Coffee was first discovered in Eastern Africa in an area we know today as Ethiopia. A popular legend refers to a goat herder by the name of Kaldi, who observed his goats acting unusually friskily after eating berries from a bush. Curious about this phenomenon, Kaldi tried eating the berries himself. He found that these berries gave him _______ energy. The news of this energy loaded fruit quickly moved throughout the region. Coffee berries were transported from Ethiopia to the Arabian Peninsula and were first cultivated in what today is the country of Yemen. Coffee remained a secret in Arabia before spreading to Turkey and then to the European continent by means of Venetian trade merchants. Coffee was first eaten as food though later people in Arabia would make a drink out of boiling the beans for its narcotic effects and medicinal value. Coffee for a time was known as Arabian wine to Muslims who were banned from alcohol by Islam. It was not until after coffee had been eaten as a food product, a wine, and a medicine that it was discovered, probably by complete accident in Turkey, that by roasting the beans a delicious drink could be made. The roasted beans were first crushed and then boiled in water, creating an unrefined version of the beverage we enjoy today. The first coffee houses were opened in Europe in the 17th Century and in 1675, the Viennese established the habit of refining the brew by filtering out the grounds, sweetening it, and adding a dash of milk. If you were to explore the planet for coffee, you would find about 60 species of coffee plants growing wild in Africa, Malaysia, and other regions. But only about ten of them are actually cultivated. Of these ten, two species are responsible for almost all the coffee produced in the world: Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora (usually known as Robusta). Because of ecological differences existing among the various coffee-producing countries, both types have undergone many mutations and now exist in many sub-species. Coffee plants need special conditions to give a satisfactory crop. The climate needs to be hot-wet or hot temperate, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, with frequent rains and temperatures varying from 15 to 25 Degrees C. The soil should be deep, hard, permeable, well irrigated, with well-drained subsoil. The best lands are the hilly ones or from just-tilled woods. The perfect altitude is between 600 and 1200 metres, though some varieties thrive at 2000-2200 metres. Cultivation aimed at protecting the plants at every stage of growth is needed. Sowing should be in sheltered nurseries from which, after about six months, the seedlings should be moved to plantations in the rainy season where they are usually alternated with other plants to shield them from wind and excessive sunlight.
Which of the following words is the synonym of the emboldened word in the given sentence? The roasted beans were first crushed and then boiled in water, creating an unrefined version of the beverage we enjoy today.
crude
Understanding the Word "Unrefined"
The question asks for a synonym for the word "unrefined" as it is used in the sentence: "The roasted beans were first crushed and then boiled in water, creating an unrefined version of the beverage we enjoy today."
In this context, the passage describes an early method of making coffee. The term "unrefined" here means that this early version of the drink was not processed or treated to the same degree as the modern beverage. It implies a basic, raw, or unprocessed state compared to something that has been purified, filtered, or otherwise processed for improvement.
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the potential synonyms provided in the options:
- crude: This word means in a raw or unrefined state. For example, crude oil is oil that has not been processed. This meaning fits well with the idea of a basic, unprocessed version of a drink.
- primitive: This word relates to an early stage in development or evolution. While the early coffee drink was indeed from a primitive time in coffee-making, "unrefined" specifically describes the *state* of the drink, not just the time period it was made in. Something can be primitive but refined for its time, or modern but unrefined.
- improvised: This means created spontaneously or without preparation, often using whatever is available. The description in the passage sounds like a standard, albeit simple, method used at that time, not necessarily something made up on the spot.
- unpurified: This means not freed from impurities. While an unrefined substance might be unpurified, "unrefined" is a broader term that covers being in a basic or raw state, not just the presence of impurities. "Crude" often implies both being basic/raw and possibly containing impurities.
Determining the Best Synonym
Considering the meaning of "unrefined" in the context of a basic, early version of coffee created by simply crushing and boiling beans, the word that best captures this state of being unprocessed and basic is "crude". The early method created a drink that was raw and not yet perfected through methods like filtering or sweetening, making it a crude version compared to today's refined beverages.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the meaning of "unrefined" in the sentence and the definitions of the options, the most appropriate synonym is "crude".
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
