Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy and grows around the seeds of cotton plants. This plant grows naturally in many parts of the world, and its usefulness was realized by many cultures – in fact, it was used even in prehistoric times. However, it was only with the invention of modern machinery that it could be cheaply produced, making it now one of the most popular materials for clothing.
Cotton is a very important product throughout the world. However, many farmers in developing countries receive a low price for their cotton, or find it difficult to compete with developed countries. China is the world's largest producer, but uses most of its production for its own purposes. The United States has been the largest exporter for many years, with India a close second.
Historically, in America, cotton was grown on large plantations, where black slaves picked the material by hand, working long hours in very bad conditions. Nowadays, most cotton in the United States, Europe, and Australia, is harvested mechanically – that is, by machines, yet cotton continues to be picked by hand in most developing countries.
Although cotton remains very popular, there are now many chemically-produced fabrics, such as nylon and polyester, which have caused the demand for cotton to fall into recent decades.
Question Time
When was cotton first used? ………………………………..…………………..…….……
What allowed it to be produced cheaply? ………………………………………….….…..
Who produces the most cotton? ………………………….......................……….……….
In which parts of the world is cotton still picked by hand? ……………………………….
What materials have affected cotton production? …………………………..……………
Word-Learning Time
Do you know the meaning of the underlined words?
Fluffy
Prehistoric
To compete
To export
A fabric
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