Read the passage given below.
History in general remains an endeavour to search for the truth about the past in a contemporary light. The search is done by examining the treasure trove of a documented past. This also holds true for the history of food. Cookbooks have always played an instrumental role in researching the history of any community. The roots of recording the history of food are nearly as old as the history of writing itself. In the East, Meng Shen of T’ang dynasty recorded the origin and usage of every food consumed in the court. In India, mythology mentions that the oldest and first ever book on cookery is Pakadarpanam (The Mirror of Culinary Skills), written by King Nala.
Cookbooks are a guiding light that can take one on a journey of understanding traditions and culture. Scholars in the past also believed that cookbooks are a source of information not only to understand social or gender-specific roles but also material factors such as trade and network.
So what could be considered a cookbook in our modern society? It has been noted recently that there is a surge in the number of infotainment and documentary programs about food. Recipes are no longer just about cookbooks. In fact, a new breed of Indian culinary experts are cooking their way to celebrity status. And they are achieving this via social media. As they demystify Indian cuisine and offer stepby-step guidance to creating mouthwatering Indian dishes, these talented men and women are inspiring a lot of Indians to pick up their ladles and try out various recipes in their own kitchens.
The social media chefs are here to stay. No longer does an amateur home chef have to struggle with trying to understand what exactly the recipe instruction means when it says things like, “the batter should be of pouring consistency”. Now one can see the chef demonstrate on video what exactly 'pouring consistency' ought to be like.
A lot of people used these recipes that were easily available on social media to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooking, which was considered a necessity at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown days, turned into a recreational activity over time. It also functioned as a tool to improve people’s psychological well-being. This gave them a goal-oriented behaviour to engage in, while also being a way to connect with others by sharing recipes or posting pictures of their creations on social media. Thus, documenting recipes online is the modern version of authoring a cookbook.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
The search is done by examining the treasure trove of a documented past. This also holds true for the history of food. (Paragraph 1)
Why would the author refer to cookbooks as a 'treasure trove'?
A. because they contain recipes for rich foods
B. because writing them requires a lot of time and money
C. because they hold a wealth of information about the past
D. because writing recipes is considered a rewarding experience
Answer:
C. because they hold a wealth of information about the past
