1 View

Question : Comprehension:
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Before the advent of soap, the primary cleansing agent in ancient India was taken from soap nuts (reetha) from the plant Sapindus saponaria. The literal translation of Sapindus is sap = soap and indus = India. In other words, soap from India!

The nut was used in ancient China as well and its usage spread from India to Middle Asia and then Europe. Soap nuts are boiled to soften them up, and then crushed to filter out the essence which contains the all-important cleansing chemicals. It lathers but in small quantities. Ancient India also used shikai or shikakai (a variant of the acacia plant) as a hair and body cleanser.

The skincare routines of ancient Indians involved the addition of a variety of herbs such as turmeric, tulsi (holy basil), neem (bark and leaves), lotus petals and sandalwood paste amongst others which were common ingredients in their skincare creams.

Another worth mentioning soap in skin care is the Aleppo soap, which originated from the Syrian city of Aleppo. This is considered one of the purest soaps as it is made with all natural ingredients. Aleppo soap does not dry out the skin. It also moisturises and nourishes the skin and is purported to benefit a host of skin problems such as eczema, skin breakouts, inflammatory skin conditions, insect bites, and skin infections. However, the exact origin of the soap is lost in time with the earliest written record dating as far back as the 8th Century AD. After the Crusades, European nations adopted Aleppo soap and started producing their own variations. However, the ancient city of Aleppo thrived on trade for thousands of years, famous for being the endpoint of the illustrious Silk Road trade route that bridged the East and the West.

Generations of merchant families and manufacturers made the unique soap for thousands of years and the formulation has remained surprisingly unchanged in all this time retaining its original form. Olive oil, sweet bay (laurel) oil, sodium hydroxide and water are the main ingredients of this soap. Bay (Laurus nobilis) has remarkable antibacterial and antifungal properties, and could explain some of the benefits of this soap in conditions such as acne, insect bites and skin infections.

Question:
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

Option 1: Olive oil, sweet bay (laurel) oil, sodium hydroxide, and water are the main ingredients of this soap.

Option 2: Aleppo soap is beneficial in a number of skin problems, like eczema, skin breakouts, etc.

Option 3: The ancient city of Aleppo thrived on the trade of their creams for thousands of years.

Option 4: After the Crusades, European nations adopted Aleppo soap and started producing their own variations.


Team Careers360 16th Jan, 2024
Answer (1)
Team Careers360 21st Jan, 2024

Correct Answer: The ancient city of Aleppo thrived on the trade of their creams for thousands of years.


Solution : The correct choice is the third option.

The passage mentions Aleppo soap being a significant trade commodity, but it doesn't specifically refer to the city thriving on the trade of creams. The focus is on Aleppo soap being a product traded due to the city's position as the endpoint of the Silk Road, but there's no mention of creams being a pivotal trade item from Aleppo.

Therefore, the incorrect statement is: "The ancient city of Aleppo thrived on the trade of their creams for thousands of years."

Know More About

Related Questions

TOEFL ® Registrations 2024
Apply
Accepted by more than 11,000 universities in over 150 countries worldwide
Manipal Online M.Com Admissions
Apply
Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University
View All Application Forms

Download the Careers360 App on your Android phone

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

150M+ Students
30,000+ Colleges
500+ Exams
1500+ E-books