Cutting the clay into four strips that are 0.5 cm thick, 4 cm wide, and 12 cm long means shaping each strip to have these exact measurements. This ensures uniform size and thickness, which is important for consistency in whatever project or craft you're making, like a sculpture or model. The thickness (0.5 cm) controls how thin the strip is, the width (4 cm) is how wide it is across, and the length (12 cm) is how long the strip stretches. Cutting the clay evenly helps the final product look neat and balanced.