Context: Much of mandolin development revolved around the soundboard (the top). Pre-mandolin instruments were quiet instruments, strung with as many as six courses of gut strings, and were plucked with the fingers or with a quill. However, modern instruments are louder—using four courses of metal strings, which exert more pressure than the gut strings. The modern soundboard is designed to withstand the pressure of metal strings that would break earlier instruments. The soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. There is usually one or more sound holes in the soundboard, either round, oval, or shaped like a calligraphic F (f-hole). A round or oval sound hole may be covered or bordered with decorative rosettes or purfling.

Question: What did most of the development of the mandolin revolve around?
Answer: soundboard (the top)

Question: Were premandolins quiet or loud instruments? 
Answer: quiet instruments

Question: What are modern mandolins' strings made of? 
Answer: four courses of metal strings,

Question: What is the most common soundboard shape?
Answer: generally round or teardrop-shaped

Question: What are the sound holes covered with? 
Answer: bordered with decorative rosettes or purfling

Question: What is another term for the bottom of the mandolin?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What was louder than modern instruments?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: How are teardrop-shaped holes covered or bordered?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: How many courses of metal strings were pre-mandolin instruments strung with?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What did most of the development of the mandolin not revolve around?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  Were postmandolins quiet or loud instruments?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  What are ancient mandolins' strings made of?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  What is the most uncommon soundboard shape?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question:  What are the sound holes opened with?
Answer: Unanswerable