Question

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World.

The Hindu writings tell us of a religion in which fire was extremely important. People believed that the gods gave fire to human beings. Yet fire was also a way for humans to reach the gods. By placing offerings in a special fire, a priest could turn them into smoke and send them on to the gods. Five ingredients were selected for this special burning: milk, cheese, butter, honey, and sugar cane.

Which inference does this passage support?

For sacrifices to gods, ancient Hindus chose materials that burned easily.
Sugar cane was the most important material that ancient Hindus sacrificed.
If fire was important to ancient Hindus, then food must have been important.
Hindu people must have valued the five substances they used as sacrifices.

Answer 1

Hindu people must have valued the five substances they used as sacrifices.

The passage says those five items were "selected" for special offerings to the gods, which implies they were valued. The other choices add details not supported by the text (that they burned easily, that sugar cane was the most important, or that fire’s importance automatically makes food important).