A Brief History of Humans and Food

Passage preview

During the journey from our hunter-gatherer ancestors to the present day, there have been three seismic changes that have impacted the food we eat: the discovery of cooking, the emergence of agriculture, and the invention of methods of preserving food.

Vocabulary from this passage

10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.

advent noun

The arrival, creation, or introduction of a highly notable event, invention, person, or historical era.

The advent of the internet fundamentally transformed communication and information sharing worldwide.

expend verb

To consume, spend, or use up resources, time, or physical energy in order to accomplish a task.

Athletes expend a tremendous amount of physical energy during high-intensity training sessions.

fabricate verb

To manufacture, construct, or assemble components or materials into a finished physical object or structure.

The aerospace company plans to fabricate lightweight components using advanced carbon fiber materials.

herbivorous adjective

An animal or organism that feeds exclusively or primarily on plants, vegetation, and foliage for its survival.

Deer and elephants are herbivorous mammals that rely on forest foliage for sustenance.

hostile environment noun

An ecological or situational setting characterized by conditions that are extremely unfavorable or dangerous for survival.

The desert presents a hostile environment for organisms not adapted to extreme heat.

inedible adjective

Unfit or unsafe to be eaten, often due to the presence of natural toxins, tough textures, or decay.

Certain wild mushrooms contain poisonous compounds that render them completely inedible to humans.

seasonality noun

Regular, predictable fluctuations or variations that occur within a system or industry over specific periods of the year.

The agricultural sector must carefully manage the inherent seasonality of fruit and vegetable crops.

secondary compound noun

Chemical substances produced by plants that are not essential for basic growth but function primarily as defensive agents.

Plants synthesize secondary compounds to deter predators by altering their taste or toxicity.

seismic change noun

A sudden, massive, and highly significant shift or disruption within a specific system, field, or societal framework.

The digital revolution brought a seismic change to how global businesses operate daily.

specialization noun

The process of focusing on and developing expert knowledge or skills in a specific limited field or activity.

Economic growth often leads to labor specialization, where individuals master specific technical roles.

Answers with explanations

1. 1. FALSE

   The statement claims that cooking was the most significant development in human history. However, the passage explicitly states that Charles Darwin considered cooking to be the greatest discovery **after language**. This indicates that language was deemed more important, which directly contradicts the claim. Therefore, the statement is **FALSE**.

2. 2. TRUE

   The passage details that cooking transforms inedible plants into food by **destroying toxic chemicals** that are produced as defenses. This description directly supports the claim that the process of cooking gets rid of some plant poisons. Because the text explicitly validates the statement, the answer is **TRUE**.

3. 2-3: NOT GIVEN

   2: The passage details that cooking transforms inedible plants into food by **destroying toxic chemicals** that are produced as defenses. This description directly supports the claim that the process of cooking gets rid of some plant poisons. Because the text explicitly validates the statement, the answer is **TRUE**.

   3: The text explains that cooking replaces the physical energy needed to chew tough foods with external energy from cooking fuel. As a consequence, the **ratio of energy gained to energy expended** by the body becomes greater. This confirms that eating cooked food is more energy efficient than eating it raw, making the statement **TRUE**.

4. 3. TRUE

   The text explains that cooking replaces the physical energy needed to chew tough foods with external energy from cooking fuel. As a consequence, the **ratio of energy gained to energy expended** by the body becomes greater. This confirms that eating cooked food is more energy efficient than eating it raw, making the statement **TRUE**.

5. 3-4: NO

   3: The text explains that cooking replaces the physical energy needed to chew tough foods with external energy from cooking fuel. As a consequence, the **ratio of energy gained to energy expended** by the body becomes greater. This confirms that eating cooked food is more energy efficient than eating it raw, making the statement **TRUE**.

   4: The text mentions that frozen fish was transported from Australia to England, and introduces Clarence Birdseye in the subsequent sentence as the founder of the modern frozen food industry. However, there is no mention of whether Birdseye ever worked in the **Australian food industry**. Since this information is completely missing, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.

6. 4. NOT GIVEN

   The text mentions that frozen fish was transported from Australia to England, and introduces Clarence Birdseye in the subsequent sentence as the founder of the modern frozen food industry. However, there is no mention of whether Birdseye ever worked in the **Australian food industry**. Since this information is completely missing, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.

7. 5. FALSE

   The statement claims that Birdseye's trip confirmed what he already believed. However, the text explicitly notes that his observation regarding rapid freezing and smaller ice crystals was **a discovery he had not expected**. This directly contradicts the idea that it confirmed a pre-existing belief, so the answer is **FALSE**.

8. 6. populations

   The note mentions the development of equipment, which corresponds to the passage's mention of **new tools**. The note outlines that this brought about larger groups of humans, which aligns with the text stating that **populations increased in size**. The gap requires a plural noun, making **populations** the correct fit.

9. 7. records

   The prompt describes the impact of agriculture on record-keeping. The passage mentions that the development of more sophisticated writing allowed people to **maintain records**. The verb 'maintain' functions as a keyword bridge to 'keep'. The correct grammatical form is a plural noun, which is **records**.

10. 8. salt

    The note lists early methods of food preservation, including smoking, drying, and combining food with acid. The text provides a list containing 'smoking, drying, adding acid... or adding salt'. The phrase 'combining food with' matches 'adding'. The required grammatical form is a singular noun, so **salt** is the correct answer.

11. 9. glass

    The note focuses on the material Nicolas Appert used for his food containers. According to the text, he sealed food in 'bottles fabricated from glass'. The phrase 'fabricated from' maps directly onto 'made of' in the note prompt. The required form is a singular material noun, which is **glass**.

12. 10. texture

    The note states that Appert's method produced preserved food with the same taste and another characteristic as fresh food. The text notes that the **flavor and texture** were similar to fresh items. Since 'flavor' connects to 'taste', the missing property is the singular noun **texture**.

13. 11. lightweight

    The sentence describes the structural advantages of Peter Durand's cans. The text states that previous containers were too heavy, but Durand's were **lightweight** and 'resistant to damage', which maps to 'hard to break'. The missing word must be an adjective, fulfilling the sentence structure as **lightweight**.

14. 12. chisel

    The note states that in 1855, the metal can opener replaced another tool. The text reveals that before the can opener was invented, **cans were opened with a chisel and hammer**. This implies that the can opener replaced the **chisel**. The answer requires a singular noun, which fits the grammatical structure and satisfies the word limit.

15. 13. meat

    The completion task requires an example of an old can of a specific type of food that remained edible over a long period. The text explicitly mentions a can containing **meat** from 1824 that was opened in 1939 and found in good condition. The required form is a singular noun, making **meat** the correct answer.

Related passages

• The history of the picnic
• A Brief History of Ballet
• Socotra Island
• Fishbourne Roman Palace
• An important language development
• Sydney Opera House