Passage:
In archive preservation, conservators humidify stiff, centuries-old parchment documents in sealed chambers using humidified vapor rather than wetting them directly with liquid water. Liquid water causes rapid, uneven swelling in the surface collagen fibers, which exerts mechanical stress on adjacent dry fibers and causes micro-tears across the delicate skin matrix. By contrast, gradual exposure to water vapor permits moisture to disperse uniformly throughout the protein structure, gently relaxing the skin without inducing localized stress.
Statement: Based on the passage, the primary danger of applying liquid water to dry parchment is the uneven physical tension created when fibers expand at different rates.
Answer: Answer
Answer
True. The passage implies that applying liquid water creates localized swelling that exerts mechanical tension against unexpanded fibers, leading to tears.
The statement is true because the passage directly connects the danger of liquid water to uneven surface swelling that exerts mechanical stress against adjacent dry fibers. This justifies the deduction that differential expansion rates produce damaging physical tension.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying Implied Meanings
Estimated Time:1m 0s