Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Two reasons why the pace of technological change during industrialisation in Britain was slower than commonly believed:

1. New technology was expensive, and merchants/industrialists were cautious about adopting it. Machines broke down frequently and repairs were costly. For example, even the steam engine had only 321 units across all of England at the start of the nineteenth century.

1. New industries could not easily displace traditional industries. Less than 20% of the workforce was employed in technologically advanced sectors even by the end of the nineteenth century; most workers remained craftspersons and labourers.

Source: Chapter 4, Section 1.2 – The Pace of Industrial Change

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Examiners expect two distinct, clearly stated reasons — one mark each. Avoid vague answers like "it was slow because machines were not used." Anchor each point with a specific detail from the text (e.g., the 321 steam engines figure, or the 20% workforce statistic) — this shows you've read the source and earns full marks. Keep each point to one or two sentences.