Question: It is clear from the passage that ______. (Based on the provided text about tea drinking in England)
Answer:
The passage describes the evolution of tea consumption in England, highlighting how tea has become a staple drink today compared to its past when it was a luxury. Based on a careful analysis of the text, the correct answer to the question is option c: over the years the popularity of tea in England has increased greatly. This is evident from the contrast between tea’s historical exclusivity and its current widespread, affordable use. I’ll break this down step by step, explaining the passage, evaluating each option, and providing educational insights on reading comprehension to help you understand how to approach such questions.
This response will guide you through the key elements of the passage, ensuring you grasp not just the answer but also the reasoning process. As an educational AI, I’m here to make learning engaging and straightforward—let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Passage
- Step-by-Step Analysis of the Question
- Evaluation of Each Answer Option
- Why Option C is Correct
- Tips for Reading Comprehension
- Summary Table of Options
- Common FAQs
- Conclusion and Key Takeaways
1. Overview of the Passage
The passage provides a historical and cultural perspective on tea consumption in England. It emphasizes that tea is currently the most popular and cheapest drink, consumed in various ways (e.g., with sugar, milk, or lemon). However, it contrasts this with the past, when tea was expensive, locked away, and treated as a ceremonial evening drink. In those times, beer was a common breakfast beverage. This shift illustrates changes in accessibility, popularity, and social customs over time.
Key points from the passage:
- Present day: Tea is “quite the most popular” and “cheapest” drink, enjoyed by “just about everyone” in different styles.
- Historical context: Tea was a luxury item, kept under lock and key, and reserved for specific occasions, while beer was more routine.
- Implication: The passage highlights a transformation in tea’s role in English society, from an elite commodity to an everyday staple.
This type of passage is common in reading comprehension exercises, as it tests your ability to infer changes, identify contrasts, and draw conclusions from textual evidence.
2. Step-by-Step Analysis of the Question
The question asks, “It is clear from the passage that ______,” which requires identifying a statement that is directly or strongly implied by the text. To answer this, we need to:
- Read the passage carefully: Look for explicit details and implicit meanings.
- Examine the options: Check each one against the passage to see if it is supported, contradicted, or irrelevant.
- Use evidence-based reasoning: Base conclusions on specific phrases or ideas from the text.
- Avoid assumptions: Only select an answer that aligns with what the passage states or clearly implies.
In this case, the passage focuses on the increase in tea’s popularity over time, making it a key theme. Let’s break down each option in the next section.
3. Evaluation of Each Answer Option
I’ll evaluate all five options based on the passage’s content. This step-by-step approach helps build critical thinking skills, which are essential for exams or homework.
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Option a: English people have always regarded tea as better than beer
This option suggests a consistent preference for tea over beer throughout history. However, the passage states that “during the last century, when tea was very expensive… at breakfast everyone drank beer!” This implies that beer was commonly consumed in the past, while tea was a rarity. There’s no evidence that tea was always seen as superior—in fact, the historical context shows beer as a default drink. Therefore, this option is not supported and could be misleading.
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Option b: English people are no longer fond of ceremonies
The passage mentions that tea drinking was “quite a ceremony” in the past, but it doesn’t discuss current attitudes toward ceremonies. It focuses on tea’s popularity and consumption methods today, without commenting on whether people still enjoy formal rituals. This option introduces an idea not addressed in the text, so it is not supported.
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Option c: Over the years the popularity of tea in England has increased greatly
This option aligns closely with the passage’s contrast between past and present. It describes tea as “very expensive” and ceremonial historically, but now as “quite the most popular, and also the cheapest, of all drinks,” consumed by “just about everyone.” This clear shift indicates a significant increase in popularity, making this option strongly supported.
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Option d: Like tea, beer also is an extremely popular drink
The passage references beer only in the historical context (as a breakfast drink), but it does not mention its current popularity. The focus is solely on tea’s dominance today, with no comparison or data on beer. Thus, this option is not supported, as it extrapolates beyond the text.
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Option e: Drinking tea with lemon is only a recent habit in England
The passage lists ways tea is drunk now (e.g., with sugar, milk, or lemon), but it provides no timeline or historical details about these habits. It discusses the overall increase in tea’s popularity, not specific customs like lemon. Without evidence, this option is not supported and relies on unstated assumptions.
From this analysis, option c stands out as the most accurate because it directly reflects the passage’s emphasis on change over time.
4. Why Option C is Correct
Option c (“over the years the popularity of tea in England has increased greatly”) is the best answer because it captures the core contrast in the passage. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
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Evidence from the text:
- The passage begins by stating that tea is now “quite the most popular, and also the cheapest, of all drinks,” indicating widespread consumption.
- It then contrasts this with the past, where tea was “very expensive,” “kept locked up,” and “reserved for the evenings,” suggesting limited access and use.
- This historical-to-present comparison implies a substantial growth in tea’s appeal and availability.
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Implied meaning: While the passage doesn’t use the word “popularity” explicitly in the historical section, the description of tea as a locked, ceremonial item versus its current everyday status strongly infers an increase. For example, the shift from tea being a rare treat to something “just about everyone” drinks highlights a cultural transformation.
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Contextual relevance: This answer ties into broader historical facts (though I won’t add external details beyond the passage). Tea’s rise in England is a real historical event, often linked to trade with Asia in the 19th century, but we stick to the text here. Understanding such changes helps in subjects like history or social studies.
By focusing on this option, we see how reading comprehension questions often test the ability to identify themes or trends, such as growth or decline, based on textual clues.
5. Tips for Reading Comprehension
To excel in questions like this, especially in exams or homework, use these strategies:
- Active reading: Highlight key phrases (e.g., “has not always been the case” in this passage) to spot contrasts or changes.
- Question the text: Ask yourself, “What is the main idea? How has something changed?” This helps identify implied meanings.
- Eliminate wrong answers: Start by crossing out options that contradict the text or lack evidence, as I did above.
- Look for keywords: Words like “now,” “then,” “always,” or “over the years” can signal time-based changes, which is crucial here.
- Practice with similar passages: Read historical or cultural texts and summarize the changes to build your skills.
- Contextual understanding: Remember that passages often have a purpose—here, it’s to show evolution—so align your answer with that intent.
These tips can improve your accuracy and confidence in handling multiple-choice questions.
6. Summary Table of Options
For clarity, here’s a table summarizing each option, its support from the passage, and why it’s correct or incorrect:
| Option |
Statement |
Supported by Passage? |
Reasoning |
| a |
English people have always regarded tea as better than beer |
No |
Passage shows beer was common in the past, contradicting “always.” |
| b |
English people are no longer fond of ceremonies |
No |
No mention of current attitudes toward ceremonies; focus is on tea’s history. |
| c |
Over the years the popularity of tea in England has increased greatly |
Yes |
Direct contrast between past expense/ceremony and present popularity/affordability. |
| d |
Like tea, beer also is an extremely popular drink |
No |
Beer is only mentioned historically; no current comparison. |
| e |
Drinking tea with lemon is only a recent habit in England |
No |
Passage lists current habits but provides no historical timeline for lemon. |
This table serves as a quick reference to reinforce the correct answer.
7. Common FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about reading comprehension to address potential doubts:
Q1: How can I tell if an answer is implied rather than stated directly?
A1: Look for clues in the text. Implied meanings often come from contrasts, examples, or descriptive language. In this passage, the increase in popularity is implied through the “has not always been the case” phrase.
Q2: What if multiple options seem partially correct?
A2: Choose the one with the strongest evidence. Here, option c is fully supported, while others lack textual backing.
Q3: Why is it important to understand historical context in such passages?
A3: It helps identify changes and themes, which are common in comprehension tests. Understanding shifts, like tea’s rise, can also connect to real-world history.
Q4: How can I improve my skills for similar questions?
A4: Practice with passages from textbooks or online resources, and always explain your reasoning, as I did here.
Q5: Is there a risk of overthinking the question?
A5: Yes, but stick to the text—don’t add external knowledge unless specified. Here, the answer is clear from the passage alone.
8. Conclusion and Key Takeaways
In summary, the correct answer to “It is clear from the passage that ______.” is option c: over the years the popularity of tea in England has increased greatly. This is supported by the passage’s depiction of tea’s transformation from an expensive, ceremonial drink to a cheap, everyday favorite. By analyzing the text step by step, we see how comprehension questions test not just recall but also inference and critical thinking.
Key takeaways:
- Always base your answers on evidence from the text.
- Recognize contrasts (e.g., past vs. present) to identify changes.
- Use strategies like elimination and keyword spotting to approach multiple-choice questions effectively.
This exercise not only answers your query but also equips you with skills for future learning. If you have more questions or need help with similar passages, feel free to ask—I’m here to support you!
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