Read the following passage and mark the letter $A, B, C$ or $D$ on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from $1$ to $10.$
Rank as the number one beverage consumed worldwide, tea takes the lead over coffee in both popularity and production with $5$ milion metric tons of tea produced annually. Although much of this tea is consumed in Asian, Europeam and African countries, The Unites states drinks is fair share. According to estimates by the Tea Council of The United states, tea is enjoyed by no less than half of the U.S, population on any givenday. Black tea or green tea-iced, spiced, or instant-tea drinking has spurred a billion-dollar business with major tea producer in Africa and South America and thought out Asia.
Tea is made from the leaves of an evergreen plant, Camellia saneness, which grows tall and lush in tropical region. On tea plantation, the plant is kept trimmed to approximately four feet high and as new buds called flush appear, they are plucked off by hand. Event in today's wprld of modem agricultural machinery, hand harvesting continues to be preferred method. Ideally, only the top two leaves and a bud should be picked. This new growth produces the highest quality tea.
After being harvested, tea leaves are lair out on long drying racks, called withering racks, for $18$ to $20$ hours. During this process, the tea softens and become limp. Next, dependent on the type of tea being product, the leaves may be crushed or chopped to release flavor, and then fermented under controlled condition of heat and humidity. For green tea, the whole leaves are often steamed to retain their green color, and the fermentation process is skipped. Producing black teas requires fermentation during which the tea leaves begin darken. After fermentation, black tea is dried in vats to produce its rich brown or black color.
No one knows when or how tea became popular, bur legend has it that tea as beverage was discovered in $2737B.C.$ by Emperor Shen Nung of China when leaves from camellia dropped in to drink water as it was boiling over fire. As the story goes, Emperor Shen Nung drank the resulting liquid and proclaimed the drink to be most nourishing and refreshing. Though account cannot be documented, it is thought that tea drinking probably originated in China and spread to the part of Asia, then Europe, and ultimately to America colonies around $1650$.
With about half the caffeine content of coffee, tea is often chosen by those who want to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate their caffeine intake. Some people find that tea less acidic than coffee and therefore easier on the stomach. Others have become intersted in tea drinking since the National Cancer Institute publishes its finding on the antionxidant properties of tea. But whether tea is enjoyed for it perceived health benefit, its flavor, or as a social drink, teacups continue to be filled daily with the world' most popular beverage.
$1.$ Why does the author include statistics on the amount of tea produced, sold and consumed?
$A.$ To show the expense of processing such a large quantity of tea.
$B.$ To explain why coffee is not most popular beverage worldwide.
$C.$ To demonstrate tea's popularity.
$D.$ To impress the reader with factual sounding information.
$2.$ Based on the passage, what is implied about tea harvesting?
$A.$ It is totally done with the assistance of modern agricultural machinery.
$B.$ It is longer done in China.
$C.$ The method has remained nearly the same for a long time.
$D.$ The method involves trimming the uppermost branches of the plant.
$3.$ What does the word "they" in paragraph $2$ of the passage refer to?
$A.$ Tea pickers' $B.$ new buds
$C.$ evergreen plant $D.$ tropical region
$4.$ Which of the following is NOT true about the tea production process?
$A.$ Black tea develops its dark color during fermentation and final drying.
$B.$ Green tea requires a long fermentation process.
$C.$ Green tea in often steamed to keep its color.
$D.$ Black tea goes thought two drink phases during production.
$5.$ The word "documented" in paragraph $4$ could be best replace by which following word?
$A.$ ignored $B.$ proved $C.$ stored $D.$ kept
$6.$ According to the passage, what is true about origin of tea drinking?
$A.$ It began during the Shen Nung dynasty.
$B.$ It may begun sometime around $1950.$
$C.$ It is unknown when tea first become popular.
$D.$ It was orinally produced from Camilla plants in Europe.
$7.$ The word "eliminate" in paragraph $5$ could be best replace by which following word?
$A.$ decrease $B.$ increase $C.$ reduce $D.$ remove
$8.$ According to the passage, which may be the reason why someone would choose to drink tea instead of coffee?
$A.$ Because it's easier to digest than coffee.
$B.$ Because it has higher nutritional content than coffee.
$C.$ Because it helps prevent cancer.
$D.$ Because it has more caffeine coffee.
$9.$ Where in the passage does author mention research conducted on the beneficial effects of tea drinking?
$A.$ para. $1$ $B.$ para. $2$ $C.$ para. $4$ $D.$ para. $5$
$10.$ What best describes the topic of this passage?
$A.$ Tea consumption and production
$B.$ The two most popular types of tea
$C.$ The benefits of tea consumption worldwide
$D.$ How tea is produced and brewed