77. Questions 77-81:Linen is yarn, thread, or fabric made from the stem fibers of flax, one of the oldest cultivated plants. Because the plant is grown in temperate climates, its production is limited. Archaeological evidence shows that flax was used for making ropes and fishing nets in Switzerland over 10,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians used flax more than any other fiber for making linen, which was employed in the manufacture of a diverse array of other materials. When the use of linen spread from the Mediterranean to Europe, linen became second only to wool as the most prevalent material for fabric, primarily because the spindle was no longer teh sole device used for winding thread. It was during that time that the spinning wheel replaced the spindle and distaff for twisting and winding the flax fibers. By the end of the seventeenth century, a spinning wheel for linen was a fixture in almost every European and North American household.Linen is relatively scarce now because the process of weaving flax fabric is comparatively work - and time - consuming. Upon harvesting, flax must be hackled to separate the linen fibers from the tow. Then the fibers are soaked and dried. Bundling the gleaned fiber precedes raking and thinning. The latter are essential steps since unravelling the fibrous mass of stems can facilitate winding. After the threads have been spun, they are laid on a loom and woven into the finished product, known as linen. As is the case with some other natural fibers, such as slik and wool, the price of linen fabric is rather high, and it is not as easy to care for as fabrics made of synthetic rayon, acetate, and viscose.77. According to the passage, what precludes world-wide cultivation of linen? Archaeologists do not put much stock in flax longevity. Linen production has been restricted to increase prices. Flax can be farmed only in certain geographical areas. Flax plants are no longer grown where they used to be.
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