Ecce reading comprehension

Ask anyone to name an international soft drink and they’ll probably say Coca-Cola. It is sold in stores,

restaurants and vending machines in over two hundred countries. In fact, it is estimated that 7.2 billion liters

are sold every year. Like McDonald’s, it is considered to be a symbol of America, and American economic

power throughout the world. In Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands Report, Coca-Cola was shown to be

the world’s most valuable brand. When Coca-Cola was invented by John Pemberton in 1887, it was originally intended as a medicine. However, a year later the rights to Coca-Cola were purchased by Asa Griggs Candler, whose aggressive marketing tactics laid the foundations for Coke’s 20th century dominance of the soft-drink market in

America and the rest of the world. The Coca-Cola company still manufactures the “concentrate”, that is, a syrup-like mixture of the drink’s main ingredients. It then sends this substance to licensed bottlers all over the world, whose role is to produce the finished product from the concentrate, by mixing it with filtered water and

sweeteners. They then promote, sell and distribute the drink. Each of these bottlers holds an exclusive contract with the company to supply Coca-Cola in its designated area. Variations of Coca-Cola have also been made, perhaps the most successful being Diet Coke, which has

been sold since 1982. The company has also produced Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Cherry Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and a range of versions with lemon, lime or coffee. In 1985, a change in the ingredients led to the launch of “New Coke”; it was an utter failure, however, and was withdrawn within months.

What is true of Coca-Cola today?

• Over 7 billion cans are sold annually.

• Its main rival is McDonald’s.

• It is one of the planet’s most recognizable

  brands.

• It is the world’s second most valuable

  brand

Ask anyone to name an international soft drink and they’ll probably say Coca-Cola. It is sold in stores,

restaurants and vending machines in over two hundred countries. In fact, it is estimated that 7.2 billion liters

are sold every year. Like McDonald’s, it is considered to be a symbol of America, and American economic

power throughout the world. In Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands Report, Coca-Cola was shown to be

the world’s most valuable brand. When Coca-Cola was invented by John Pemberton in 1887, it was originally intended as a medicine. However, a year later the rights to Coca-Cola were purchased by Asa Griggs Candler, whose aggressive marketing tactics laid the foundations for Coke’s 20th century dominance of the soft-drink market in

America and the rest of the world. The Coca-Cola company still manufactures the “concentrate”, that is, a syrup-like mixture of the drink’s main ingredients. It then sends this substance to licensed bottlers all over the world, whose role is to produce the finished product from the concentrate, by mixing it with filtered water and

sweeteners. They then promote, sell and distribute the drink. Each of these bottlers holds an exclusive contract with the company to supply Coca-Cola in its designated area. Variations of Coca-Cola have also been made, perhaps the most successful being Diet Coke, which has

been sold since 1982. The company has also produced Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Cherry Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and a range of versions with lemon, lime or coffee. In 1985, a change in the ingredients led to the launch of “New Coke”; it was an utter failure, however, and was withdrawn within months.

What is said about Coca-Cola in the 19th century?

• It had great success as a medicine.

• It was sold by its creator.

• It was created by Asa Griggs Candler.

• It dominated the soft-drink market.

Ask anyone to name an international soft drink and they’ll probably say Coca-Cola. It is sold in stores,

restaurants and vending machines in over two hundred countries. In fact, it is estimated that 7.2 billion liters

are sold every year. Like McDonald’s, it is considered to be a symbol of America, and American economic

power throughout the world. In Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands Report, Coca-Cola was shown to be

the world’s most valuable brand.

When Coca-Cola was invented by John Pemberton in 1887, it was originally intended as a medicine. However, a year later the rights to Coca-Cola were purchased by Asa Griggs Candler, whose aggressive marketing tactics laid the foundations for Coke’s 20th century dominance of the soft-drink market in America and the rest of the world.

The Coca-Cola company still manufactures the “concentrate”, that is, a syrup-like mixture of the drink’s main ingredients. It then sends this substance to licensed bottlers all over the world, whose role is to produce the finished product from the concentrate, by mixing it with filtered water and sweeteners. They then promote, sell and distribute the drink. Each of these bottlers holds an exclusive contract with the company to supply Coca-Cola in its designated area.

Variations of Coca-Cola have also been made, perhaps the most successful being Diet Coke, which has

been sold since 1982. The company has also produced Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Cherry Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and a range of versions with lemon, lime or coffee. In 1985, a change in the ingredients led to the launch of “New Coke”; it was an utter failure, however, and was withdrawn within months.

In the second sentence of the third paragraph, what

does this substance refer to?

• the concentrate

• the main ingredients, syrup and water

• the concentrate and sweeteners

• the final Coca-Cola product

Ask anyone to name an international soft drink and they’ll probably say Coca-Cola. It is sold in stores,

restaurants and vending machines in over two hundred countries. In fact, it is estimated that 7.2 billion liters

are sold every year. Like McDonald’s, it is considered to be a symbol of America, and American economic power throughout the world. In Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands Report, Coca-Cola was shown to be the world’s most valuable brand.

When Coca-Cola was invented by John Pemberton in 1887, it was originally intended as a medicine. However, a year later the rights to Coca-Cola were purchased by Asa Griggs Candler, whose aggressive marketing tactics laid the foundations for Coke’s 20th century dominance of the soft-drink market in America and the rest of the world.

The Coca-Cola company still manufactures the “concentrate”, that is, a syrup-like mixture of the drink’s main ingredients. It then sends this substance to licensed bottlers all over the world, whose role is to produce the finished product from the concentrate, by mixing it with filtered water and sweeteners. They then promote, sell and distribute the drink. Each of these bottlers holds an exclusive contract with the company to supply Coca-Cola in its designated area.

Variations of Coca-Cola have also been made, perhaps the most successful being Diet Coke, which has

been sold since 1982. The company has also produced Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Cherry Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and a range of versions with lemon, lime or coffee. In 1985, a change in the ingredients led to the launch of “New Coke”; it was an utter failure, however, and was withdrawn within months.

What does a contracted bottler not do?

• produce the concentrate

• add sweeteners to the concentrate

• end Coca-Cola to stores

• advertise the finished product

Ask anyone to name an international soft drink and they’ll probably say Coca-Cola. It is sold in stores,

restaurants and vending machines in over two hundred countries. In fact, it is estimated that 7.2 billion liters

are sold every year. Like McDonald’s, it is considered to be a symbol of America, and American economic

power throughout the world. In Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands Report, Coca-Cola was shown to be

the world’s most valuable brand.

When Coca-Cola was invented by John Pemberton in 1887, it was originally intended as a medicine. However, a year later the rights to Coca-Cola were purchased by Asa Griggs Candler, whose aggressive marketing tactics laid the foundations for Coke’s 20th century dominance of the soft-drink market in America and the rest of the world.

The Coca-Cola company still manufactures the “concentrate”, that is, a syrup-like mixture of the drink’s main ingredients. It then sends this substance to licensed bottlers all over the world, whose role is to produce the finished product from the concentrate, by mixing it with filtered water and sweeteners. They then promote, sell and distribute the drink. Each of these bottlers holds an exclusive contract with the company to supply Coca-Cola in its designated area.

Variations of Coca-Cola have also been made, perhaps the most successful being Diet Coke, which has

been sold since 1982. The company has also produced Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Cherry Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and a range of versions with lemon, lime or coffee. In 1985, a change in the ingredients led to the launch of “New Coke”; it was an utter failure, however, and was withdrawn within months.

Which of these Coca-Cola variations was the least

successful?

• Cherry Cola

• Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola

• New Coke

• Diet Coke