1. For what purpose does the author include the second paragraph?
(A) is correct. The author claims that items that seem unremarkable today might once have altered the course of history. Many facts are provided to show how we started off from the nutmeg trade and arrived at the treaty.


2. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as a reason for the initial interest of the Netherlands in the Banda Islands?
A) Increased economic competition with Britain -Incorrect. No such mention in the passage.
B) Subjugation of the native people -Incorrect. This is the method by which they established a monopoly. It isn't the reason for their initial interest.
C) An opportunity to expand to a new geographical market-Incorrect. This could be inferred if the Dutch were introducing a commodity in the Banda Islands. But they were looking to capture the nutmeg trade.
D) A failure to cultivate nutmeg in other locations-Incorrect. Not mentioned in passage.
E) The desire to restrict access to a commodity -Correct. The word 'monopoly' is reworded here. This was the reason for their initial interest.

3. The author mentions that nutmeg became a luxury item in the European market in order to
(A), (D) and (E) are incorrect as they aren't mentioned in the passage. (B) and (C) look similar.

(B) should be the answer as it comes first chronologically. Unless the Dutch wasn't interested in capturing the market for nutmeg, they wouldn't decide on obtaining a monopoly on its importation.