"The
Candy Thermometer"
For real success in candy-making, the home confectioner needs a candy
thermometer. Accuracy is of the greatest
importance in candy-making. Cooking must stop at just the right moment, or the
candy is either harmed or actually spoiled. Until the last few years, for the
amateur, the only tests to determine the completion of cooking have been known
as "thread," "soft ball," "hard ball,"
"crack," and "hard crack." While the candy-maker has been
struggling with these poor tests, the candy has kept on cooking. Before long, it reaches the next stage of
temperature, changes texture, and becomes unfit to use.
The professional confectioner has long been able, by the use of a
thermometer, to determine just how hot his candy was and to remove it at
exactly the right moment. His thermometer, however, was not only too expensive
for the amateur, but also too long.
There are now thermometers that the amateur confectioner or small
manufacturer can use. Even when these can’t be found at the store, they can be
ordered from specialists. The instruments are about nine inches long, and sell
for a few dollars.
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1)
Which of the following is
the main idea of the passage?
a.
Candy thermometers are an important tool for a confectioner.
b.
Candy thermometers are widely available from local cooking
stores.
c.
Candy thermometers can’t replace the “old-fashioned” tests.
d.
Candy thermometers are too expensive and are used only by
specialists.
2)
The author most likely
wrote the above passage for which reason?
a.
to promote his newly invented candy thermometer
b.
to give advice to amateur candy-makers
c.
to persuade readers to buy candy from his store
d.
to improve the quality of large confection manufacturers
3)
Based on the above passage,
what is one reason why amateur candy-makers do not use a thermometer?
a.
It is not sold in any stores
b.
it is too long
c.
it is too hard to read
d.
it is sold by specialists
4)
In the above passage, which
of the following means the same as the word “confectioner”?
a.
candy maker
b.
candy store
c.
candy thermometer
d.
candy machine
5)
Based on his statements in
the above passage, the author would agree with which of the following
statements?
a. “The best
tasting candy is always produced by a professional.”
b.
“Amateur candy-makers can greatly benefit from having
the right tools.”
c. “Candy is
not as bad for you as most people think it is.”
d. “Amateur confectioners
can produce candy at much lower costs.”
Answer Key
1)
Which of the
following is the main idea of the passage?
a.
Candy
thermometers are an important tool for a confectioner.
b.
Candy thermometers are widely available from
local cooking stores.
c.
Candy thermometers can’t replace the “old-fashioned”
tests.
d.
Candy thermometers are too expensive and are used
only by specialists.
2)
The author
most likely wrote the above passage for which reason?
a.
to promote his newly invented candy
thermometer
b.
to give advice to
amateur candy-makers
c.
to persuade readers to buy candy from his
store
d.
to improve the quality of large confection
manufacturers
3)
Based on the
above passage, what is one reason why amateur candy-makers do not use a
thermometer?
a.
It is not sold in any stores
b.
it is too long
c.
it is too hard to read
d.
it is sold by specialists
4)
In the above
passage, which of the following means the same as the word “confectioner”?
a.
candy maker
b.
candy store
c.
candy thermometer
d.
candy machine
5)
Based on his
statements in the above passage, the author would agree with which of the
following statements?
a. “The
best tasting candy is always produced by a professional.”
b.
“Amateur
candy-makers can greatly benefit from having the right tools.”
c. “Candy
is not as bad for you as most people think it is.”
d. “Amateur
confectioners can produce candy at much lower costs.”