📘 What’s Inside This CAT RC Practice Post?
📝 Authentic CAT Reading Comprehension Passage: Practice with a real RC passage from a previous CAT exam.
✅ Detailed Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions: Each question is explained thoroughly for better understanding.
🔍 In-Depth Passage Analysis: Gain insights through line-by-line and paragraph-wise analysis, supplemented with a quick summary table for efficient revision.
📚 Vocabulary Enhancement: Get a separate post explaining all tough words from the passage.
RC Passage
Direction for the questions 9 to 12: The passage below is accompanied by a set of four questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question. The sleights of hand that conflate consumption with virtue are a central theme in A Thirst for Empire, a sweeping and richly detailed history of tea by the historian Erika Rappaport. How did tea evolve from an obscure “China drink” to a universal beverage imbued with civilising properties? The answer, in brief, revolves around this conflation, not only by profit-motivated marketers but by a wide variety of interest groups. While abundant historical records have allowed the study of how tea itself moved from east to west, Rappaport is focused on the movement of the idea of tea to suit particular purposes.
Beginning in the 1700s, the temperance movement advocated for tea as a pleasure that cheered but did not inebriate, and industrialists soon borrowed this moral argument in advancing their case for free trade in tea (and hence more open markets for their textiles). Factory owners joined in, compelled by the cause of a sober workforce, while Christian missionaries discovered that tea “would soothe any colonial encounter”.During the Second World War, tea service was presented as a social and patriotic activity that uplifted soldiers and calmed refugees.
But it was tea’s consumer-directed marketing by importers and retailers - and later by brands - that most closely portends current trade debates. An early version of the “farm to table” movement was sparked by anti-Chinese sentiment and concerns over trade deficits, as well as by the reality and threat of adulterated tea containing dirt and hedge clippings. Lipton was soon advertising “from the Garden to Tea Cup” supply chains originating in British India and supervised by “educated Englishmen”. While tea marketing always presented direct consumer benefits (health, energy, relaxation), tea drinkers were also assured that they were participating in a larger noble project that advanced the causes of family, nation and civilization. . . .
Rappaport’s treatment of her subject is refreshingly apolitical. Indeed, it is a virtue that readers will be unable to guess her political orientation: both the miracle of markets and capitalism’s dark underbelly are evident in tea’s complex story, as are the complicated effects of British colonialism. . . . Commodity histories are now themselves commodities: recent works investigate cotton, salt, cod, sugar, chocolate, paper and milk. And morality marketing is now a commodity as well, applied to food, “fair trade” apparel and eco-tourism. Yet tea is, Rappaport makes clear, a world apart - an astonishing success story in which tea marketers not only succeeded in conveying a sense of moral elevation to the consumer but also arguably did advance the cause of civilisation and community.
I have been offered tea at a British garden party, a Bedouin campfire, a Turkish carpet shop and a Japanese chashitsu, to name a few settings. In each case the offering was more an idea - friendship, community, respect - than a drink, and in each case the idea then created a reality. It is not a stretch to say that tea marketers have advanced the particularly noble cause of human dialogue and friendship.
RC Line-wise Explanation
Paragraph 1
"The sleights of hand that conflate consumption with virtue are a central theme in A Thirst for Empire, a sweeping and richly detailed history of tea by the historian Erika Rappaport."
Explanation: The book A Thirst for Empire by Erika Rappaport explores how people have cleverly linked drinking tea (a form of consumption) with moral goodness or virtue.
"How did tea evolve from an obscure 'China drink' to a universal beverage imbued with civilising properties?"
Explanation: The author asks how tea changed from being an unfamiliar drink from China to a global symbol associated with culture and refinement.
"The answer, in brief, revolves around this conflation, not only by profit-motivated marketers but by a wide variety of interest groups."
Explanation: The transformation happened largely because various groups, not just marketers, intentionally connected tea drinking with moral or civilizing values.
"While abundant historical records have allowed the study of how tea itself moved from east to west, Rappaport is focused on the movement of the idea of tea to suit particular purposes."
Explanation: Although many have studied the physical spread of tea, Rappaport is more interested in how the concept of tea was used by different people for their own goals.
Paragraph 2
"Beginning in the 1700s, the temperance movement advocated for tea as a pleasure that cheered but did not inebriate, and industrialists soon borrowed this moral argument in advancing their case for free trade in tea (and hence more open markets for their textiles)."
Explanation: In the 1700s, people who promoted sobriety supported tea because it made people happy without making them drunk. Industrialists used this idea to argue for more trade in tea, which would help them sell other goods like textiles.
"Factory owners joined in, compelled by the cause of a sober workforce, while Christian missionaries discovered that tea 'would soothe any colonial encounter'."
Explanation: Factory owners supported tea because it kept workers sober and productive, and Christian missionaries found that offering tea made interactions in colonies more peaceful.
Paragraph 3
"During the Second World War, tea service was presented as a social and patriotic activity that uplifted soldiers and calmed refugees."
Explanation: In World War II, serving tea was seen as both a way to bring people together and as a patriotic act that boosted soldiers' morale and comforted displaced people.
Paragraph 4
"But it was tea’s consumer-directed marketing by importers and retailers - and later by brands - that most closely portends current trade debates."
Explanation: The way tea was marketed directly to consumers by sellers, and later by established brands, reflects modern discussions about global trade.
"An early version of the 'farm to table' movement was sparked by anti-Chinese sentiment and concerns over trade deficits, as well as by the reality and threat of adulterated tea containing dirt and hedge clippings."
Explanation: Long ago, people wanted tea with known origins because they distrusted Chinese tea, were worried about trading imbalances, and feared the tea might be contaminated.
"Lipton was soon advertising 'from the Garden to Tea Cup' supply chains originating in British India and supervised by 'educated Englishmen'."
Explanation: Lipton marketed its tea as coming directly from plantations in British-controlled India, managed by trustworthy British supervisors, to assure quality.
"While tea marketing always presented direct consumer benefits (health, energy, relaxation), tea drinkers were also assured that they were participating in a larger noble project that advanced the causes of family, nation and civilization..."
Explanation: Advertisements highlighted personal benefits of tea but also made people feel that drinking tea supported important social and national goals.
Paragraph 5
"Rappaport’s treatment of her subject is refreshingly apolitical."
Explanation: The reviewer appreciates that Rappaport doesn’t push a political agenda in her book.
"Indeed, it is a virtue that readers will be unable to guess her political orientation: both the miracle of markets and capitalism’s dark underbelly are evident in tea’s complex story, as are the complicated effects of British colonialism..."
Explanation: She presents both the positive and negative sides of capitalism and colonialism, without showing bias.
"Commodity histories are now themselves commodities: recent works investigate cotton, salt, cod, sugar, chocolate, paper and milk."
Explanation: Books about the history of everyday goods have become popular and widely consumed.
"And morality marketing is now a commodity as well, applied to food, 'fair trade' apparel and eco-tourism."
Explanation: The practice of selling products by highlighting their moral value is now common in areas like food and clothing.
"Yet tea is, Rappaport makes clear, a world apart - an astonishing success story in which tea marketers not only succeeded in conveying a sense of moral elevation to the consumer but also arguably did advance the cause of civilisation and community."
Explanation: However, tea stands out because its marketing not only made people feel good about buying it, but may have actually contributed to broader social values and cohesion.
Paragraph 6
"I have been offered tea at a British garden party, a Bedouin campfire, a Turkish carpet shop and a Japanese chashitsu, to name a few settings."
Explanation: The author shares personal experiences of being offered tea in various cultural contexts around the world.
"In each case the offering was more an idea - friendship, community, respect - than a drink, and in each case the idea then created a reality."
Explanation: In all these cases, the act of offering tea symbolized deeper values like friendship and respect, and helped build real connections.
"It is not a stretch to say that tea marketers have advanced the particularly noble cause of human dialogue and friendship."
Explanation: The author concludes that tea marketing has genuinely helped foster meaningful human relationships.
RC Paragraph Explanation
Paragraph 1 Summary
This paragraph introduces Erika Rappaport's book, which explores how tea was promoted as a virtuous product by various groups, not just marketers. It emphasizes her focus on how the idea of tea was shaped for different purposes, beyond its geographic spread.
Paragraph 2 Summary
Here, the historical role of tea in social reform and industry is discussed. From temperance advocates to missionaries and factory owners, many groups used tea to promote moral behavior and peaceful social interaction.
Paragraph 3 Summary
Tea’s importance continued during WWII, where it symbolized unity and support, helping to boost morale and comfort people during crises.
Paragraph 4 Summary
This paragraph connects early tea marketing strategies with modern trade concerns. Brands like Lipton promoted traceable, colonial-era supply chains while emphasizing both personal and societal benefits of drinking tea.
Paragraph 5 Summary
Rappaport’s work is praised for being politically neutral, showing both the benefits and harms of capitalism and colonialism through tea’s story. The passage also notes that tea marketing stands out among other commodity histories for actually promoting a shared sense of morality and community.
Paragraph 6 Summary
The author reflects on personal experiences with tea in various cultures, highlighting how tea functions as a symbol of connection and friendship across the world.
RC Quick Table Summary
| Paragraph Number | Main Idea |
|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Tea’s transformation was driven by aligning it with moral and social values. |
| Paragraph 2 | Different groups used tea to support sobriety, productivity, and peaceful colonial relations. |
| Paragraph 3 | Tea served as a unifying and comforting force during WWII. |
| Paragraph 4 | Marketing emphasized traceability and social virtue, linking tea to national and personal well-being. |
| Paragraph 5 | Rappaport presents a balanced view of tea’s complex role in markets, morality, and colonialism. |
| Paragraph 6 | Tea symbolizes human connection and has helped foster global dialogue and friendship. |
RC Questions
Ques 9. Today, “conflating consumption with virtue” can be seen in the marketing of:
Ques 10. The author of this book review is LEAST likely to support the view that:
Ques 11. According to this book review, A Thirst for Empire says that, in addition to “profit motivated marketers”, tea drinking was promoted in Britain by all of the following EXCEPT:
Ques 12. This book review argues that, according to Rappaport, tea is unlike other “morality” products because it:
