B11

Writing has been the center of civilization for centuries. Most of our important records are on paper. In fact, putting thoughts down in written form wasn't always easy or practical.

 Practice

B12

Early people discovered that they could make simple drawings on the walls of caves.

 Draw

B13

Unfortunately, they couldn't transport it.

 Fortunate

B14

Around 4000 B.C., people started scratching messages into heavy clay tablets. Although this form of written communication was now portable, it still was very heavy.

 Communicate

B15

For centuries, people tried to discover better surfaces on which to record their thoughts. Almost everything imaginable was tried. Wood, stone, ceramics, cloth, bark, metal, silk, bamboo, and tree leaves were all used as a writing surface at one time or another.

 Imagine

B16

No major changes in writing materials were to come for about 3,000 years. A Chinese man named Ts'ai Lun Ts'ai Lun, discovered a way to make paper. The importance of this invention is hard to overestimate.

 Invent