use them to make clothing, carpets, furniture
coverings, rope, and many other
products.
Clothing made of artificial fibers became
very popular in the 1900s because it was
cheaper than clothing made of silk or
some other natural fibers. Also, cloth
made of artificial fibers does not wrinkle
or shrink as cotton does. But cloth made
of artificial fibers does not “breathe,” or
let air pass through, as much as natural
cloth does. This can make such cloth as
polyester uncomfortable to wear in hot
weather. Many clothes today contain a
mixture of artificial and natural fibers.
For instance, many cotton jeans and
shirts include some spandex so that they
stretch better.
#More to explore
Clothing • Cotton • Paper • Silk
• Textile
Fiction
Writers use their imagination to create a
kind of literature called fiction. They
invent characters, put them in a setting,
and give them feelings, words, and
An athlete wears clothing made
from stretchy artificial fibers.
Reading stories can be fun.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Fiction 17
adventures. Drama and poetry are also
based on imagination, but people usually
think of them as separate from fiction.
Writing that is based on facts is
called nonfiction. Examples of nonfiction
include biographies, histories, and
cookbooks.
Modern fiction comes in two main
forms: the novel and the short story. A
novel can tell a long and complicated
story. It can have many parts—called
chapters—and many characters. A novel
is usually published in the form of a
book. In the past, however, many novels
were first published chapter by chapter
in issues of a magazine. A short novel is
sometimes called a novella.
Short stories are shorter than novels.
They usually have fewer characters and
only a few important scenes. Short stories
often appear in magazines. Sometimes
groups of short stories are
collected in books.
#More to explore
Drama • Literature • Poetry
Fig
Fig trees are grown for their small, pearshaped
fruits, called figs. Figs have a
sweet, nutty taste. They also have a
chewy texture. The fig tree belongs to
the mulberry family. Its scientific name
is Ficus carica.
Figs grow in hot, dry climates. They are
commonly found in the region around
the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey is the
leading producer of figs. Other important
fig-growing countries are Egypt,
Greece, Iran, and Morocco. Farmers also
grow figs in the United States, mainly in
California.
The fig tree has broad, rough leaves. The
tree may be from about 3 feet (1 meter)
to 39 feet (12 meters) tall.
The figs that grow on the tree are called
fruits, but they are actually inside-out
flowers. Each fig is hollow and filled
with tiny buds. Seeds sometimes develop
from these buds. The skin of a fig may
be brown, purple, yellow, or green.
People have been growing figs since at
least 5000 BC. They were an important
source of food for the ancient Greeks
and Romans. Today people eat figs fresh
or dried. Most figs sold in stores are
dried because the fruit spoils very easily.
They also may be canned or used as an
ingredient in cookies, pies, or breads.
Figs are very nutritious. They contain
many important minerals.
Figs ripen on a fig tree.
18 Fig BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Fiji
The country of Fiji is a group of about
300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
People live on only about 100 of the
islands. The capital is Suva.
Geography
Fiji’s islands are scattered over about 1
million square miles (3 million square
kilometers). Mountains rise sharply
from the coasts of the largest islands.
Coral reefs surround many of the
islands. Each year, Fiji has a hot, wet
season and a cooler, drier period.
Plants and Animals
The larger islands have thick tropical
forests and mangrove swamps on their
eastern sides. Dry grasslands cover the
western sides. Most of Fiji’s animals,
including pigs, dogs, cattle, and horses,
are domesticated, or owned by people.
People
Native Fijians make up about half of the
population. They are mostly Christians.
Most of the rest of the people’s ancestors
came from India. Most of Fiji’s Indians
are Hindus. English, Fijian, and Hindustani
are the official languages.
Economy
Fiji’s main economic activity is tourism.
Fiji also produces clothing, sugar, and
gold. Agriculture employs the most
people, however. Fiji’s main crops are
sugarcane, coconuts, taro, cassava, rice,
bananas, and sweet potatoes.
History
Fiji’s first settlers arrived from other
Pacific islands at least 3,500 years ago.
Great Britain made Fiji a colony in
1874. The British brought thousands of
people from India to work on their
sugar estates.
Fiji gained independence in 1970. Since
then, tensions between native Fijians
and Indians have led to several changes
in the government.
..More to explore
Oceania • Suva
Fiji is an archipelago, or group of islands.
No people live on most of its islands.
Facts About
FIJI
Population
(2008 estimate)
839,000
Area
7,055 sq mi
(18,272 sq km)
Capital
Suva
Form of
government
Republic
Major towns
Suva, Lautoka,
Nadi, Labasa,
Nausori
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Fiji 19
Fillmore, Millard
After the death of President Zachary
Taylor in 1850, Vice President Millard
