Comprehension – The History of Alcohol
Today’s comprehension passage is about the history of alcohol.
In this passage, you will hear the following vocabulary:
- Consume – to use or to drink
- Historian – someone who studies history
- Evidence – proof
For example:
His crying was evidence of his sadness.
- Brew – cook for a long time
- Beverage – a drink
- Social gathering – many people together
- Laws – rules in society
- Occasion – a special time like a birthday
- Spread – to cover a large area
- Millennium – 1000 years
- Common Era – the current period of time
- Restricted – not allowed
- Wealthy – to have a lot of money
- Segment – a part or a piece
- Century – 100 years
- Excessively – too much
- Illegal – not allowed by society
Listen to the following passage carefully.
No one knows when alcohol was first created or consumed but most historians believe it to have been created by accident. Evidence shows that alcohol was brewed in the Middle East as early as 2000 BC mainly for medical purposes. With time, it came to be a beverage enjoyed at social gatherings. As its popularity grew, so did the need for laws to control its use. Written laws in ancient China and many parts of the ancient Middle East were created stating that alcohol should be consumed only at special occasions.
Alcohol came to be seen as a spiritual symbol of Christianity. Because of this, its use was spread throughout Europe during the first millennium of the Common Era. However, the use of alcohol was mainly restricted to the wealthy people in society.
As societies grew, alcohol became available to all segments of society. Until the 18th century, alcohol was seen as a health drink (unless used excessively). The 19th century changed this attitude. Alcohol came to be seen as a social problem. This led many areas of the world to create laws making alcohol illegal.
Today, varieties of alcohol are enjoyed in all countries of the world.
------
Questions
Now, please respond to these multiple choice questions.
Question 1:
Alcohol was created
a) by the Chinese.
b) by accident.
c) by the Europeans.
Question 2:
Alcohol was first used
a) for religious purposes.
b) for medical purposes.
c) at social gatherings.
Question 3:
As more people began drinking, society created
a) laws.
b) bars.
c) more beverages.
Question 4:
Ancient laws stated that
a) alcohol should be used only in religious ceremonies.
b) alcohol should be used only at special occasions.
c) alcohol should not be used.
Question 5:
What caused the spread of alcohol in Europe?
a) war
b) business
c) religion
Question 6:
Who could drink alcohol at this time?
a) everyone
b) only religious people
c) only wealthy people
Question 7:
In the 19th century, alcohol was seen as
a) a social problem
b) a health drink
c) a good business product
Question 8:
The last sentence of the story uses the word variety. What does variety mean?
a) bottles
b) different types
c) two of anything