IELTS Simulator #1 - Reading Practice Test

The History of Coffee

A The history of coffee dates back to the 15th century, and possibly earlier with a number of reports and legends surrounding its first use. The native (undomesticated) origin of coffee is thought to have been Ethiopia. The earliest substantiated evidence of either coffee drinking or knowledge of the coffee tree is from the early 15th century, in the Sufi monasteries of Yemen, spreading soon to Mecca and Cairo. By the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, South India (Kerala), Persia, Turkey, the Horn of Africa, and northern Africa. Coffee then spread to the Balkans, Italy, and to the rest of Europe, as well as Southeast Asia and then to America.

B The word "coffee" entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch koffie, borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish kahve, in turn borrowed from the Arabic qahwah. The Arabic word qahwah traditionally referred to a type of wine, whose etymology is given by Arab lexicographers as deriving from the verb qahā, meaning "to lack hunger", in reference to the drink's reputation as an appetite suppressant.

C The energizing effect of the coffee bean plant is thought to have been discovered in the Ethiopian highlands, and the cultivation of coffee first expanded in the Arab world. The earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking in the form of the modern beverage appears in modern-day Yemen from the mid-15th century in Sufi shrines, where coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed in a manner similar to current methods. The Yemenis obtained the coffee beans from the Ethiopian highlands via coastal Somali intermediaries and began cultivation. By the 16th century, the drink had reached the rest of the Middle East and North Africa. From there, it spread to Europe and the rest of the world.

D As the 20th century began, coffee became a much more global commodity. The invention of instant coffee in 1901 and the rise of commercial coffee brands like Maxwell House and Folgers in the United States helped fuel coffee consumption worldwide. In the 1960s, a movement toward specialty coffee began, with the founding of Peet's Coffee in Berkeley, California, in 1966 and Starbucks in Seattle in 1971. These companies emphasized high-quality beans and artisanal roasting methods, creating what is now known as the "second wave" of coffee.

E The health effects of coffee have been extensively studied, and the general consensus among health experts is that moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial for healthy adults. However, the diterpenes in coffee may increase the risk of heart disease. Coffee appears to protect against certain types of cancers, including liver and colorectal cancer. Some studies suggest coffee consumption reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease, dementia, and type 2 diabetes.

F Coffee cultivation requires specific conditions: it is grown in a band around the middle of the world, between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, known as the "coffee belt". Coffee plants are susceptible to various pests and diseases, the most serious being coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease. The two most commonly grown coffee bean types are C. arabica (Arabica) and C. canephora (Robusta). Arabica beans are considered to have a superior taste, while Robusta beans are hardier and more resistant to disease.

G The environmental impact of coffee cultivation has grown in recent decades. Traditional shade-grown coffee preserves biodiversity and provides habitat for many species. However, sun cultivation (removing forest canopy to increase yields) has become more common, leading to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Sustainable coffee certifications like Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance aim to address these environmental and social concerns.