Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Handwritten manuscripts were not suitable for everyday use or wide circulation for the following reasons:

1. Expensive and fragile: Manuscripts were costly to produce and had to be handled with great care to avoid damage.
2. Difficult to read: The script was written in different styles, making it hard for readers to decipher easily.
3. Limited copies: They could not be reproduced in large numbers quickly, restricting their reach.

As a result, even in pre-colonial Bengal where village schools existed, students did not read texts — teachers dictated from memory instead.

Source: Chapter 5, Section 6.1 — Manuscripts Before the Age of Print

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The examiner expects three distinct reasons, each clearly stated. The key points from the passage are: (1) manuscripts were expensive and fragile, (2) scripts varied in style making them hard to read, and (3) they could not be produced in sufficient numbers. The Bengal example is a useful supporting detail that shows the real-world consequence. Avoid vague statements like "they were old" — stick to the textbook's specific reasons. Three points at roughly 20 words each fit the 3-mark budget perfectly.