Question

read the passage from sugar changed the world. sugar is different from honey. it offers a stronger sweet flavor, and like steel or plastic, it had to be invented. in the age of sugar, europeans bought a product made thousands of miles away that was less expensive than the honey from down the road. that was possible only because sugar set people in motion all across the world—millions of them as slaves, in chains; a few in search of their fortunes. a perfect taste made possible by the most brutal labor: that is the dark story of sugar. how does the comparison of sugar to honey reveal the authors’ purpose? it persuades readers that sugar tastes better than honey. it informs readers that there is a connection between slavery and sugar. it informs readers that honey had a major impact on society. it persuades readers that sugar is as important an invention as steel.

Explanation:

To determine the answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage doesn't focus on persuading readers that sugar tastes better than honey; it's about the historical impact of sugar, so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: The comparison of sugar to honey (along with the mention of sugar's role in the slave trade) helps inform readers about the connection between slavery and sugar. The passage states that sugar's availability (compared to honey) led to the use of slaves, showing this connection.
• Option 3: The comparison to honey doesn't directly inform about honey's impact on society; it's about sugar's role, so this is incorrect.
• Option 4: The passage isn't persuading readers that sugar is as important as steel; it's about sugar's historical context, especially related to slavery, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. It informs readers that there is a connection between slavery and sugar.