Question

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World.

B.C.
8000–7000 First planting of wild sugar cane, on the island of New Guinea
6000 Sugar cane reaches the Philippines
1500–900 Sugar cane used in Hindu ceremonies described in oral traditions that date from around this time
515 According to the Greek author Herodotus, the Persians had found what may be sugar cane in what is now India and Pakistan
327 Nearchus, friend of Alexander the Great, again mentions the reed that makes honey without bees, in India
286 First mention of sugar cane in China
What is the purpose of this section of text?

to contrast how different people used sugar
to explain sugar cane’s ceremonial purpose
to compare sugar cane use to honey use
to provide the history of sugar cane use

Answer 1

to provide the history of sugar cane use

This section is a chronological timeline showing where and when sugar cane was planted and mentioned, which summarizes its historical spread and use.