Read the given passage carefully and answer the five questions that follow.
Cottage industry is the smallest manufacturing unit. The artisans use local raw materials and simple tools to produce everyday goods in their homes with the help of their family members or part-time labour. Finished products may be for consumption in the same household or for sale in local (village) markets. Capital and transportation do not wield much influence as this type of manufacturing has low commercial significance and most of the tools are devised locally. Some common everyday products produced in this sector of manufacturing include foodstuff, fabrics, mats, containers, tools, furniture, shoes and figurines of wood from the forest, shoes, thongs and other articles from leather, pottery and bricks from clays and stones. Goldsmiths make jewellery of gold, silver and bronze. Some artefacts and crafts are made out of bamboo and wood obtained locally from the forests.
Small scale manufacturing is distinguished from household industries by its production techniques and place of manufacture (a work shop outside the home/cottage of the producer). This type of manufacturing uses local raw materials, simple power-driven machines and semi-skilled labour. It provides employment and raises local purchasing power. Therefore, countries like India, China, Indonesia and Brazil, etc. have developed labour-intensive small-scale manufacturing in order to provide employment to their population.
Large scale manufacturing involves a large market, various raw materials, enormous energy, specialised workers, advanced technology, assembly-line mass production and large capital. This kind of manufacturing developed in the last 200 years, in the United Kingdom, Northeastern USA and Europe. Now it has diffused almost all over the world.
Which of the following is not a product of cottage industry?
Correct Answer :
Car
Solution :
Correct Option: Car
Based on the provided passage, let us analyze the characteristics and examples of products associated with the cottage industry step-by-step to understand why a car is not a product of this industry.
Step 1: Understand the definition of Cottage Industry
According to the passage, the cottage industry is the smallest manufacturing unit. It is characterized by:
- The use of local raw materials.
- The use of simple, locally devised tools.
- Production of everyday goods in homes with the help of family members or part-time labor.
- Low commercial significance, where capital and transportation do not wield much influence.
Step 2: Identify the examples of cottage industry products from the passage
The passage explicitly lists common everyday products produced in the cottage industry sector, which include:
- Foodstuff, fabrics, mats, containers, tools, furniture, shoes, and figurines of wood.
- Articles from leather, pottery, and bricks.
- Jewelry made by goldsmiths.
- Artefacts and crafts made out of bamboo (such as baskets) and wood obtained locally.
Step 3: Analyze the options
- Mat: Explicitly mentioned in the passage as a product of the cottage industry.
- Shoes: Explicitly mentioned in the passage as a product of the cottage industry.
- Basket: Falls under crafts made out of bamboo/wood and containers, which are typical of household/cottage industries.
- Car: A car is a highly complex machine. Manufacturing a car requires a large market, various raw materials, enormous energy, specialized workers, advanced technology, assembly-line mass production, and large capital. According to the passage, these are the characteristics of Large scale manufacturing, not the cottage industry.
Therefore, a Car is not a product of the cottage industry.
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