Read the given passage and answer the six questions that follow.
On a chilly winter evening, nothing warms you up better than a cup of hot cocoa. Chocolate was first consumed in liquid form by the Olmec people of northwestern Central America around 1500 BCE. It was even enjoyed by the Aztec Emperor Montezuma, and the Aztec word for it (xocolatl, pronounced shoh-kwah-tl) evolved into the English word Chocolate.
But the Aztecs didn’t serve their cocoa hot. And since sugar had not yet arrived from Europe, back then, the drink was often flavoured with peppers and spices. It may not have been quite as indulgent as today’s version, but it was more palatable if you believed, as the Aztecs did, that chocolate was a gift from the Gods and had healing properties.
After the Spanish arrived in the Americas in the 1500s, liquid chocolate made its way across the pond, where wealthy Europeans added sugar and drank it warm. In Chocolate: History, Culture and Heritage, author Bertram Gordon says hot chocolate became ‘‘the beverage of the aristocracy,’’ as sugar was still a luxury.
Soon enough, though, hot choclate caught on with the masses. Chocolate houses — a cross between cafes and casinos — started popping up around 17th-century Europe. In these lively places, hot chocolate was poured from gilded pots into elegant cups (for a posh experience, one can still find it today at the famed Parisian tearoom Angelina’s, which is also in New York City). But by the end of the 18th century, chocolate houses had mostly died off, partly because the cost of chocolate was much higher than that of coffee or tea.
Taking a tour of international cups of cocoa, Italians serve it like a thick pudding. Colombians serve it with a dollop of soft cheese while Mexicans punch it up with vanilla, chilli powder and cinnamon. And Filipinos serve it with mango chunks.
Coffea Arabica is the most sold variety of coffee worldwide.
Context: Coffea Arabica is the most popular and widely consumed variety of coffee across the globe. Known for its smooth flavor and aromatic qualities, Arabica coffee beans make up the majority of global coffee production and sales.
Characteristics of Coffea Arabica: Arabica coffee beans are generally considered to have a milder taste compared to other coffee varieties, such as Robusta. They are known for their delicate, fruity, and slightly acidic flavor profile, making them a favorite among coffee enthusiasts worldwide.
Global Popularity: Coffea Arabica is responsible for approximately 60-70% of the world's coffee production. It is grown primarily in higher altitudes in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica, where the climate conditions are ideal for its cultivation.
Final Thought: Due to its superior taste and popularity, Coffea Arabica remains the most sold and consumed coffee variety globally, shaping coffee culture in many countries.
The question asks which species of coffee has more than two copies of each chromosome. This relates to the concept of polyploidy in biology, where an organism has more than two paired (homologous) sets of chromosomes. Arabica coffee is known to have this characteristic.
Arabica (Coffea arabica) is an allotetraploid, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes, which is more than the diploid number found in species like Coffea eugenioides and Robusta (Coffea canephora). Coffea eugenioides and Robusta typically have two copies of each chromosome (diploid).
Therefore, the correct answer is Arabica, which is a polyploid coffee species.
Coffea Arabica is polyploid, meaning it has more than two copies of each chromosome.
Context: Coffea Arabica, the most popular variety of coffee, is polyploid, which means it has multiple sets of chromosomes. Unlike most organisms that are diploid (with two copies of each chromosome), polyploid organisms have more than two sets, which can influence their genetic diversity and characteristics.
Polyploidy in Coffea Arabica: Coffea Arabica is a hybrid species, resulting from the interbreeding of two other coffee species: Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides. As a result of this hybridization, Arabica coffee has four sets of chromosomes instead of the typical two, making it a tetraploid species.
Implications of Polyploidy: The polyploid nature of Coffea Arabica contributes to its genetic stability and may influence its resilience, flavor profile, and adaptability to different growing conditions. Polyploid species often have increased genetic variation, which can result in greater biodiversity and improved characteristics in crops.
Final Thought: The polyploid nature of Coffea Arabica plays a crucial role in its widespread cultivation and popularity, offering benefits in terms of genetic diversity and coffee quality.
To determine the correct statement about Coffea Arabica, let's analyze the provided options based on what is generally known about its characteristics:
Based on this analysis, the statement "It displays the phenomenon of polyploidy." is true about Coffea Arabica.
Coffea Arabica displays the phenomenon of polyploidy.
Context: Coffea Arabica is known for exhibiting the phenomenon of polyploidy, which refers to the presence of more than two sets of chromosomes in an organism. This characteristic sets Coffea Arabica apart from many other coffee species and contributes to its unique genetic makeup.
Polyploidy in Coffea Arabica: Coffea Arabica is a tetraploid species, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes, compared to the typical two sets found in diploid species. This is the result of a natural hybridization event between two other coffee species, Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides.
Significance of Polyploidy: Polyploidy in Coffea Arabica enhances its genetic diversity and stability, which can improve its adaptability to different growing conditions. Additionally, polyploidy can contribute to desirable traits such as increased size and resilience, which makes Arabica coffee a preferred variety for many consumers.
Final Thought: The polyploid nature of Coffea Arabica is a key factor in its cultivation and widespread popularity, influencing both its genetic characteristics and its suitability for global coffee production.
The origin of various coffee species can be complex, but Coffea Arabica is known to be a relatively recent hybrid. It is a cross between Coffea Canephora (commonly known as Robusta) and Coffea Eugenioides. This natural hybridization is believed to have occurred only within the last 50,000 years. In contrast, other coffee species like Robusta and Eugenioides have ancient lineages that stretch back much further.
Coffea Arabica developed as a hybrid in the last 50,000 years.
Context: Coffea Arabica, the most widely consumed coffee species, developed as a hybrid relatively recently in geological terms. This hybridization occurred within the last 50,000 years and has contributed to its unique characteristics and widespread popularity.
Hybridization of Coffea Arabica: Coffea Arabica is the result of the interbreeding between two species: Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides. This hybridization process occurred naturally and led to the development of a new species with enhanced traits, such as improved flavor and higher resilience compared to its parent species.
Significance of Hybridization: The hybrid nature of Coffea Arabica gives it a distinct genetic profile, which not only makes it more adaptable to different environmental conditions but also contributes to the smooth, aromatic flavor that is favored by coffee drinkers worldwide. The hybridization also played a role in its dominance in coffee markets globally.
Final Thought: The hybridization of Coffea Arabica within the last 50,000 years has played a significant role in its development, leading to the emergence of a coffee species that is both genetically unique and commercially valuable.
To determine which type of variability is not very high for Coffea Arabica, we analyze the options provided:
The correct answer is Variability at the DNA level. Generally, Coffea Arabica exhibits relatively low DNA-level variability compared to other types of variations mentioned, which affects its adaptability and resilience.
Coffea Arabica has low variability at the DNA level.
Context: Coffea Arabica, although a hybrid species, exhibits relatively low genetic variability compared to other coffee species. This is due to its polyploid nature, where the four sets of chromosomes result in less genetic diversity at the DNA level.
Genetic Characteristics of Coffea Arabica: As a tetraploid species, Coffea Arabica has a more stable genetic structure compared to diploid species like Coffea canephora (Robusta). While this stability is beneficial for maintaining consistent traits, it also means that there is less genetic variation within the species, which can make it more vulnerable to disease and environmental changes.
Implications of Low Variability: The low genetic variability in Coffea Arabica limits the potential for rapid adaptation to changing environmental conditions or new threats. However, it also ensures that the high-quality traits associated with Arabica coffee, such as its smooth flavor and aroma, are preserved across generations.
Final Thought: While the low genetic variability in Coffea Arabica provides consistency in flavor and quality, it also presents challenges in terms of resilience and adaptability. This characteristic is an important factor in the cultivation and breeding of Arabica coffee.
To identify the factually incorrect statement from the given options, let's analyze each one based on general botanical and genetic knowledge related to coffee plants, specifically Coffea Arabica, a widely cultivated species of coffee:
Thus, the statement that is factually incorrect is: Due to its genetic make-up, novel mutations do not occur in the species Coffea Arabica.
Novel mutations do occur in Coffea Arabica, despite its genetic make-up.
Context: Although Coffea Arabica has relatively low genetic variability due to its polyploid nature, novel mutations can still occur. These mutations contribute to small changes in its genetic make-up, which may influence various traits such as disease resistance, yield, and flavor characteristics.
Mutations in Coffea Arabica: Mutations are random genetic changes that can happen over time, even in species with low variability. In Coffea Arabica, these mutations can lead to new variations in traits, some of which may offer advantages, such as improved resistance to pests or environmental stresses.
Impact of Mutations: While the genetic stability of Coffea Arabica ensures consistency in its high-quality coffee production, the occurrence of novel mutations can introduce beneficial traits or unexpected challenges. These mutations may allow for the development of new coffee varieties, or in some cases, lead to unforeseen vulnerabilities.
Final Thought: Despite its low genetic variability, Coffea Arabica is not immune to novel mutations, which can play an important role in the evolution of the species, affecting everything from disease resistance to flavor profiles and growth characteristics.
Read the sentence and infer the writer's tone: "The politician's speech was filled with lofty promises and little substance, a performance repeated every election season."