PTE Academic Reading Test 6

For centuries, the tomato was viewed with deep suspicion across much of Europe. Although it had been brought back from the Americas in the sixteenth century, many Europeans believed the fruit to be poisonous. This fear was not entirely unfounded in appearance, as the tomato belongs to the nightshade family, some members of which are genuinely toxic. Wealthy diners, however, faced an additional and unexpected danger. The pewter plates favoured by the aristocracy contained high levels of lead. When acidic foods such as tomatoes were served on them, the acid leached lead from the plates, occasionally causing poisoning. Because poorer households used wooden plates, they were spared this hazard, yet the tomato's grim reputation among the elite persisted. It was only gradually, through its use in southern European cooking, that the tomato gained acceptance. Italian cooks in particular embraced it, incorporating it into sauces that would later become internationally famous. By the eighteenth century, the fruit had begun to shed its sinister image, and today it is one of the most widely consumed foods on the planet. The story serves as a reminder that cultural attitudes towards food are shaped not only by the qualities of the food itself but also by social customs and even the materials used to serve it.

According to the passage, why did some wealthy Europeans become ill after eating tomatoes?

1. A.The tomatoes themselves contained a natural poison.
2. B.The acid in tomatoes drew lead out of their pewter plates.
3. C.They ate tomatoes that had not yet ripened.
4. D.They served tomatoes on wooden plates.

The correct answer is shown in your review when you finish the test.