________
5. The maximum length of continuous silk thread that can be obtained from a cocoon. _____________
6. In the life history of silk moth as Egg ➝ Larva (or caterpillar) ➝ Pupa ➝ Silk moth which actually
makes the silk fibre? _______________________________________________________________
7. The rearing of silkworms for obtaining silk is called sericulture. _____________________________
8. Scientific name for silk moth ________________________________________________________
9. Scientific name for mulberry ________________________________________________________
II. Answer the following:
1. Write a caption for each of the figures given as figure (a-d).

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2. Differentiate between natural silk and artificial silk
Natural Silk Artificial silk

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3. Steps for the production of silk are given below in a jumbled order. Arrange them in their proper
sequence.
(a) Eggs are warmed to a suitable temperature for the larvae to hatch from eggs.
(b) Fibres are taken out from the cocoon.
(c) After 25 to 30 days, the caterpillars stop eating and start spinning cocoons.
(d) The larvae/caterpillars or silkworms are kept in clean trays along with freshly chopped mulberry
leaves.
(e) Female silk moths lay eggs.
(f) Cocoons are kept under the sun or boiled in water
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4. Compare any three properties of silk and wool.

Wool Silk

5. Sania got upset on learning that for obtaining 1 kg of raw silk around 5,000 cocoons are killed. But
her mother explained to her that silkworms are also conserved in this process for obtaining silk next
time. Also, it is the source of income to many rural and needy person
(a) Why silk is famous?
(b) Whom do you agree with- Sania or her mother? Why?
(c) If you get an option to select between a silk dress and a dress made of synthetic fibre which one will
you select and why?

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6. Many occupational hazards are associated with wool and silk production. Most of these hazards can
be prevented by just having a proper awareness and knowledge of how to tackle such conditions.
The main reason for occupational hazards in India is due to poverty, illiteracy and poor hygienic
conditions.
(a) What occupational hazards are associated with the wool and silk industries?
(b) How can most of the occupational hazards be minimised?

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7. Why caterpillars need to shed their skin when they grow bigger but humans do not? Do you have
any idea?

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8. Radhika wanted to buy a silk frock and went to the market with her mother. There they found that the
artificial (synthetic) silk was much cheaper and wanted to know why? Do you know why? Find out.

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9. Priya went to the market to buy sarees for her mother. She took out a thread from the edge of the two
sarees shown by the shopkeeper and burnt them. One thread burnt with a smell of burning hair and the
other burnt with the smell of burning paper. Which thread is from a pure cotton saree and which one
from a pure silk saree? Give reason for your answer.

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10. Explain the phrase – ‘Unity is Strength’ on the basis of the making of fabric from fibre.

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GURUKUL HIGH SCHOOL ROLL NO:

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11. Neha went to the market with her mother to buy a silk saree for her grandmother. The shopkeeper was
showing sarees of different varieties of silk but her mother wanted to take only a pure silk saree and not
an artificial one. Neha was confused that how to distinguish between a pure silk and an artificial silk
saree. But her mother helped her in selecting a pure silk saree for her grandmother and she was quite
elated about that.
Now, answer the following questions:
(a) How her mother distinguished between pure silk saree and an artificial silk saree?
(b) Is the pure silk saree more costly than an artificial one?

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III. MCQs
1. Which of the following is not a type of silk?
(a) Mulberry silk (b) Tassar silk (c) Mooga silk (d) Moth silk
2. Paheli wanted to buy a gift made of animal fibre obtained without killing the animal. Which of the
following would be the right gift for her to buy?
(a) Woollen shawl (b) Silk scarf (c) Animal fur cap (d) Leather jacket
3. Silk fibre is obtained from
(a) fleece of sheep (b) cotton ball (c) cocoon (d) shiny jute stalk
4. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of different phases in the lifecycle of
silkworm?
(a) Eggs→pupa→cocoon→caterpillar→ Adult moth
(b) Eggs→caterpillar→cocoon→pupa→ Adult moth
(c) Adult moth→eggs→pupa→caterpillar→cocoon
(d) Eggs→adult moth→pupa→cocoon→ caterpillar
5. Which of the following describes moulting?
(a) The resting stage in the life cycle of a silkworm
(b) Change in appearance during the different stages in the life cycle of a silkworm
(c) Spinning of cocoon
(d) Casting off of old skin
6. Spiders make their webs of silk. Which of the following are the characteristics of these webs?
(i) It is five times stronger than steel (ii) It is water proof
(iii) It is stretchable (iv) It attracts insects
(a) (i) & (ii) (b) (ii) & (iii) (c) (i), (ii) & (iii) (d) All of these
7. The children employed in the silk industry face certain problems that include respiratory disorders,
hearing problems, blisters and open wounds, etc. What do you think is the main cause of their
respiratory problems?
(a) Cramped, damp, dark and poorly ventilated work space
(b) Loud, deafening music-playing in the background
(c) Inhalation of vapours from the boiling cocoons and the diesel used to run machines.
(d) Checking of the hot water to see whether the silk threads have loosened enough to be removed
from the cocoons.

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