Coffee is now one of the most popular drinks in the world, but its early history is not completely clear. A well-known story says that a goat herder in Ethiopia noticed that his goats became very lively after eating the red fruit of a certain plant. Whether or not this is true, coffee was being grown in Yemen by the fifteenth century, and from there it spread to Makkah, Cairo and Istanbul. Coffee houses became places where people met to talk, play games and listen to music. Later, traders carried coffee to Europe, where some people first met it with suspicion, but it soon became fashionable. Today, coffee is grown in many warm countries, including Brazil, which produces more than any other country. Many people drink it to feel awake, while others simply enjoy the taste.
Question: Why does the writer say 'Whether or not this is true'?
- To prove that the story is false
- To argue that coffee began in Ethiopia
- To warn readers about coffee
- To show that the story is uncertain but later facts are clearer
Show answer
Correct answer: To show that the story is uncertain but later facts are clearer
The writer doubts the story but then gives clearer facts, such as coffee growing in Yemen.
Test structure: ETEC information about STEP
Questions last reviewed: 21 October 2026