AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Consumers preferred handloom cloth over mill-made cloth because mills could not easily imitate the intricate, specialised weaves produced by skilled weavers. Products like Banarasi or Baluchari saris, saris with woven borders, and the famous lungis and handkerchiefs of Madras required traditional craft skills that machines could not replicate. Well-to-do buyers who purchased these finer varieties continued to demand them regardless of cheaper mill alternatives, ensuring steady sales for handloom weavers even in times of economic distress.
Source: Chapter 4, Section 5.1 – Small-scale Industries Predominate
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The examiner is looking for a specific, textbook-grounded reason — not just "better quality" in vague terms. The key point from the passage is that mills could not imitate specialised/intricate weaves (Banarasi saris, Madras lungis, etc.), and that the rich/well-to-do buyers kept demand stable for these finer varieties. Mentioning concrete examples (Banarasi, Baluchari, Madras lungis) shows thorough reading and scores well. Avoid generic statements; anchor your answer in the specific evidence the passage provides.