What did the British need for shipbuilding?

Correct answer: Strong timber

Correct answer: D, strong timber. Traditional wooden ships required large pieces of strong and durable wood for their frames, hulls and other structural parts. Because Britain was a major naval and maritime power, the need to build and maintain ships placed pressure on supplies of suitable timber. This demand encouraged the cutting and management of forests in places under colonial control. D is correct because strong timber could bear the weight and strain involved in ship construction. A is wrong because glass was used for windows or other limited purposes, not as the main structural material of wooden ships. B is wrong because paper cannot form a ship’s strong frame or hull. C is wrong because wool is a fibre used mainly for textiles, not ship structure. Do not confuse shipbuilding with sail-making: sails could use cloth, but the main framework needed durable wood. Memory cue: wooden ship equals strong timber.