Deck 17: Herbs and Spices

Question 1

Which of the following statements about aromatherapy is not correct?

A)None of the essential oils have been shown to be effective in any way.
B)The aromatherapy industry is not regulated.
C)Rigorous scientific testing of essential oils has not been done.
D)Essential oils from varieties within the same species may have different effects.
E)Some essential oils can be toxic.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Unfortunately,the current "aromatherapy" industry in the United States is not well regulated,and pure,unadulterated essential oils are not always available for scientific study.The current revival of aromatherapy can be traced to French researchers in the early to mid-twentieth century,especially ________.

A)Rene Gattefosse
B)Marco Polo
C)Kublai Khan
D)Ferdinand Magellan
E)Anne Hathaway

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The country that monopolized the spice trade in the 17^th century was ________.

A)England
B)Holland
C)Italy
D)Spain
E)Portugal

Answer 3

B

Question 4

After the first century,the Romans began trading directly with India by ships,via the Red Sea,to the Indian Ocean,thus breaking the centuries-old Arab monopoly on ________.

A)Spice trading
B)Herb business with China
C)Pepper growing under waterfalls protected by dragons
D)Aromatherapy in Europe
E)None of the above are correct.

Question 5

Which of the following people did not help Portugal monopolize the spice trade to Europe through trading outposts in the East?

A)Vasco da Gama
B)Alfonso de Albuquerque
C)Alvares Cabral
D)Ferdinand Magellan
E)All of the above helped expand Portugal's control on the spice trade.

Question 6

This spice is native to the Spice Islands and is from unopened flower buds that must remain unopened.This spice is derived from plants in the species ________.

A)Cinnamomum cassia
B)Piper nigrum
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Eugenia caryophyllata

Question 7

This spice is produced from unripe dried berries and has a biting flavor due to volatile oils.This spice is derived from plants in the species

A)Cinnamomum cassia.
B)Piper nigrum.
C)Myristica fragrans.
D)Zingiber officinale.
E)Eugenia caryophyllata.

Question 8

Onions,k garlic,allspice,and oregano were found to be the most effective for killing which of the following organisms?

A)fungi
B)bacteria
C)protozoa
D)carnivores
E)None of the above are correct.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a correct association?

A)Allspice :: Pimenta dioica,myrtle family
B)Capsicum peppers :: Capsicum spp. ,tomato family
C)Nutmeg :: Myristica fragrans,nutmeg family
D)Mace :: Myristica fragrans,nutmeg family
E)Vanilla :: Eugenia caryophyllata,myrtle family

Question 10

Alaric the Visigoth threatened Rome with destruction unless he received gold,silver,silk,and 3000 pounds of ________ in addition to gold,silver,silks,and other valuable items.

A)cinnamon
B)pepper
C)ginger
D)saffron
E)oregano

Question 11

Which of the following pair of spices come from the same species of tree?

A)nutmeg and mace
B)ginger and turmeric
C)black pepper and chili pepper
D)cinnamon and allspice
E)marjoram and oregano

Question 12

Essential oils are least concentrated in which of the following plant parts?

A)roots
B)leaves
C)flowers
D)Fruits
E)None of the above are correct.

Question 13

In Ancient Greece,the "middlemen" who brought spices from the Far East to sell to and trade with the Greeks were ________ merchants.

A)Indian
B)Chinese
C)Hebrew
D)Egyptian
E)Arab

Question 14

Most essential oils are classified chemically as which of the following?

A)polyphenols
B)terpenes
C)flavonoids
D)alkaloids
E)tannins

Question 15

Which of the following is not a New World spice?

A)allspice
B)vanilla
C)cinnamon
D)paprika
E)All of the above are New World spices.

Question 16

In the 16^th century,the country that monopolized the spice trade was ________.

A)England
B)Holland
C)Italy
D)Spain
E)Portugal

Question 17

The travels and adventures of ________ to the Far East in the 13^th century encouraged European explorers to travel East in search of exotic spices.

A)Alexander the Great
B)Christopher Columbus
C)Marco Polo
D)Henry the Navigator
E)Magellan

Question 18

Christopher Columbus went to his grave still believing he had found ________.

A)the fountain of youth
B)the source of all the exotic spices Europe craved
C)that Earth was round
D)the western sea route to the Far East
E)the lost tribe of Israel

Question 19

This spice is one of the oldest known spices.It derives from the secondary phloem of a tree kept bushy in cultivation.This spice is derived from plants in the species:

A)Cinnamomum cassia
B)Piper nigrum
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)None of the above are correct.

Question 20

In addition to being flavorful to humans and discouraging herbivores such as insects,research has shown that many herbs and spices can also ________.

A)cause certain cancers
B)be used to treat superficial wounds
C)inhibit the growth of bacterial and fungi
D)encourage the growth of beneficial fungi
E)do more than one of the above

Question 21

This spice is produced from dried berries of an evergreen tree that resemble peppercorns.This spice is derived from plants in the species ________.

A)Capsicum chinense
B)Curcuma longa
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Pimenta dioica

Question 22

Which of the following is the most expensive of all the spices?

A)ginger
B)cinnamon
C)turmeric
D)saffron
E)mace

Question 23

Capsaicin has been shown to be effective as which of the following?

A)a blood thinner
B)an aggravator of arthritis
C)a substitute for sugar
D)a fungicide
E)More than one of the above are correct.

Question 24

"Sweating" is a process employed in the production of ________.

A)allspice
B)ginger
C)saffron
D)vanilla
E)More than one of the above are correct.

Question 25

Among the following species,which includes one of the "hottest" chili pepper from South America?

A)Capsicum annuum
B)Capsicum frutescens
C)Capsicum chinense
D)Capsicum baccatum
E)Capsicum chaconese

Question 26

Which of the following spices can cause hallucinations accompanied by vomiting,dizziness,and headaches?

A)turmeric
B)nutmeg
C)allspice
D)marjoram
E)oregano

Question 27

This spice is used to prepare mustard and is the main spice in curry powder;it is derived from plants in the species ________.

A)Curcuma longa
B)Capsicum annuum
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Crocus sativus

Question 28

The concentration of capsaicin is highest in ________ peppers.

A)tabasco
B)jalapeno
C)ghost
D)bell
E)paprika

Question 29

Which of the following plants produces a precursor compound related to one produced by Vanilla planifolia?

A)Capsicum chinense
B)Curcuma longa
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Crocus sativus

Question 30

This spicy spice is made from the aril of a fruit produced by pistillate flowers.This spice is which of the following?

A)turmeric
B)nutmeg
C)mace
D)marjoram
E)More than one of the above are correct.

Question 31

Which of the following is correct about turmeric?

A)Turmeric has a long history in the Indian Ayurvedic system and is used as a remedy for medical complaints.
B)Turmeric is the world's most expensive spice.
C)The flavor and aroma of turmeric is pungent,slightly bitter,and musky.
D)Curcumin from turmeric has no known medicinal properties.
E)Turmeric can only be used for flavoring;no other function is known.

Question 32

Curcumin has been shown to be an effective as an antioxidant and an antibacterial agent.It may also be effective against certain cancers.Curcumin is derived from which of the following?

A)ginger.
B)cinnamon.
C)turmeric.
D)saffron.
E)hot chilies.

Question 33

Which of the following is not correct about capsicum peppers?

A)They all belong to a single genus in the Family Solanaceae.
B)There are very few varieties,and these are grown only in the Neotropics.
C)Capsicum chinense does not have its origins in China.
D)The capsaicin content is negligible in sweet bell peppers but in very high concentrations in jalapeno peppers.
E)The hottest peppers have a capsaicin detectability range of about 1 part per million.

Question 34

This spice is obtained from stigmas and the spice plant is propagated by corms.This spice is derived from plants in the species ________.

A)Curcuma longa
B)Capsicum annuum
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Crocus sativus

Question 35

Which of the following is correct about cloves?

A)Its scientific name is Myristica fragrans.
B)Cloves were not highly valued in ancient China.
C)Cloves are native to the New World,especially from high elevations in the Andes.
D)Cloves are an unopened flower bud.
E)Cloves are harvested when the nuts are mature for harvesting.

Question 36

The New World spice that fooled Columbus into thinking he had found a trade route to the Far East is of the genus ________.

A)Capsicum
B)Vanilla
C)Pimenta
D)Ocimum
E)Petroselinum

Question 37

Which of the following is correct about mace or nutmeg?

A)They are both derived from the plant Myristica fragrans.
B)Nutmeg trees are usually,but not always,dioecious.
C)The glossy,dark brown seeds are covered by a thick net called an aril.
D)In large quantities,both nutmeg and mace can be hallucinogenic.
E)All of the above are correct.

Question 38

This spice is produced from a rhizome of an herbaceous perennial and has been used to relieve nausea.This spice is derived from plants in the species ________.

A)Curcuma longa
B)Capsicum annuum
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Crocus sativus

Question 39

Nutmeg can do which of the following?

A)Aids in digestion
B)Stimulates the appetite
C)Eases intestinal discomfort
D)Reduces vomiting and nausea
E)All of the above are correct.

Question 40

This spice is produced from the capsules of an orchid which grows as a vine native to Central America.This spice is derived from plants in the species ________.

A)Curcuma longa
B)Vanilla planifolia
C)Myristica fragrans
D)Zingiber officinale
E)Crocus sativus

Question 41

When Rome fell in A.D.476,the trade between Europe and the East virtually disappeared.However,during the Dark Ages,exotic spices from the East were abundant throughout Europe.

Question 42

Herbs are generally aromatic leaves or seeds,whereas spices are usually aromatic fruits,flowers,bark,or other plants of tropical origin.

Question 43

Which of the following is true about vanilla?

A)Vanilla is originally from an orchid,Vanilla planifolia,indigenous to the New World tropics.
B)Uncured or unfermented vanilla beans lack the characteristic flavor,which is due to vanillin.
C)When properly cured,the pods are black.
D)Synthetic vanilla accounts for 99 percent of all vanilla currently sold on the market.
E)All of the above are correct.

Question 44

Isothiocyanates found in ________ may help prevent tooth decay and alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

A)garlic
B)peppermint
C)lavender
D)oregano
E)wasabi

Question 45

The characteristic scents of aromatic plants are due to the presence of essential oils,which are types of secondary plant compounds that are may not be essential to a plant's basic metabolic function.

Question 46

In Marco Polo's book,The Travels of Marco Polo,the author describes the abundant spices and plantations of the East,whose presence helped establish new overland routes for exploration by Europeans.

Question 47

The Ebers Papyrus,dated at about 3,500 years ago,lists the medical uses of many plants,and provides evidence that an active spice trade already existed.

Question 48

Members of this herbal family have square stems,aromatic,simple leaves.This herbal family is which of the following?

A)Lamiaceae
B)Apiaceae
C)Brassicaceae
D)Alliaceae
E)Liliaceae

Question 49

To create yeast that produced vanillin,genetic researchers inserted the genes of fungi,bacteria,and ________ into the yeast genome.

A)viruses
B)mice
C)humans
D)pigs
E)fruit flies

Question 50

Saffron is a spice derived from the stamens of crocus flowers.

Question 51

An herb that mimics estrogen and inhibits androgen is which of the following?

A)garlic
B)lavender
C)coriander
D)sage
E)oregano

Question 52

There is no clear distinction between herbs and spices.

Question 53

Chemically,most essential oils are classified as terpenes,which may have evolved to deter herbivores,especially insects.

Question 54

Curcumin,found in chili peppers,has shown promise as a treatment for cancer.

Question 55

Each of the following compounds is paired correctly with the plant in which it is found except one.Choose the exception.

A)curcumin :: saffron
B)capsaicin :: chili pepper
C)sinigrin :: black pepper
D)allicin :: garlic
E)menthol :: peppermint

Question 56

Essentials oils do not have any known antimicrobial properties.

Question 57

This herbal family produces umbels and schizocarps,which are typically used as herbs.This herbal family is which of the following?

A)Lamiaceae
B)Apiaceae
C)Brassicaceae
D)Alliaceae
E)Liliaceae

Question 58

Nutmeg is obtained from the tree,Myristica fragrans.

Question 59

During the time of the Ancient Greek civilization,the spice trade was flourishing between the Mediterranean region and the Far East,brought in by Arab traders.

Question 60

This herb grows as a small shrub with gray-green leaves and produces fragrant essential oils in its flowers.It also has antiseptic properties.This herb is found in the genus ________.

A)Brassica
B)Armoracia
C)Allium
D)Lavandula
E)Mentha

Question 61

________ and onion contain a sulfurous oil that imparts a powerful taste and aroma which has a use as an antiseptic.

Question 62

________ are volatile substances that contribute to the scent and flavor of aromatic plants.

Question 63

Capsicum peppers are the source of the pungent alkaloid ________,a New World rival to black pepper.

Question 64

________ are actually the dried unopened flower buds of a myrtle tree.

Question 65

________ seeds contain an oil that has been extracted for use in chemical warfare as well as being ground with vinegar and turmeric into a paste to make a very popular condiment.

Question 66

The pungent odor of garlic is due to the release of the compound,allicin.

Question 67

________ is the belief that the application of certain essential oils can heal ailments of the body and mind.

Question 68

________ is nicknamed the "pizza herb" because it gives pizza sauce its distinctive flavor.

Question 69

Garlic has been linked to gynecomastia in boys.

Question 70

The ________ is a document from ancient Egypt that records the medicinal uses of many herbs and spices.

Question 71

________ is a compound extracted from an orchid fruit.