Nutmeg-a valuable spice- Reading Answers Explanation- CAM 15
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage from the Cambridge 15 book. The name of the passage is ‘Nutmeg-a valuable spice’. The Questions of the passage are ‘Blanks’ and ‘True/False/Not Given. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords (highlighted and underlined) and justifications hereby.
Note- Students should start the passage with Blanks and Table completion. They should do True/False/Not Given at last.
| Question | Answer |
| 1 | OVAL |
| 2 | HUSK |
| 3 | SEED |
| 4 | MACE |
| 5 | FALSE |
| 6 | NOT GIVEN |
| 7 | TRUE |
| 8 | ARABS |
| 9 | PLAGUE |
| 10 | LIME |
| 11 | RUN |
| 12 | MAURITIUS |
| 13 | TSUNAMI |
Questions 1-4
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet.
The nutmeg tree and fruit
-
the leaves of the tree are 1……………………. in shape.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The answer to question is in the second line of the paragraph as the writer says, ‘the tree is thickly…dark green oval leaves…’Here, this line makes an answer very clear as leaves are oval in shape. Thus, the answer is ‘Oval’.
Answer: Oval
-
the 2……………………. surrounds the fruit and breaks open when the fruit is ripe.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘fruit’ is there in the third line of the paragraph as ‘the fruit is….. in a fleshy husk…’Here ‘encased’ and ‘surrounds’ are synonyms. Moreover, ‘when fruit is ripe’ has been as it is in the passage. Thus, the answer is ‘Husk’.
Answer: Husk
-
the 3……………………. is used to produce the spice nutmeg.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph as the writer says, ‘lacy red or crimson covering called an aril…are the sources of two spices… from dried seed…’Thus, the answer is ‘seed’.
Answer: Seed
-
the covering known as the aril is used to produce 4……………………..
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘aril’ helps to locate the answer again in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Two spices nutmeg and mace, the former being produced from the dried seed and latter from the aril. Here, this statement makes an answer very clear. Thus, the answer is ‘Mace’.
Answer: Mace
- the tree has yellow flowers and fruit.
Questions 5-7
Nutmeg-a valuable spice- Reading Answers Explanation- CAM 15
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 5-7 on your answer sheet, 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
5 In the Middle Ages, most Europeans knew where nutmeg was grown.
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Europeans’ helps to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Arabs were the exclusive importers…they never….. the exact location…’the information in the question is opposite to the passage as they did not know the exact location. Thus, the answer is ‘False’.
Answer: False
6 The VOC was the world’s first major trading company.
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: Though the main keyword ‘VOC’ is there in the first line of the paragraph as the writer says, ‘VOC, a trading cooperation better known as…’ but there is no information whether it was the first major trading company. Thus, the answer is ‘Not Given’.
Answer: Not Given
7 Following the Treaty of Breda, the Dutch had control of all the islands where nutmeg grew.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Treaty of Breda’ is exactly in the middle line of the paragraph. The line start, ‘the treaty of breda, in 1667…intent on securing their hold over every nutmeg-producing islands…’Here, ‘securing their hold’ means ‘had control’.Thus, the question statement is same as in the passage. Therefore, the answer is ‘True’.
Answer: True
Questions 8-13
Nutmeg-a valuable spice- Reading Answers Explanation- CAM 15
Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
| Middle Ages |
Nutmeg was brought to Europe by the 8……………Location: 2nd paragraph Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘the Arabs were the exclusive importers of the spice to Europe…’thus, the answer is ‘Arab. Answer: Arab |
| 16th century | European nations took control of the nutmeg trade |
| 17th century |
Demand for nutmeg grew, as it was believed to be effective against the disease known as the 9……………Location: 4th paragraph Explanation: The main keyword ‘disease’ helps to locate the answer in the third line of the paragraph as the writer says, ‘people across Europe were dying of the plague…nutmeg held the cure…everybody…… Here, plague is a disease. Answer: Plague The Dutch – took control of the Banda Islands – restricted nutmeg production to a few areas – put 10…………… on nutmeg to avoid it being cultivated outside the islandsLocation: 5th paragraph Explanation: The location of the answer is in the middle line of the paragraph. ‘all exported nutmeg was …grown elsewhere would leave the islands…’Thus, ‘leave the islands’ is as ‘outside the islands. ’Moreover, ‘grown’ and ‘cultivated’ are synonyms. Thus, the answer is ‘Lime’. Answer: Lime – finally obtained the island of 11…………… from the BritishLocation: 5th paragraph Explanation: The main keyword ‘british’ helps to locate the answer in the second last line of the paragraph. The writer says, ‘british would give them the island of Run…’Therefore, this statement makes an answer very clear. Thus the answer is ‘Run’. Answer: Run |
| Late 18th century |
1770 – nutmeg plants were secretly taken to 12……………Location: 6th paragraph Explanation: The main keyword ‘1770’ helps to locate the answer in the first line of the paragraph. ‘Smuggled nutmeg plants to safety in Mauritius’. Here ‘smuggled’ means ‘secretly taken’ Hence, the answer is ‘Mauritius’. Answer: Mauritius 1778 – half the Banda Islands’ nutmeg plantations were destroyed by a 13……………Location: 6th paragraph Explanation: The main keywords ‘1778’ and ‘Banda Islands’ are there in the third line of the paragraph as ‘Banda region cause a tsunami that wiped out half the nutmeg groves…’Here wiped out means destroyed. Thus, the answer is ‘Tsunami’. Answer: Tsunami |
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