​Reading Passage

The History of Chocolate

Chocolate has a long and fascinating history that spans thousands of years. The story begins in ancient Mesoamerica, where the Olmec civilization first discovered that the seeds of the cacao tree could be used to make a drink. This was around 1500 BCE. The Olmecs, who lived in what is now Mexico, likely ground the cacao beans and mixed them with water, spices, and chili peppers to create a bitter, frothy beverage.

Later, the Maya civilization adopted cacao and elevated it to a sacred status. For the Maya, who thrived from 250 to 900 CE, cacao was more than just food. They used cacao beans as currency and reserved chocolate drinks for royalty and religious ceremonies. The Maya also believed that cacao was discovered by the gods and given to humans as a special gift. Archaeological evidence shows that Maya pots and containers often had images of cacao pods painted on them.

When the Aztec Empire rose to power in the 14th century, they continued the cacao tradition. The Aztecs, however, could not grow cacao in their highland capital of Tenochtitlan because the climate was unsuitable. Therefore, they had to obtain cacao beans through trade and tribute from conquered regions. Cacao became so valuable that Aztec rulers demanded it as tax from the people they conquered. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II was said to drink large quantities of chocolate every day, sometimes consuming up to 50 cups from golden goblets.

The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century changed everything. When Christopher Columbus reached the Americas, he encountered cacao but did not recognize its value. It was Hernán Cortés who, in 1528, brought cacao beans back to Spain. Initially, the Spanish found the bitter drink unappealing. However, they soon began adding sugar and honey to sweeten it, making it more palatable to European tastes. They also kept the recipe a secret from the rest of Europe for nearly 100 years.

By the 17th century, chocolate had spread to other European countries. It became popular in France when Spanish princess Anne of Austria brought her love of chocolate to the French court when she married King Louis XIII. In England, the first chocolate house opened in London in 1657, offering the expensive drink to wealthy gentlemen. Chocolate houses became fashionable meeting places, similar to coffee houses. However, chocolate remained a luxury item only affordable to the rich due to the high cost of importing cacao from the Americas.

The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century transformed chocolate from a drink into the solid candy we know today. In 1828, Dutch chemist Coenraad van Houten invented the cocoa press, which could separate cocoa butter from roasted cacao beans. This made chocolate cheaper to produce and allowed for the creation of chocolate powder. Then, in 1847, Joseph Fry created the first solid chocolate bar by mixing cocoa butter with cocoa powder and sugar. Later, in 1875, Daniel Peter of Switzerland added condensed milk to create milk chocolate, working with his neighbor Henri Nestlé.

Today, chocolate is a global industry worth billions of dollars. The average person in Switzerland eats nearly 9 kilograms of chocolate per year, the highest consumption in the world. Despite its ancient origins in Mesoamerica, modern chocolate production is concentrated in West Africa, with Ivory Coast and Ghana producing over 60% of the world's cacao. However, the industry faces significant challenges, including child labor, low farmer incomes, and the threat of climate change to cacao production.

---

Questions 1-12

Do the following statements agree with the information in the reading passage? Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

---

Question 1

The Olmec civilization was the first to use cacao beans. 🏺

🔑 Keywords: "Olmec civilization", "first", "use cacao beans"

🔍 Scan the text for: information about who first used cacao beans

📖 The text says: "the Olmec civilization first discovered that the seeds of the cacao tree could be used to make a drink"

📝 Analysis: The word "first" is explicitly used in the text. The Olmecs are directly identified as the civilization that first discovered the use of cacao beans. There is no mention of any earlier civilization using cacao.

✅ Answer: TRUE

---

Question 2

The Maya used cacao beans to buy goods and services. 💰

🔑 Keywords: "Maya", "used cacao beans", "buy goods and services"

🔍 Scan the text for: information about how the Maya used cacao beans

📖 The text says: "They used cacao beans as currency"

📝 Analysis: Currency is a medium of exchange used to buy goods and services. If they used cacao beans as currency, this directly means they used them for transactions and purchases.

✅ Answer: TRUE

---

Question 3

Maya pots often featured images of cacao trees. 🌳

🔑 Keywords: "Maya pots", "featured images", "cacao trees"

🔍 Scan the text for: descriptions of what was painted on Maya pots

📖 The text says: "Maya pots and containers often had images of cacao pods painted on them"

📝 Analysis: The text mentions "cacao pods" (the fruit), not "cacao trees" (the plant). These are different things. The question asks about trees, but the text only mentions pods.

❌ Answer: FALSE

---

Question 4

The Aztecs successfully grew cacao in their capital city. 🌽

🔑 Keywords: "Aztecs", "successfully grew cacao", "capital city"

🔍 Scan the text for: information about where the Aztecs grew cacao

📖 The text says: "The Aztecs, however, could not grow cacao in their highland capital of Tenochtitlan because the climate was unsuitable"

📝 Analysis: The text explicitly states they "could not grow cacao" in their capital. The question says they "successfully grew" it there. This is a direct contradiction.

❌ Answer: FALSE

---

Question 5

Montezuma II drank chocolate from cups made of silver. 🥤

🔑 Keywords: "Montezuma II", "drank chocolate", "cups made of silver"

🔍 Scan the text for: description of Montezuma's drinking vessels

📖 The text says: "The Aztec emperor Montezuma II was said to drink large quantities of chocolate every day, sometimes consuming up to 50 cups from golden goblets"

📝 Analysis: The text specifies "golden goblets." The question says "cups made of silver." Gold and silver are different materials. The text gives a specific material (gold), so silver is incorrect.

❌ Answer: FALSE

---

Question 6

Christopher Columbus recognized the value of cacao immediately. 🌍

🔑 Keywords: "Christopher Columbus", "recognized value", "cacao", "immediately"

🔍 Scan the text for: Columbus's reaction to cacao

📖 The text says: "When Christopher Columbus reached the Americas, he encountered cacao but did not recognize its value"

📝 Analysis: The text directly states he "did not recognize its value." The question says he "recognized the value immediately." This is the opposite of what the text says.

❌ Answer: FALSE

---

Question 7

The Spanish added sugar to chocolate to make it taste better. 🍬

🔑 Keywords: "Spanish", "added sugar", "chocolate", "taste better"

🔍 Scan the text for: what the Spanish did to chocolate

📖 The text says: "Initially, the Spanish found the bitter drink unappealing. However, they soon began adding sugar and honey to sweeten it, making it more palatable to European tastes"

📝 Analysis: "More palatable" means better tasting. Adding sugar and honey directly improved the taste. This is a clear match.

✅ Answer: TRUE

---

Question 8

France learned about chocolate through a Spanish princess. 👑

🔑 Keywords: "France", "learned about chocolate", "Spanish princess"

🔍 Scan the text for: how chocolate came to France

📖 The text says: "It became popular in France when Spanish princess Anne of Austria brought her love of chocolate to the French court when she married King Louis XIII"

📝 Analysis: A Spanish princess brought chocolate to the French court, which means France learned about it through her. Direct match.

✅ Answer: TRUE

---

Question 9

Chocolate was affordable to all social classes in 17th century England. 🏰

🔑 Keywords: "chocolate", "affordable", "all social classes", "17th century England"

🔍 Scan the text for: who could afford chocolate in 17th century England

📖 The text says: "In England, the first chocolate house opened in London in 1657, offering the expensive drink to wealthy gentlemen. ... chocolate remained a luxury item only affordable to the rich"

📝 Analysis: The text explicitly states it was "expensive," only for "wealthy gentlemen," and "only affordable to the rich." This means it was NOT affordable to all social classes.

❌ Answer: FALSE

---

Question 10

The first solid chocolate bar was invented by a Dutch chemist. 🍫

🔑 Keywords: "first solid chocolate bar", "invented", "Dutch chemist"

🔍 Scan the text for: who invented the first solid chocolate bar

📖 The text says: "In 1828, Dutch chemist Coenraad van Houten invented the cocoa press... Then, in 1847, Joseph Fry created the first solid chocolate bar"

📝 Analysis: The Dutch chemist invented the cocoa press (a machine), NOT the first solid chocolate bar. Joseph Fry created the first chocolate bar. The question attributes the invention to the wrong person.

❌ Answer: FALSE

---

Question 11

Switzerland has the highest chocolate consumption per person in the world. 🇨🇭

🔑 Keywords: "Switzerland", "highest chocolate consumption", "per person", "world"

🔍 Scan the text for: chocolate consumption statistics

📖 The text says: "The average person in Switzerland eats nearly 9 kilograms of chocolate per year, the highest consumption in the world"

📝 Analysis: The text directly states Switzerland has the "highest consumption in the world." Clear and direct match.

✅ Answer: TRUE

---

Question 12

Most of the world's cacao now comes from Central America. 🌎

🔑 Keywords: "most cacao", "comes from", "Central America"

🔍 Scan the text for: where cacao is produced today

📖 The text says: "modern chocolate production is concentrated in West Africa, with Ivory Coast and Ghana producing over 60% of the world's cacao"

📝 Analysis: The text says production is concentrated in West Africa, with two African countries producing over 60%. Central America is mentioned as the place of ancient origins, but NOT as the current source. The question says the opposite of what the text states.

❌ Answer: FALSE