Exercises:

1.  Classify the following fibres as natural or synthetic :
Nylon, Wool, Cotton, Silk, Polyster, Jute.
Ans: Natural and synthetic fibres are classified as follows:

Natural Fibres Synthetic Fibres
Wool Nylon
Cotton Polyster
Silk
Jute

2.  State whether the following statements are true or false:

1.  Yarn is made from fibres. (True)

2.  Spinning is a process of making fibres. (False)

3.  Jute is the outer covering of coconut. (False)

4.  The process of removing seed from cotton is called ginning. (True)

5.  Wearing of yarn makes a piece of fabric. (True)

6.  Silk fibre is obtained from the stem of a plant. (False)

7.  Polyster is a natural fibre. (False)

3.  Fill in the blanks:

1.  Plant fibres are obtained from  jute  and cotton .

2.  Animal fibres are wool  and silk .

4.  From which parts of the plant cotton and jute are obtained ?
Ans:
Cotton is obtained from the fruit part of the cotton plant, when the fruits burst open. Jute is obtained from the stem part of the plant after it is immersed in water for a few days.

5.  Name two items that are made from coconut fiber ?
Ans:
Two items that are made from coconut fiber are ropes and doormats.

6.  Explain the process of making yarn from fiber.
Ans:
Fibres form a mass of cotton wool are drawn out and twisted. This brings the fibers together to form a yarn.

Suggested projects and activities:

1.  Visit a nearby hand loom or power loom unit and observe the weaving or knitting of fabric.
Ans:
The observation of weaving in a power-loom unit are as follows:
Step 1 : Warping
i) Cones of yarn are loaded into a creel, then wound by a warping machine.
ii) Group of fibres are loaded side by side.

Step 2 : Beaming
i) When the machine is fully loaded, the wound threads are transferred into a warp bean.

Step 3 : Loading
i) The warp bean is loaded into the loom.

Step 4 :  Knotting
i) Every thread is knotted to the existing warp fiber.

Step 5 : Weaving
i) The warp threads are now ready for weaving. They are fed from cones on the left hand side of the machine.

2.  Find out if any crop is grown in your region for obtaining fiber. If yes, what is it used for?
Ans: Coconut trees are grown in our region for obtaining coir or coconut fiber. Coconut fibers are used to make ropes, mats, brushes, brooms, handicraft items, etc.

3.  India has been a major producer of cotton and its fabric. India exports cotton fabric and items to many other countries. Find out, how it helps us?
Ans: Maharashtra is the largest producer of cotton. Almost 20 countries import cotton from India. Cotton export helps us in the economical growth of India.

4.  Do you know that famous Sufi Saint and poet Kabir, was a weaver? Find out about his life and teachings.
Ans: Kabir was the son of a Brahmin widow and was left by the side of a tank in Benaras by his mother. And was picked up by Niru and his wife Nima when he was a baby. Niru and Nima were from a Muslim weaver family. Kabir was born as a Hindu and brought up as a Muslim. He also learnt the art of weaving. He was the first Indian saint to have combined Hinduism and Islam by preaching a universal path which both Hindus and Muslims could tread. He spent much time with Hindu saints and Muslim sufis. Allah and Ram were just the name of the same God. This attracted the heart of many devotees.