Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Before the advent of soap, the primary cleansing agent in ancient India was taken from soap nuts (reetha) from the plant Sapindus saponaria. The literal translation of Sapindus is sap = soap and indus = India. In other words, soap from India! The nut was used in ancient China as well and its usage spread from India to Middle Asia and then Europe. Soap nuts are boiled to soften them up, and then crushed to filter out the essence which contains the all-important cleansing chemicals. It lathers but in small quantities. Ancient India also used shikai or shikakai (a variant of the acacia plant) as a hair and body cleanser. The skincare routines of ancient Indians involved the addition of a variety of herbs such as turmeric, tulsi (holy basil), neem (bark and leaves), lotus petals and sandalwood paste amongst others which were common ingredients in their skincare creams. Another worth mentioning soap in skin care is the Aleppo soap, which originated from the Syrian city of Aleppo. This is considered one of the purest soaps as it is made with all natural ingredients. Aleppo soap does not dry out the skin. It also moisturises and nourishes the skin and is purported to benefit a host of skin problems such as eczema, skin breakouts, inflammatory skin conditions, insect bites, and skin infections. However, the exact origin of the soap is lost in time with the earliest written record dating as far back as the 8th Century AD. After the Crusades, European nations adopted Aleppo soap and started producing their own variations. However, the ancient city of Aleppo thrived on trade for thousands of years, famous for being the endpoint of the illustrious Silk Road trade route that bridged the East and the West. Generations of merchant families and manufacturers made the unique soap for thousands of years and the formulation has remained surprisingly unchanged in all this time retaining its original form. Olive oil, sweet bay (laurel) oil, sodium hydroxide and water are the main ingredients of this soap. Bay (Laurus nobilis) has remarkable antibacterial and antifungal properties, and could explain some of the benefits of this soap in conditions such as acne, insect bites and skin infections.
Match the words with their meaning. a. Purported 1. Maintained b. Lathers 2. Professed c. Retained 3. foams
a - 2, b - 3, c - 1
Understanding Vocabulary from the Passage on Ancient Soaps
This question asks us to match specific words from the passage with their meanings. To do this, we need to find where each word appears in the text and understand its meaning based on the surrounding sentences and the overall context of the passage about ancient soaps and skincare.
Analyzing the Words and their Context
Let's look at each word given in the question and find its usage in the passage:
- Purported: The passage states, "Aleppo soap... is purported to benefit a host of skin problems such as eczema, skin breakouts, inflammatory skin conditions, insect bites, and skin infections."
- Lathers: When describing soap nuts, the passage says, "It [the essence filtered from crushed soap nuts] lathers but in small quantities."
- Retained: Talking about Aleppo soap, the passage mentions, "...the formulation has remained surprisingly unchanged in all this time retaining its original form."
Matching Words to Meanings
Now let's consider the meanings provided and see which best fits the context for each word:
- a. Purported: In the passage, it says Aleppo soap is "purported to benefit" skin issues. This means people claim or state that it has these benefits.
- 1. Maintained: Means kept or continued. Doesn't fit.
- 2. Professed: Means stated or claimed, often without proof. This fits the context of claiming benefits.
- 3. foams: Means produces bubbles. Doesn't fit.
- b. Lathers: The passage says soap nut essence "lathers but in small quantities". This describes what happens when you rub soap with water – it creates bubbles.
- 1. Maintained: Doesn't fit.
- 2. Professed: Doesn't fit.
- 3. foams: Means produces bubbles or lather. This fits the context.
- c. Retained: The passage says the Aleppo soap formulation has remained unchanged, "retaining its original form". This means it has kept or maintained its original form.
- 1. Maintained: Means kept or continued. This fits the context of keeping the original form.
- 2. Professed: Doesn't fit.
- 3. foams: Doesn't fit.
Summary of Matches
Based on our analysis:
- a. Purported matches 2. Professed
- b. Lathers matches 3. foams
- c. Retained matches 1. Maintained
Therefore, the correct matching is a - 2, b - 3, c - 1.
| Word | Meaning in Context | Matching Option |
|---|---|---|
| Purported | Claimed or stated to be true | Professed |
| Lathers | Forms bubbles or foam when mixed with water | foams |
| Retained | Kept or continued to have something | Maintained |
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary from Passage
| Word | Meaning | Sentence from Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Advent | Arrival of a notable person, thing, or event | Before the advent of soap... |
| Cleansing agent | Substance used for cleaning | ...the primary cleansing agent in ancient India was taken from soap nuts... |
| Essence | The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character. (Here, concentrated liquid extracted). | ...crushed to filter out the essence... |
| Purported | Appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged. | ...is purported to benefit a host of skin problems... |
| Lathers | Forms foam, especially when soap or detergent is stirred or shaken in water. | It lathers but in small quantities. |
| Retaining | Continuing to have (something); keeping in one's possession. | ...retaining its original form. |
| Formulation | A mixture prepared according to a specific formula. | ...the formulation has remained surprisingly unchanged... |
| Purported | Claimed; alleged. | ...is purported to benefit a host of skin problems... (Repeated for emphasis) |
Additional Information: Understanding Context Clues
Understanding the meaning of words like 'purported', 'lathers', and 'retained' is often possible even if you don't know the word beforehand. The surrounding words and the overall topic provide clues.
- For 'purported', the list of benefits that follows ("eczema, skin breakouts," etc.) suggests that 'purported' relates to claims or statements about those benefits.
- For 'lathers', the context is crushing soap nuts and getting an essence. Soap is known for producing bubbles or foam, so 'lathers' likely describes this process.
- For 'retained', the phrase "retaining its original form" immediately after stating the formulation "has remained surprisingly unchanged" strongly links 'retained' to keeping or maintaining something.
Using context clues is a crucial skill for reading comprehension, especially in exams. It helps you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary by looking at how the words are used in the sentences.
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