The Ielts essay 1 : The production of silk thread The diagrams illustrate the various stages in the life of a silk worn and the process in which silk thread is produced. There are five stages in the life cycle of the silkworm beginning with eggs and culminating in a mature moth, whereas the process of silk thread production involves six steps, from silk worm cocoons to silk materials. Overall, it is clear that silk thread is produced from silk cocoons. It is noteworthy that one cocoon can produce between 300 and 900 metres of silk thread. Looking at the diagram in more detail it can be seen that the silkworm's life consists of five stages, eggs, a larva, in a cocoon and an adult moth, and every stage wary in length. This means that the total life cycle of a silk month can be between four to six weeks. Silkworm larvas eat mulberry leaves before making the cocoon, in which they change into an adult moth. Moving to the production of silk, in the first stage cocoons are selected. They are put in water and boiled. Then thread is unwound and twisted. Between 300 and 900 metres of thread is unwound from one cocoon. Before the weaving process thread is dyed.