Science, Technology and Society Practice Test

Powering mills with flowing water uses the energy of a river or stream to spin a wheel that drives the grinding stones. This setup provides a reliable, continuous source of power, much more consistent than relying on animals. With water power, mills could operate longer hours and at a larger scale, turning grain into flour far more efficiently and in greater quantities, which supports mass production of staples like rice, cereal, and flour. Windmills can also replace animal power, but they depend on wind conditions and aren’t as steady for large-scale milling. The steam engine later boosted industrial output but isn’t the direct, historical shift that replaced animal-powered mills for staple grain production. Hand looms are for weaving, not milling.