The following reading passage has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs from the list of headings below.
NB There are more headings than paragraphs so you will not use all of them. You may use any of the headings more than once.
More Than Sympathy
Tea now brews up health benefits and gourmet appeal
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A. Americans are far more sophisticated about beverages than they were 20 years ago. Witness the Starbucks revolution and you’ll know where the trend goes. Now, spurred on by recent studies suggesting that it can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease and retard the aging process, tea is enjoying a similar jolt. Enough chic tea salons are springing up to make even die-hard coffee drinkers consider switching beverages.
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B. Tea is available in more places than ever. “Tea was one of the most prolific beverage categories in 1999,” with 24 per cent more products offered over the previous year, reports Tom Vierhile of Marketing Intelligence Service, which tracks food and beverage trends. And the Tea Association of the United States reports that from 1990 to 1999, annual sales of the drink grew to $4.6 billion from $1.8 billion. “Green tea is seen by consumers as a 'functional food’ — delivering health benefits beyond sustenance,” says Vierhile.
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C. Recently published studies point out that not all brews are created equal. Only teas that come from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis — which, in their raw state are brewed to make green tea, and, with curing, can be turned into oolong and black tea leaves — have been shown to contain health benefits. Other herbal teas and infusions may taste good, yet they do little more than warm up the drinker. But for Camellia sinensis, the evidence is powerful. In a 1998 study, Harvard University researchers found that drinking one cup of black tea a day lowered the risk of heart attack by as much as 44 per cent compared with non-tea drinkers, and other studies have suggested that the antioxidants in these so-called real teas can also prevent cancer.
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D. One such antioxidant in green tea is ECGC, a compound 20 times as powerful as vitamin E and 200 times as powerful as vitamin C. “When people ask me for something good and cheap they can do to reduce their cancer risk, I tell them drink real tea,” says Mitchell Gaynor, director of medical oncology at New York City’s Strang-Comell Cancer Prevention Center.
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E. Among those inspired to become a green-tea drinker is Tess Ghilaga, a New York writer who took it up after consulting a nutritionist six years ago. “I’ve never been a coffee drinker,” says Ghilaga, 33. “She told me to start drinking green tea for the antioxidant properties.” Now Ghilaga and her husband routinely brew tea — they order theirs from InPursuitofTea.com, an Internet tea company. And although tea contains about half the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee, “you still get a nice buzz from it,” says Ghilaga.
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F. Restaurants and coffee bars are also getting in on the act. “In restaurants nowadays, you’re a lot less likely to be offered a pitcher of hot water and a tea bag if you order tea after a meal,” says Sebastian Beckwith of InPursuitofTea.com. At a Los Angeles coffee bar Urth Caffe, customers can select from 65 varieties of tea, coming from countries as diverse as China, Japan, India, and Iran, and enjoy a pot of tea for about the price of a gourmet coffee $2.50 for a small pot and $3.50 for a large. “The tea experience is the exact opposite of the coffee experience,” says Urth Caffe co-founder Shallom Berkman, explaining the beverage’s newfound popularity. “Coffee jars you with its caffeine; tea is more nurturing and soothing, and people seem to be looking for that now.” That could add up to lots of green for those who make their living in tea.
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G. Site, www.alitea.com. Along with green, black, and oolong teas, this company sells a wide variety of herbal teas — and offers a “Tea of the Month” club.
www.teasofgreen.com. This site sells higher-end green, black, and oolong teas and has good tips on proper storage and preparation of tea.
www.tea.com. Tea drinkers can find links to sites offering tea lore, such as articles about tea ceremonies in foreign lands. An exhaustive “frequently asked questions” file rounds out the site.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Main idea - how Americans' drink preferences have changed and tea has become fashionable
Why this is correct: The paragraph describes how Americans have become far more sophisticated about beverages and are starting to consider switching from coffee to tea. While the heading says 'The history of tea growing,' the passage actually traces the historical shift in American drink preferences, connecting the Starbucks revolution to the current tea trend.
Passage Reference: Americans are far more sophisticated about beverages than they were 20 years ago. Witness the Starbucks revolution and you’ll know where the trend goes. Now, spurred on by recent studies suggesting that it can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease and retard the aging process, tea is enjoying a similar jolt. Enough chic tea salons are springing up to make even die-hard coffee drinkers consider switching beverages.
Tips: When matching headings, ask yourself what the paragraph is mostly about, not what is mentioned briefly.
Why the other options are wrong:
- The spreading tea: The paragraph mentions tea becoming popular, but the main focus is changing tastes, not how widely tea is sold. This is a partial truth trap.
- Reducing cancer risks: Health benefits are mentioned, but only as a reason for the trend. The paragraph is not mainly about cancer. This is an example-as-main-idea trap.
- Changes of tastes for drinks: While changing tastes are described, the paragraph also introduces the historical context of tea, connecting its rise to health research and cultural shifts. This is a partial truth trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- sophisticated = more refined
- chic = fashionable
Question Focus: Main idea - growth and wider availability of tea
Passage Reference: . Tea is available in more places than ever. “Tea was one of the most prolific beverage categories in 1999,” with 24 per cent more products offered over the previous year, reports Tom Vierhile of Marketing Intelligence Service, which tracks food and beverage trends. And the Tea Association of the United States reports that from 1990 to 1999, annual sales of the drink grew to $4.6 billion from $1.8 billion. “Green tea is seen by consumers as a 'functional food’ — delivering health benefits beyond sustenance,” says Vierhile.
Why this is correct: The paragraph focuses on how tea has spread widely through increased sales, more products, and greater availability. Statistics are used to show this growth clearly.
Tips: Numbers and statistics often support a main idea like growth or spread.
Why the other options are wrong:
- More varieties to choose from: Product numbers are mentioned, but the main point is growth and spread, not choice. This is a detail-not-main-idea trap.
- Reducing cancer risks: Health benefits are mentioned briefly, but they are not the paragraph's main focus. This is an example-as-main-idea trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- prolific = very common
- sustenance = basic nourishment
Question Focus: Main idea - only certain tea plants provide health benefits
Passage Reference: C. Recently published studies point out that not all brews are created equal. Only teas that come from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis — which, in their raw state are brewed to make green tea, and, with curing, can be turned into oolong and black tea leaves — have been shown to contain health benefits. Other herbal teas and infusions may taste good, yet they do little more than warm up the drinker. But for Camellia sinensis, the evidence is powerful. In a 1998 study, Harvard University researchers found that drinking one cup of black tea a day lowered the risk of heart attack by as much as 44 per cent compared with non-tea drinkers, and other studies have suggested that the antioxidants in these so-called real teas can also prevent cancer.
Why this is correct: This paragraph explains that real health benefits come only from teas made from Camellia sinensis. It contrasts these with herbal teas that do not offer the same benefits.
Tips: If a paragraph explains what something is, a definition-style heading is often correct.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Reducing cancer risks: Cancer prevention is mentioned, but as part of a broader explanation about the plant. This is a partial truth trap.
- Japanese tea: No country-specific focus appears here. This is a wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- brew = make a drink
- antioxidants = substances that protect cells
Question Focus: Main idea - how green tea antioxidants help reduce cancer risk
Passage Reference: D. One such antioxidant in green tea is ECGC, a compound 20 times as powerful as vitamin E and 200 times as powerful as vitamin C. “When people ask me for something good and cheap they can do to reduce their cancer risk, I tell them drink real
Why this is correct: The whole paragraph focuses on cancer risk reduction through green tea antioxidants. The expert quote directly supports this idea.
Tips: Expert quotes usually reinforce the paragraph's main message.
Why the other options are wrong:
- The plant Camellia sinensis: The plant name is not discussed here. This is a wrong focus trap.
- Changes of tastes for drinks: This paragraph is scientific, not about preferences. This is a context shift trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- compound = chemical substance
- powerful = very strong
Question Focus: Main idea - personal experience and opinion about drinking tea
Passage Reference: E. Among those inspired to become a green-tea drinker is Tess Ghilaga, a New York writer who took it up after consulting a nutritionist six years ago. “I’ve never been a coffee drinker,” says Ghilaga, 33. “She told me to start drinking green tea for the antioxidant properties.” Now Ghilaga and her husband routinely brew tea — they order theirs from InPursuitofTea.com, an Internet tea company. And although tea contains about half the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee, “you still get a nice buzz from it,” says Ghilaga.
Why this is correct: This paragraph centers on one woman's personal experience and opinion about tea. Her quotes and habits are the main content.
Tips: If a paragraph focuses on one person, the heading is often personal.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Reducing cancer risks: Health is mentioned, but only as her reason. This is an example-as-main-idea trap.
- Where to find it: Buying tea online is a small detail, not the main focus. This is a detail trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- routinely = regularly
- buzz = light feeling of energy
Question Focus: Main idea - wide selection of tea offered in cafes and restaurants
Passage Reference: .
F. Restaurants and coffee bars are also getting in on the act. “In restaurants nowadays, you’re a lot less likely to be offered a pitcher of hot water and a tea bag if you order tea after a meal,” says Sebastian Beckwith of InPursuitofTea.com. At a Los Angeles coffee bar Urth Caffe, customers can select from 65 varieties of tea, coming from countries as diverse as China, Japan, India, and Iran, and enjoy a pot of tea for about the price of a gourmet coffee $2.50 for a small pot and $3.50 for a large. “The tea experience is the exact opposite of the coffee experience,” says Urth Caffe co-founder Shallom Berkman, explaining the beverage’s newfound popularity. “Coffee jars you with its caffeine; tea is more nurturing and soothing, and people seem to be looking for that now.” That could add up to lots of green for those who make their living in tea.
Why this is correct: The paragraph emphasizes the large variety of teas now available in public places. This variety is linked to tea's growing popularity.
Tips: Lists of examples often support a heading about variety or range.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Where to find it: Locations are mentioned, but the focus is choice, not addresses. This is a partial truth trap.
- Changes of tastes for drinks: Preferences are discussed, but only to explain variety. This is a supporting-idea trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- varieties = different types
- soothing = calming
Question Focus: Main idea - websites where people can buy or learn about tea
Passage Reference: a.
G. Site, www.alitea.com. Along with green, black, and oolong teas, this company sells a wide variety of herbal teas — and offers a “Tea of the Month” club.
www.teasofgreen.com. This site sells higher-end green, black, and oolong teas and has good tips on proper storage and preparation of tea.
www.tea.com. Tea drinkers can find links to sites offering tea lore, such as articles about tea ceremonies in foreign lands. An exhaustive “frequently asked questions” file rounds out
Why this is correct: This paragraph lists websites where tea can be bought or information can be found. It is clearly about locations and sources.
Tips: Headings about location usually match paragraphs with names, links, or addresses.
Why the other options are wrong:
- More varieties to choose from: Variety exists, but the main purpose is giving sources, not describing types. This is a focus trap.
- Japanese tea: No specific country focus is given. This is a wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- higher-end = more expensive
- lore = traditional knowledge
General Tips:
- Read all headings first and underline key words before reading the paragraphs.
- Always match the heading to the MAIN idea, not one interesting detail.
- Read the first and last sentence carefully - they often show the paragraph's purpose.
- If two headings seem possible, choose the one that covers more of the paragraph.
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