Why was the skill of the Kalangs important for Dutch rule?

Correct answer: They were skilled in cutting forests and supplying timber

The direct answer is D: the Kalangs were skilled in cutting forests and supplying timber. Dutch rule needed a dependable workforce for valuable teak forests. The reasoning is: Java had commercially useful forests; teak had high value for ships, buildings and other colonial needs; Kalangs possessed forest knowledge and cutting skills; therefore Dutch authorities considered their labour important for obtaining timber. Option A, knowing European languages, might be useful in some administrative setting but is not the forest skill for which the Kalangs were important. Option B, dyeing cotton, is textile work and does not provide timber. Option C, sailing sea ships, is maritime work and is unrelated to cutting forests. Option D directly connects their practical skill with the Dutch demand for wood, so it is correct. The question asks why their skill mattered to Dutch rule, not simply what occupation they had; the answer must therefore include both forest expertise and timber supply. Memory cue: Dutch teak needs plus Kalang forest skill equals useful colonial labour.