entrating between ney betails and 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. D Ambergris has a briny sealike taste. Fresh meat and fish were easy to find. D Only the very rish could afford luxuries. A myth is often repeated in books.

## Step 1<br />The first step in solving this problem is to understand the central idea of the passage. The passage discusses the popularity of spices and dispels the myth that they were used to mask the taste of spoiled meat or fish. The author argues that spices were popular because they added flavor to food, not because they hid the taste of spoiled food.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Next, we need to identify the key details that support this central idea. The author provides several examples to support this argument. For instance, the author states that spices could not disguise bad meat, which supports the idea that spices were not used to mask the taste of spoiled food.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The author also mentions that fresh meat and fish were easy to find, which supports the idea that spices were not used to mask the taste of spoiled food.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The author also points out that only the very rich could afford luxuries like ambergris, which supports the idea that spices were not used to mask the taste of spoiled food.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Finally, the author mentions that a myth is often repeated in books, which supports the idea that the myth that spices were used to mask the taste of spoiled food is not true.