Question

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World.

In the 1100s, the richest Europeans slowly began to add more flavor to their food—because of a series of fairs and wars. A smart count in the Champagne region of France guaranteed the safety of any merchant coming to sell or trade at the markets in the lord's lands. Soon word spread, and the fairs flourished. Starting around 1150, the six Champagne fairs became the one place where Europeans could buy and sell products from the surrounding world—a first step in connecting them to the riches and tastes beyond. Fortress Europe was slowly opening up.

How do the details in this passage support the central idea?

The details provide examples of how France gradually became a place for worldwide trade.
The details describe the various measures that were taken to keep the merchants safe.
The details explain why Europe immediately welcomed foreign traders to its marketplaces.
The details describe how a series of wars brought about the downfall of a European fortress.

Answer 1

The first choice. The passage’s details (the count guaranteeing merchant safety, the fairs flourishing, and the six Champagne fairs becoming a hub for buying goods from the wider world) illustrate how France’s fairs gradually opened Europe to outside trade and tastes.