Question

For centuries, millers ground wheat into flour on stone wheels that were turned by windmills, water mills, or animals. When machines with steel rollers powered by engines became available, white flour, which requires extra processing to remove the husk and bran, became easier to produce. Its smooth feel, uniform color, and delicate flavor had long made it more desirable than whole-grain flours. However, white flour was time-consuming to make and expensive to purchase. Over time, more efficient milling processes, along with commercial yeast, made it possible for soft white bread to be mass-produced in factories, making it available to everyone at a relatively low price.

Whats the main idea of this passage?
1. to describe how wheat was milled into flour hundreds of years ago


2. to highlight the ways in which wheat flour is superior to white flour


3. to explain how processes used to create commercial bread yeast improved over time


4. to discuss how changes in milling processes made it easier to make inexpensive white bread

Answer 1

The passage details the evolution of milling technology from stone-ground wheat to steel rollers and engines, and how modern yeast production contributed to the affordability and widespread availability of white bread.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main idea of the passage is to discuss how changes in milling processes and advancements in yeast production led to the mass production of white bread, making it inexpensive and widely available. Initially, milling grains was a labor-intensive process, with flour being ground on stone wheels.

The advent of steel rollers and engines simplified the process, resulting in the rise of white flour's popularity due to its smooth texture and delicate flavor. Although white flour was originally expensive and time-consuming to produce, improvements in milling technology, coupled with the commercial production of yeast, ultimately allowed for the widespread, low-cost availability of soft white bread.