Question Details

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.


Large-scale manufacturing is not _______.


Fill in the blank with the correct option.

Options

A

capital intensive

B

energy intensive

C

technology intensive

D

labour intensive

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option D

labour intensive

Solution :

The correct option is labour intensive.


Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Analyze the Passage Details:
Let us examine the characteristics of large-scale manufacturing and small-scale manufacturing as described in the text:

  • Large-scale manufacturing: The passage explicitly states that it "involves a large market, various raw materials, enormous energy, specialised workers, advanced technology, assembly-line mass production and large capital." This means it is capital-intensive, energy-intensive, and technology-intensive.
  • Small-scale manufacturing: The passage mentions that countries like India, China, Indonesia, and Brazil "have developed labour-intensive small-scale manufacturing in order to provide employment to their population."

2. Evaluate the Blank:
The question asks to identify what large-scale manufacturing is not based on the options provided:
- capital intensive: Incorrect, because the passage states it involves "large capital".
- energy intensive: Incorrect, because the passage states it involves "enormous energy".
- technology intensive: Incorrect, because the passage states it involves "advanced technology".
- labour intensive: Correct, because the passage associates "labour-intensive" specifically with small-scale manufacturing to provide employment, while large-scale manufacturing is characterized by automation, assembly-line mass production, and specialized workers rather than being labour-intensive in the same context.

Therefore, large-scale manufacturing is not labour intensive.

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