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Detailed Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions: Each question is explained thoroughly for better understanding.
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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.
[S]pices were a global commodity centuries before European voyages. There was a complex chain of relations, yet consumers had little knowledge of producers and vice versa. Desire for spices helped fuel European colonial empires to create political, military and commercial networks under a single power.
Historians know a fair amount about the supply of spices in Europe during the medieval period - the origins, methods of transportation, the prices - but less about demand. Why go to such extraordinary efforts to procure expensive products from exotic lands? Still, demand was great enough to inspire the voyages of Christopher Columbus and Vasco Da Gama, launching the first fateful wave of European colonialism....
So, why were spices so highly prized in Europe in the centuries from about 1000 to 1500? One widely disseminated explanation for medieval demand for spices was that they covered the taste of spoiled meat.... Medieval purchasers consumed meat much fresher than what the average city-dweller in the developed world of today has at hand. However, refrigeration was not available, and some hot spices have been shown to serve as an anti-bacterial agent. Salting, smoking or drying meat were other means of preservation. Most spices used in cooking began as medical ingredients, and throughout the Middle Ages spices were used as both medicines and condiments. Above all, medieval recipes involve the combination of medical and culinary lore in order to balance food's humeral properties and prevent disease.
Most spices were hot and dry and so appropriate in sauces to counteract the moist and wet properties supposedly possessed by most meat and fish....
Where spices came from was known in a vague sense centuries before the voyages of Columbus. Just how vague may be judged by looking at medieval world maps ... To the medieval European imagination, the East was exotic and alluring. Medieval maps often placed India close to the so-called Earthly Paradise, the Garden of Eden described in the Bible.
Geographical knowledge has a lot to do with the perceptions of spices' relative scarcity and the reasons for their high prices. An example of the varying notions of scarcity is the conflicting information about how pepper is harvested. As far back as the 7th century Europeans thought that pepper in India grew on trees "guarded" by serpents that would bite and poison anyone who attempted to gather the fruit. The only way to harvest pepper was to burn the trees, which would drive the snakes underground. Of course, this bit of lore would explain the shriveled black peppercorns, but not white, pink or other colors.
Spices never had the enduring allure or power of gold and silver or the commercial potential of new products such as tobacco, indigo or sugar. But the taste for spices did continue for a while beyond the Middle Ages. As late as the 17th century, the English and the Dutch were struggling for control of the Spice Islands: Dutch New Amsterdam, or New York, was exchanged by the British for one of the Moluccan Islands where nutmeg was grown.
RC Line-wise Explanation
Paragraph 1
"[S]pices were a global commodity centuries before European voyages."
Explanation: Long before Europeans began exploring the world, spices were already traded internationally.
"There was a complex chain of relations, yet consumers had little knowledge of producers and vice versa."
Explanation: Although the trade networks were elaborate, buyers didnât know much about where the spices came from, and producers didnât know their customers.
"Desire for spices helped fuel European colonial empires to create political, military and commercial networks under a single power."
Explanation: Europe's craving for spices was a driving force behind building colonial empires with centralized control over various domains.
Paragraph 2
"Historians know a fair amount about the supply of spices in Europe during the medieval period - the origins, methods of transportation, the prices - but less about demand."
Explanation: We understand how spices were sourced and priced in medieval Europe, but we know little about why people wanted them so badly.
"Why go to such extraordinary efforts to procure expensive products from exotic lands?"
Explanation: Itâs puzzling why people went through so much trouble and expense to get spices.
"Still, demand was great enough to inspire the voyages of Christopher Columbus and Vasco Da Gama, launching the first fateful wave of European colonialism...."
Explanation: Nevertheless, the desire for spices was so strong that it motivated explorers like Columbus and Da Gama to embark on expeditions that began the colonial era.
Paragraph 3
"So, why were spices so highly prized in Europe in the centuries from about 1000 to 1500?"
Explanation: This raises the question: What made spices so valuable to Europeans from 1000 to 1500?
"One widely disseminated explanation for medieval demand for spices was that they covered the taste of spoiled meat...."
Explanation: A common theory is that spices were used to mask the flavor of rotten meat.
"Medieval purchasers consumed meat much fresher than what the average city-dweller in the developed world of today has at hand."
Explanation: But in fact, medieval people usually ate fresher meat than modern urban dwellers.
"However, refrigeration was not available, and some hot spices have been shown to serve as an anti-bacterial agent."
Explanation: Although they lacked refrigeration, hot spices could help preserve food due to their antibacterial properties.
"Salting, smoking or drying meat were other means of preservation."
Explanation: They also used methods like salting, smoking, or drying to keep meat from spoiling.
"Most spices used in cooking began as medical ingredients, and throughout the Middle Ages spices were used as both medicines and condiments."
Explanation: Spices were originally medicinal and were used both for health and flavor during medieval times.
"Above all, medieval recipes involve the combination of medical and culinary lore in order to balance food's humeral properties and prevent disease."
Explanation: Medieval cooking aimed to balance bodily elements (humors) through diet, using spices for both health and taste.
Paragraph 4
"Most spices were hot and dry and so appropriate in sauces to counteract the moist and wet properties supposedly possessed by most meat and fish...."
Explanation: Because spices were seen as "hot and dry," they were believed to balance the "wet and moist" nature of meats and fish in meals.
Paragraph 5
"Where spices came from was known in a vague sense centuries before the voyages of Columbus."
Explanation: Even before European exploration, people had a general idea of where spices originated.
"Just how vague may be judged by looking at medieval world maps ..."
Explanation: The inaccuracy of this knowledge is clear from medieval maps.
"To the medieval European imagination, the East was exotic and alluring."
Explanation: Europeans viewed the East as mysterious and fascinating.
"Medieval maps often placed India close to the so-called Earthly Paradise, the Garden of Eden described in the Bible."
Explanation: Maps from that time even placed India near the Biblical Garden of Eden, showing how myth and geography were mixed.
Paragraph 6
"Geographical knowledge has a lot to do with the perceptions of spices' relative scarcity and the reasons for their high prices."
Explanation: Peopleâs limited knowledge of geography influenced how rare they thought spices were, which affected their cost.
"An example of the varying notions of scarcity is the conflicting information about how pepper is harvested."
Explanation: Different beliefs about how pepper was gathered illustrate this confusion.
"As far back as the 7th century Europeans thought that pepper in India grew on trees 'guarded' by serpents that would bite and poison anyone who attempted to gather the fruit."
Explanation: A myth from the 7th century claimed pepper trees in India were guarded by deadly snakes.
"The only way to harvest pepper was to burn the trees, which would drive the snakes underground."
Explanation: The legend said people had to burn the trees to chase away the snakes to pick the pepper.
"Of course, this bit of lore would explain the shriveled black peppercorns, but not white, pink or other colors."
Explanation: This tale may explain the look of black pepper, but not the existence of other pepper varieties.
Paragraph 7
"Spices never had the enduring allure or power of gold and silver or the commercial potential of new products such as tobacco, indigo or sugar."
Explanation: Spices didnât remain as valuable as precious metals or newer high-profit goods like tobacco and sugar.
"But the taste for spices did continue for a while beyond the Middle Ages."
Explanation: Even so, people still wanted spices for some time after the medieval period.
"As late as the 17th century, the English and the Dutch were struggling for control of the Spice Islands: Dutch New Amsterdam, or New York, was exchanged by the British for one of the Moluccan Islands where nutmeg was grown."
Explanation: In the 1600s, European powers like England and the Netherlands were still fighting over spice-producing regions, with the British even trading New York for a nutmeg-rich island.
RC Paragraph Explanation
Paragraph 1 Summary
Spices were widely traded long before European exploration. Despite the global trade network, consumers and producers remained largely disconnected, and spice demand drove European empires to build unified power structures.
Paragraph 2 Summary
Historians know more about the supply than demand for spices, but itâs clear that strong demand drove major exploration efforts, including those by Columbus and Da Gama.
Paragraph 3 Summary
Though some believe spices were used to mask spoiled food, medieval diets featured fresh meat and various preservation methods. Spices had both culinary and medicinal uses, aiming to balance humoral properties in food.
Paragraph 4 Summary
Hot and dry spices were used to balance the supposedly moist and wet nature of meats and fish, following humoral dietary beliefs.
Paragraph 5 Summary
Medieval Europeans vaguely knew spice origins and romanticized the East, often placing spice lands near mythical locations like the Garden of Eden.
Paragraph 6 Summary
Misconceptions about spice harvesting, such as snake-guarded pepper trees, fueled myths about spice rarity and justified their high prices.
Paragraph 7 Summary
Although spices eventually lost value compared to other goods like gold and tobacco, their appeal lasted into the 17th century, evidenced by colonial battles over spice-rich islands.
RC Quick Table Summary
| Paragraph Number | Main Idea |
|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Spices were globally traded before European colonialism and fueled empire-building. |
| Paragraph 2 | Strong demand for spices inspired major European explorations. |
| Paragraph 3 | Spices had medicinal and culinary uses beyond preserving spoiled food. |
| Paragraph 4 | Spices were used to balance the humoral qualities of meat and fish. |
| Paragraph 5 | Europeans had vague, myth-influenced ideas about the East and spice origins. |
| Paragraph 6 | Misconceptions about spice harvesting shaped beliefs about scarcity and value. |
| Paragraph 7 | Spices declined in value but remained desirable, sparking colonial rivalries. |
RC Questions
Ques 9. It can be inferred that all of the following contributed to a decline in the allure of spices, EXCEPT:
Option-wise Analysis
Option A: Supported by the passage. The lack of refrigeration meant spices played a role in food preservation. Once refrigeration techniques emerged, the practical need for spices declined, reducing their overall demand and value. Option B: Not supported by the passage. The idea that increased availability led to decline is not mentioned. The passage actually suggests that limited access and exotic associations made spices alluring. Even as late as the 17th century, European powers fought over spice-producing territories. Therefore, this is not a valid reason for the decline and is the correct answer for the âEXCEPTâ question. Option C: Supported. The use of spices was linked to medical beliefs, especially humoral theory. As medical science progressed and moved away from these ideas, the medicinal appeal of spices would have declined, reducing their demand. Option D: Supported. The passage connects spices with medieval culinary practices. A shift in cuisine or dietary habits would naturally lower the relevance of spices, contributing to their fading importance.
Ques 10. In the context of the passage, the people who heard the story of pepper trees being guarded by snakes would be least likely to arrive at the conclusion that
Option-wise Analysis
Option A: Correct answer. The story has no direct connection between the method of harvesting and the taste (heat/spiciness) of pepper. Believing that pepper is "hot" because it comes from trees burned to escape snakes is an illogical conclusion and reflects a misunderstanding of cause and effect. Option B: Reasonable inference. Given the mythâs details, it would seem rational to conclude that pepper is expensive because it is difficult and dangerous to obtainâa justifiable perception of value. Option C: Also logical. The myth is intimidating. Tales of snakes and burning trees would discourage people from attempting to harvest pepper themselves. So this is a reasonable outcome of hearing such a tale. Option D: Reasonable conclusion. The danger and difficulty of harvesting pepperâas conveyed by the mythâcould easily lead people to believe that supply is limited, justifying the high price and exclusivity of the spice.
Ques 11. In the context of the passage, which one of the following conclusions CANNOT be reached?
Option-wise Analysis
Option A: Supported. The passage states that âdesire for spices helped fuel European colonial empires,â directly linking the spice trade to colonial expansion. Option B: Not supported. While the passage emphasizes spices as a motivator, it does not mention gold as a reason for colonizing India. Therefore, we cannot conclude that India was colonized for both spices and gold based on the passage alone. Option C: Supported. The passage notes that spices ânever had the enduring allure or power of gold and silver or the commercial potential of new products such as tobacco.â This implies that tobacco was more marketable, making the conclusion valid. Option D: Supported. The text clearly states that spice demand was strong enough to inspire major voyages and fuel the early wave of European colonialism, making this conclusion sound.
Ques 12. If a trader brought white peppercorns from India to medieval Europe, all of the following are unlikely to happen, EXCEPT:
Option-wise Analysis
Option A: Unlikely. The passage describes medieval maps as symbolic and vague, placing India near the Garden of Eden. They were not practical navigation tools, so it's unrealistic to assume a trader would use them effectively for trade routes. Option B: Likely outcome. (Correct Answer) Introducing white peppercorns would contradict the belief that pepper was harvested by burning treesâcasting doubt on the myth of snake-guarded pepper trees. This is a reasonable and probable response based on the passage. Option C: Unlikely. A single trader bringing in white peppercorns would not significantly alter the market supply to impact pricing. Spices remained rare and expensive due to perceived scarcity and difficulty of access. Option D: Unlikely. Even if different forms of pepper arrived in Europe, it would still be viewed as exotic due to its distant origin, rarity, and association with the mysterious East. The perception of pepper as exotic would persist.
