Govt.
Graduate College Gujranwala
ENGLISH ECAT
Questions 1-10
Archaeological literature is rich in descriptions of pot making. Unlike modern
industrial potters, prehistoric artisans created each of their pieces individually, using the
simplest technology but demonstrating remarkable skill in making and adorning their
vessels.
Line The clay used in prehistoric pot making was invariably selected with the utmost care:
(5) often it was traded over considerable distances. The consistency of the clay was crucial:
it was pounded meticulously and mixed with water to make it entirely even in texture. By
careful kneading, the potter removed the air bubbles and made the clay as plastic as
possible, allowing it to be molded into shape as the pot was built up, When a pot is fired.
It loses its water and can crack, so the potter added a temper to the clay, a substance that
(10) helped reduce shrinkage and cracking.
Since surface finishes provided a pleasing appearance and also improved the
durability in day-to-day use, the potter smoothed the exterior surface of the pot with wet
hands. Often a wet clay solution, known as a slip, was applied to the smooth surface.
Brightly colored slips were often used and formed painted decorations on the vessel. In
later times. glazes
(15) came into use in some areas. A glaze is a form of slip that turns to a glasslike finish during
high-temperature firing. When a slip was not applied, the vessel was allowed to dry slowly
until the external surface was almost like leather in texture. It was then rubbed with a
round stone or similar object to give it a shiny, hard surface. Some pots were adorned with
incised or stamped decorations.
(20) Most early pottery was then fired over open hearths. The vessels were covered with
fast-burning wood; as it burned, the ashes would all around the pots and bake them
evenly over a few hours. Far higher temperatures were attained in special ovens, known
as kilns, which would not only bake the clay and remove its plasticity, but also dissolve
carbons and iron compounds. Kilns were also used for glazing, when two firings were
needed, Once fired, the pots were allowed to cool slowly, and small cracks were repaired
before they were ready for use.
(1) What does the passage mainly discuss?
(a) Why archaeologists study prehistoric pot making
(b) How early pottery was made and decorated
(c) The development of kilns used by early potters
(d) The variety of decorations on Prehistoric pottery
(2) The word “meticulously” in line 6 is closest in meaning to
(a) heavily (b) initially
(c) carefully (d) completely
(3) Which of the following was a process used by prehistoric potters to improve the
texture of the clay?
(a) Adding temper (b) Removing the water
(c) Beating on the clay (d) Mixing the clay with plastic substances
(4) The word “durability” in line 11 is closest in meaning to
(a) quality (b) endurance
(c) adaptability (d) applicability
(5) Prehistoric potters applied slips and glazes to their vessels in order to do which of
the following?
(a) Improve the appearance of the vessels (b) prevent the vessels from leaking
(c) Help the vessels a leather like quality (d) Give the vessels a leather like quality
Govt. Graduate College Gujranwala
(6) Which of the following was a method used by some potters to give vessels a glossy
finish?
(a) Smoothing them with wet hands (b) Mixing the clay with colored solutions
(c) Baking them at a very high temperature (d) Rubbing them with a smooth hard object
(7) The word “incised” in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(a) designed (b) carved
(c) detailed (d) painted
(8) The word “they” in ling 26 refers to
(a) kilns (b) firings
(c) pots (d) cracks
(9) According to the passage, the advantage of kilns over open fires was that the kilns
(a) required less wood for burning (b) reached higher temperatures
(c) kept ashes away from the pots (d) baked vessels without cracking them
(10) Look at the terms “temper” (line 9), “glazes” (line 14), “kilns” (line 23), and
“compounds” (line 24). Which of these terms is NOT defined in the passage?
(a) temper (b) glazes
(c) kilns (d) compounds
