The chili pepper is native to the Americas, but nowadays it is found all over the world. It is an extremely popular spice in many cultures and is, in fact, the world’s second favorite spice, after salt. There are more than a hundred species of chili peppers, some which are quite mild and others which are incredibly hot and spicy. Today chili peppers are used to spice a variety of foods, e.g., salsa, meat and rice dishes, and even jam and jelly. In the past, chili peppers had some other, more unusual uses. In ancient Mexico, for example, chilies could be used to pay taxes. In addition, in Panama, these peppers were used to protect against sharks.1. The word “favorite” in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(A) most popular
(B) most delicious
(C) best known
(D) most recognized

2. The word “species” in line 3 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(A) Plants
(B) Uses
(C) Types
(D) Sizes

3. The word “mild” in line 4 could best be replaced by
(A) strong tasting
(B) cold
(C) delicate tasting
(D) amiable

4. “Jam” in line 6 is probably
(A) a type of chili
(B) something to eat
(C) something to wear
(D) a container for chilies ​