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Catgut is a type of cord prepared from the natural fiber found within the walls of animal intestines, and despite its name, it has never been made from the intestines of cats.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source explicitly states that catgut is prepared from animal intestines and, despite its name, has never been made from cat intestines.
One etymological theory suggests 'catgut' is an abbreviation of 'cattlegut', while another links it to 'kitgut' or 'kitstring', where 'kit' referred to a small drum.
Answer: False
Explanation: While one theory links 'catgut' to 'cattlegut' and another to 'kitgut' or 'kitstring', the 'kit' in this context referred to a small fiddle, not a small drum.
The dialectal word 'kit', meaning fiddle, is believed to have originated from the Welsh language.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source states that the dialectal word 'kit', meaning fiddle, is possibly derived from the Welsh language.
In the 16th century, a 'kit' was a small fiddle primarily used by orchestral musicians, derived from the Latin 'cithara'.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the 16th century, a 'kit' was indeed a small fiddle derived from 'cithara', but it was specifically used by dancing teachers, not primarily orchestral musicians.
From what primary material is catgut prepared?
Answer: Natural fiber from animal intestines
Explanation: Catgut is prepared from the natural fiber found within the walls of animal intestines.
Which of the following statements about the name 'catgut' is true?
Answer: It is an abbreviation of 'cattlegut' or a folk etymology of 'kitgut'.
Explanation: The word 'catgut' may have originated as an abbreviation of 'cattlegut' or as a folk etymology from 'kitgut' or 'kitstring'.
In the 16th century, what was a 'kit' primarily used for?
Answer: A small fiddle used by dancing teachers
Explanation: In the 16th century, a 'kit' referred to a small fiddle specifically used by dancing teachers.
The primary animals used by catgut makers are cattle and hogs, with sheep and goats being less frequently utilized.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source indicates that catgut makers most commonly use the intestines of sheep or goats, with cattle and hogs being less frequent.
The first step in catgut production involves steeping the intestines in potassium hydroxide to clean them.
Answer: False
Explanation: The very first step in catgut production is cleaning the small intestines and freeing them from fat, not steeping them in potassium hydroxide.
After initial cleaning, intestines for catgut are steeped in water, then scraped to remove the external membrane, and finally steeped again in potassium hydroxide.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source details these steps: initial cleaning, steeping in water, scraping the external membrane, and then steeping in potassium hydroxide.
Intestines from well-fed, heavier animals are noted to produce the most durable catgut.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source indicates that intestines from *lean* animals yield the toughest gut, not well-fed, heavier animals.
The diameter of a catgut string is determined by the thickness of individual strands and the number of strands twisted together.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source explicitly states that string diameter is determined by the thickness of individual gut strands and the number of strands twisted together.
Before the 20th century, catgut strings were polished using a centerless grinder, a method still common today.
Answer: False
Explanation: Before the 20th century, catgut strings were polished by rubbing with abrasive material. The centerless grinder is a modern method, not one used historically.
After drying and polishing, catgut strings are bleached and disinfected using sulfur dioxide, then dyed if needed, and finally sorted by size.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms these as the final treatment steps: bleaching, disinfecting with sulfur dioxide, dyeing if necessary, and sorting by size.
Which pair of animals are most commonly used for obtaining intestines for catgut production?
Answer: Sheep and goats
Explanation: Catgut makers most commonly use the intestines of sheep or goats.
What was the initial step in the production process of catgut?
Answer: Cleaning intestines and freeing them from fat
Explanation: The initial step in catgut production involves meticulously cleaning the small intestines and freeing them from any fat.
After initial cleaning, what is done to the intestines before they are steeped in potassium hydroxide?
Answer: Their external membrane is scraped off.
Explanation: After initial cleaning, the intestines are steeped in water, and then their external membrane is scraped off before steeping in potassium hydroxide.
What characteristic of animals is noted to produce the toughest gut for catgut production?
Answer: Lean animals
Explanation: The source indicates that intestines from lean animals yield the toughest gut for catgut production.
How is the desired string diameter achieved when twisting catgut strands?
Answer: By adjusting the thickness of individual strands and the number twisted together.
Explanation: The string diameter is determined by the thickness of the individual gut strands and the number of strands twisted together.
What is the modern method for grinding catgut strings to their desired diameter?
Answer: Using a specialized machine called a centerless grinder.
Explanation: Today, catgut strings are generally ground down to the desired diameter using a specialized machine called a centerless grinder.
What are the final treatment steps for catgut strings after they have been dried and polished?
Answer: They are bleached, disinfected with sulfur dioxide, dyed if needed, and sorted.
Explanation: After drying and polishing, the strings are bleached and disinfected using sulfur dioxide, then dyed if necessary, and finally sorted into various sizes.
Historically, catgut was the most common material for strings on a wide range of stringed musical instruments, including lutes, violins, and acoustic guitars.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms that catgut was historically the most common material for strings on various stringed musical instruments, including those listed.
Most modern musical instruments utilize strings with cores made of natural fibers like cotton or silk, replacing catgut.
Answer: False
Explanation: Most modern musical instruments use strings with cores made of steel or synthetic polymers like nylon, not natural fibers like cotton or silk, as replacements for catgut.
Classical and baroque string players often prefer gut strings because they produce a brighter, more resonant sound.
Answer: False
Explanation: Classical and baroque string players prefer gut strings because they produce a richer, darker sound, not a brighter, more resonant one.
Gut strings are still commonly preferred in concert-tension pedal harps due to their ability to withstand high tension and provide a richer sound.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms that gut strings are preferred in concert-tension pedal harps for their ability to withstand high tension and provide a richer, darker sound.
Acoustic guitarists transitioned from gut strings to steel strings in the late 1800s due to their superior durability.
Answer: False
Explanation: Acoustic guitarists transitioned to steel strings in the early 1900s primarily for their significantly greater volume, not superior durability.
The demand for steel strings among ensemble players was driven by their need for increased volume to be heard in a group setting.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source states that ensemble players demanded steel strings because they needed increased volume to be heard clearly in a group setting.
After World War II, classical and flamenco guitarists largely adopted synthetic strings, which offered greater smoothness and improved intonation compared to catgut.
Answer: True
Explanation: After World War II, classical and flamenco guitarists switched to nylon strings, which offered greater smoothness, enhanced durability, and improved intonation stability.
Before 1900, Germany was widely considered the leading producer of the best musical instrument strings.
Answer: False
Explanation: Before 1900, Italy, not Germany, was widely reputed to produce the best strings for musical instruments.
Today, high-quality gut strings for musical instruments are primarily produced in Italy, Germany, and the United States.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source states that today, high-quality gut strings are primarily produced in Italy, Germany, and the United States, among other countries for local consumption.
Historically, which of the following musical instruments did NOT commonly use catgut for its strings?
Answer: Electric guitars
Explanation: Historically, catgut was used for strings on instruments like violins, lutes, and cellos. Electric guitars, being a later invention, typically use metal strings.
What is the primary reason some classical and baroque string players continue to prefer gut strings?
Answer: Their ability to produce a richer, darker sound
Explanation: Classical and baroque string players prefer gut strings because they are known to produce a richer, darker sound, which is desired for historically informed performances.
What innovation led acoustic guitarists to move away from gut strings in the early 1900s?
Answer: The introduction of steel strings by C. F. Martin & Company
Explanation: Acoustic guitarists transitioned from gut strings when C. F. Martin & Company introduced steel strings, which offered significantly greater volume.
What was the main advantage of steel strings that led to their demand among ensemble players?
Answer: Increased volume
Explanation: Ensemble players demanded steel strings because they provided increased volume, allowing them to be heard more clearly in a group setting.
After World War II, what material did most classical and flamenco guitarists adopt, and what was one of its advantages over catgut?
Answer: Nylon strings, offering enhanced durability
Explanation: After World War II, classical and flamenco guitarists adopted nylon strings, which offered enhanced durability, greater smoothness, and improved intonation stability.
Before 1900, which country was widely reputed to produce the best strings for musical instruments?
Answer: Italy
Explanation: Before 1900, Italy was widely reputed to produce the best strings for musical instruments.
Which Italian city was particularly known for producing the best gut strings in the past?
Answer: Naples
Explanation: Musicians believed that the best gut strings came from Naples, although Rome and other Italian cities were also recognized.
Catgut suture was historically used in surgery but has been completely phased out globally due to the development of superior synthetic materials.
Answer: False
Explanation: While synthetic materials are prevalent, catgut sutures are still used in developing countries due to their lower cost and easier availability.
Chromic catgut is a type of suture treated with chromium salts to accelerate its degradation and absorption by the body.
Answer: False
Explanation: Chromic catgut is treated with chromium salts to *slow down* its degradation and absorption, not accelerate it.
Natural gut is still used as a high-performance string in tennis racquets, but its market share is declining due to synthetic alternatives.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms that natural gut is still used in tennis racquets for high performance but is being displaced by synthetic strings.
Catgut was traditionally used to hang the weights in grandfather clocks and was replaced by metal chains only after the 20th century.
Answer: False
Explanation: Catgut was traditionally used in grandfather clocks, but it was replaced by metal wire, woven metal rope, or fine chains in modern times, not specifically 'only after the 20th century'.
In early pocket timepieces, catgut was used until the invention of the Fusee chain, which was designed to equalize the mainspring's torque.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source states that catgut was used in early pocket timepieces until the Fusee chain was developed to equalize mainspring torque.
Why do catgut sutures continue to be used in developing countries?
Answer: They are locally less expensive and easier to obtain.
Explanation: Catgut sutures remain in use in developing countries primarily because they are locally less expensive and easier to obtain.
What is the purpose of treating plain catgut sutures with chromium salts to create chromic catgut?
Answer: To slow down their degradation and absorption by the body.
Explanation: Chromic catgut is treated with chromium salts to help it resist the body's natural enzymes, thereby slowing down its degradation and absorption.
In what other application, besides musical instruments and surgery, was catgut traditionally used?
Answer: For hanging weights in grandfather clocks
Explanation: Catgut was traditionally used to hang the weights in grandfather clocks.
What material has replaced catgut for hanging weights in modern grandfather clocks?
Answer: Metal wire or chains
Explanation: In modern times, catgut has been replaced by metal wire, woven metal rope, or fine chains for hanging weights in grandfather clocks.