Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Development 1 – Gutenberg's Moveable Type Press (c. 1448):
Before Gutenberg, books were copied by hand, making production extremely slow and costly. Gutenberg's metal moveable type press could print 250 sheets per side per hour, making books far cheaper and more widely available. In just 1450–1550, about 20 million printed copies flooded European markets.

Development 2 – Power-driven Cylindrical Press (mid-19th century):
The earlier hand-operated press had limited speed. Richard Hoe's power-driven cylindrical press could print 8,000 sheets per hour, dramatically accelerating newspaper production and making print accessible to mass audiences rapidly.

Source: Chapter 5, Sections 2.1 and 5.2

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• Examiners want two distinct developments, each linked to a specific limitation overcome and a consequence for reach/speed — all three elements per point earn full marks.
• Name the inventor/technology, state the old limitation briefly, then give the improvement with a fact/figure if possible (e.g., 250 sheets/hour → 8,000 sheets/hour).
• Avoid vague phrases like "printing became better"; be specific.
• Keep both points balanced — roughly equal length.