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The American colonists were less interested in maple syrup than in gra
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12 Jan 2026, 05:14
12 Jan 2026, 05:14
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The American colonists were less interested in maple syrup than in granular sugar. The pure, white, crystallized product of sugar cane was still an expensive luxury, imported from plantations in the West Indies. Maple sugar offered an accessible and affordable substitute. These colonists, out on the imperial periphery, wanted to demonstrate that their fledgling society was just as sophisticated and elegant as that of England. They took the concentrated maple sap and poured it into conical molds, refining it into white sugar-loaves like those produced in Britain from cane syrup. Maple sugar, a distinctively American product, was touted as the equal of the sugar served in the most elegant Old World salons. The clearest syrups and whitest sugars, which betrayed the least hint of their rustic origins, commanded premium prices.
In the context in which it is used, 'betrayed' (in the last sentence) most nearly means
◯ denied
◯ offered up
◯ suggested
◯ acted traitorously
◯ leaked
Which of the following is best supported by the passage?
◯ The American colonists unwittingly revealed their status by using maple syrup as a substitute for granular sugar.
◯ The price of sugar was in some sense influenced by the perception of its origin.
◯ Maple syrup provided American colonists an affordable means by which to produce granular sugar
◯ The process of creating maple syrup was an act of rebellion on the part of the American colonists.
◯ American colonists publicly conceded that maple sugar was similar to the sugar offered in the Old World.
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Re: The American colonists were less interested in maple syrup than in gra
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13 Jan 2026, 12:04
13 Jan 2026, 12:04
1
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Explanation
The clearest syrups and whitest sugars, which betrayed the least hint of their rustic origins, commanded premium prices.
Here, "betrayed" means revealed or disclosed, especially in the sense of unintentionally showing something that might otherwise remain hidden.
Let’s check the options:
A. denied: opposite in meaning here.
B. offered up: too intentional and positive; here it’s about possibly showing something undesirable (rustic origins) unintentionally.
C. suggested: fits well; means “gave a slight indication of,” which works for “the least hint.”
D. acted traitorously: literal meaning, not applicable here.
E. leaked: could fit in some contexts, but usually refers to information meant to be secret; here it’s more subtle—showing a hint rather than leaking.
The best match is suggested, because in this context “betrayed” means “gave evidence of” or “showed a small sign of.”
Answer: C
The clearest syrups and whitest sugars, which betrayed the least hint of their rustic origins, commanded premium prices.
Here, "betrayed" means revealed or disclosed, especially in the sense of unintentionally showing something that might otherwise remain hidden.
Let’s check the options:
A. denied: opposite in meaning here.
B. offered up: too intentional and positive; here it’s about possibly showing something undesirable (rustic origins) unintentionally.
C. suggested: fits well; means “gave a slight indication of,” which works for “the least hint.”
D. acted traitorously: literal meaning, not applicable here.
E. leaked: could fit in some contexts, but usually refers to information meant to be secret; here it’s more subtle—showing a hint rather than leaking.
The best match is suggested, because in this context “betrayed” means “gave evidence of” or “showed a small sign of.”
Answer: C
GRE Prep Club Team Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2017
Posts: 2512
Given Kudos: 1060
GPA: 3.39
The American colonists were less interested in maple syrup than in gra
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13 Jan 2026, 12:13
13 Jan 2026, 12:13
1
Expert Reply
Explanation
A. The American colonists unwittingly revealed their status by using maple syrup as a substitute for granular sugar.
This is irrelevant. "Betrayed the least hint" implies they wanted no sign of rustic origins. So this misinterprets "betrayed" as applying to the colonists' actions, not the sugar's appearance.
B. The price of sugar was in some sense influenced by the perception of its origin.
Yes! last sentence says the clearest syrups and whitest sugars betrayed the least hint of rustic origins and commanded premium prices. So price was higher when it seemed less rustic (less tied to humble origins). This is directly supported.
C. Maple syrup provided American colonists an affordable means by which to produce granular sugar.
The passage says maple sugar was a substitute for cane sugar, and they refined maple sap into sugar-loaves. But "maple syrup" is not the same as maple sugar in granular form, the text says colonists were less interested in maple syrup than granular sugar. They made maple sugar from concentrated sap (which could be syrup stage), but this statement oversimplifies and may be misleading because syrup wasn't the end goal; granular sugar was. The passage supports maple sugar as affordable, but "maple syrup" is not granular sugar itself.
D. The process of creating maple syrup was an act of rebellion on the part of the American colonists.
No mention of rebellion; they were imitating British sugar-loaves to show sophistication, not rebel.
E. American colonists publicly conceded that maple sugar was similar to the sugar offered in the Old World.
They didn't "concede", they touted it as equal. "Concede" implies reluctantly admitting; they were promoting it proudly.
Answer: B
A. The American colonists unwittingly revealed their status by using maple syrup as a substitute for granular sugar.
This is irrelevant. "Betrayed the least hint" implies they wanted no sign of rustic origins. So this misinterprets "betrayed" as applying to the colonists' actions, not the sugar's appearance.
B. The price of sugar was in some sense influenced by the perception of its origin.
Yes! last sentence says the clearest syrups and whitest sugars betrayed the least hint of rustic origins and commanded premium prices. So price was higher when it seemed less rustic (less tied to humble origins). This is directly supported.
C. Maple syrup provided American colonists an affordable means by which to produce granular sugar.
The passage says maple sugar was a substitute for cane sugar, and they refined maple sap into sugar-loaves. But "maple syrup" is not the same as maple sugar in granular form, the text says colonists were less interested in maple syrup than granular sugar. They made maple sugar from concentrated sap (which could be syrup stage), but this statement oversimplifies and may be misleading because syrup wasn't the end goal; granular sugar was. The passage supports maple sugar as affordable, but "maple syrup" is not granular sugar itself.
D. The process of creating maple syrup was an act of rebellion on the part of the American colonists.
No mention of rebellion; they were imitating British sugar-loaves to show sophistication, not rebel.
E. American colonists publicly conceded that maple sugar was similar to the sugar offered in the Old World.
They didn't "concede", they touted it as equal. "Concede" implies reluctantly admitting; they were promoting it proudly.
Answer: B
