Read the given passage carefully and answer following question
The Ruhr Coal field of Germany has been one of the major industrial regions of Europe for a long time. Coal and iron and steel formed the basis of the economy, but as the demand for coal declined, the industry started shrinking. Even after the iron ore was exhausted, the industry remained, using imported ore brought by waterways to the Ruhr.
The Ruhr region is responsible for 80 per cent of Germany’s total steel production. Changes in the industrial structure have led to the decay of some areas, and there are problems of industrial waste and pollution. The future prosperity of the Ruhr is based less on the products of coal and steel, for which it was initially famous, and more on the new industries like the huge Opel car assembly plant, new chemical plants, universities. Out-of-town shopping centres have appeared resulting in a ‘New Ruhr’ landscape.
The iron and steel industry forms the base of all other industries and, therefore, it is called a basic industry. It is basic because it provides raw material for other industries such as machine tools used for further production. It may also be called a heavy industry because it uses large quantities of bulky raw materials and its products are also heavy.
Iron is extracted from iron ore by smelting in a blast furnace with carbon (coke) and limestone. The molten iron is cooled and moulded to form pig iron which is used for converting into steel by adding strengthening materials manganese.
______ is added to strengthen the material for making steel.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Manganese
Steel is made in two steps. First, iron ore is smelted in a blast furnace. Then the pig iron is turned into steel by adding a strengthening material.
The passage states: “Iron is extracted from iron ore by smelting in a blast furnace with carbon (coke) and limestone. The molten iron is cooled and moulded to form pig iron which is used for converting into steel by adding strengthening materials manganese.”
Option (1) Mica — Incorrect. Mica is a non-metallic mineral used mainly in the electrical and electronic industries. It is not used to make steel.
Option (2) Limestone — Incorrect. Limestone goes into the blast furnace along with coke to smelt iron ore. It is used in the first step, not to strengthen steel.
Option (3) Coke — Incorrect. Coke is the carbon used as fuel to smelt iron ore in the blast furnace. It is also part of the first step.
Option (4) Manganese — Correct. Manganese is added to pig iron to make it into strong steel.
Note: This passage is taken from the sections ‘The Ruhr Coal-field, Germany’ and ‘Iron and Steel Industry’ in the chapter ‘Secondary Activities’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT book (Fundamentals of Human Geography), almost word for word. The latest edition (2026-27) does not have this part.