Question

differentiating between key details and minor details
even though one book after another repeats this myth, the popularity of spices had nothing to do with disguising the taste of meat or fish that had gone bad. any lord who could afford spices (which were expensive) could easily get fresh meat or fish (which were readily available); and when a cook happened to be stuck with rancid food, the spices he had available could not hide the awful smell or taste. whenever they could, people used the spices that were so popular, they became an expensive necessity: pepper, ginger, sugar, sometimes saffron. only the very rich could afford the luxuries—such as ambergris (which is coughed up by whales and offers a strange, perfumy taste of the sea).
—sugar changed the world, marc aronson and marina budhos
the central idea in this passage is that spices were popular because they were flavorful, not because they helped people eat spoiled food. which ideas are key details supporting this? check all that apply.

• spices could not disguise bad meat.
• ambergris has a briny, sealike taste.
• fresh meat and fish were easy to find.
• only the very rich could afford luxuries.
• a myth is often repeated in books.

Explanation:

To determine key details supporting the central idea (spices were popular for flavor, not hiding spoiled food), we analyze each option:

• "Spices could not disguise bad meat": Matches the passage's claim that spices couldn't hide rancid food's smell/taste.
• "Ambergris has a briny, sealike taste": This is about ambergris' taste, not related to spices hiding spoiled food or their popularity reason.
• "Fresh meat and fish were easy to find": Supports that lords who could afford spices (expensive) could get fresh meat/fish, so no need to use spices for spoiled food.
• "Only the very rich could afford luxuries": The passage focuses on spices' purpose (flavor) and fresh meat availability, not luxury affordability in general.
• "A myth is often repeated in books": The passage starts with this, but it's a setup, not a key detail supporting the central idea about spices' popularity reason.

Answer:

• Spices could not disguise bad meat.
• Fresh meat and fish were easy to find.