Repor Text 03

Cacao, Theobroma cacao, is a tropical evergreen tree in the family Byttneriaceae. It is native
to Central and South America and is cultivated extensively for its seed, which is the source of
cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter. Cacao is a wide-branched evergreen that grows up to 7.5
m (25 ft) tall and bears seedpods up to 30 cm (1 ft) long and 10 cm (4 in) thick, with a hard-
leathery shell. Pods contain as many as 40 seeds, or beans, some up to 2.5 cm (1 in) wide.
Several species of Theobroma are cultivated in tropical America. T. cacao, the principal species
used for cacao, is grown throughout the wet, lowland tropics, especially in Southeast Asia,
South America, and West Africa, where the trees are planted under the shade of taller trees.
They usually bear fruit 4 years after they have been planted. Workers harvest cacao beans with
knives. After extraction from the fruit, the beans are placed in piles, covered with banana
leaves, and allowed to ferment; afterward, they are dried to prevent molding. They are then
sacked and shipped to chocolate or cocoa manufacturers. Cacao beans were once used as
money by the people of Mexico and Central America.

Part A/ Glossary
Directions: Find the definition or the synonym of the following words.

a. native (Adj.) : ...........................................................................

b. cultivate (V) : ...........................................................................
c. extensively (Adv.) : ...........................................................................
d. bear (V) : ...........................................................................
e. principal (Adj.) : ...........................................................................
f. harvest (V) : ...........................................................................
g. extraction (N) : ...........................................................................
h. pile (N) : ...........................................................................
i. sack (V) : ...........................................................................
j. manufacturer (N) : ...........................................................................

Part B / Comprehension
Directions: Choose the correct answer.

1. Cacao is probably native to the following regions, except ____

A. Canada
B. Suriname
C. Panama
D. Brazil
E. Columbia

2. The physical description of cacao is clarified in ______

A. the first two sentences of the first paragraph
B. the second sentence of the second paragraph
C. the last two sentences of the first paragraph
D. the last two sentences of the second paragraph
E. the first two sentences of the second paragraph

REPORT TEXT 3 - CACAO SMA YPK/XI/II/22

3. It can be inferred from the passage that ____
A. cacao beans are harvested by farmers with hues.
B. in Mexico, cacao beans were once functioned as produce.
C. cacao is originated in Northern America.
D. cacao trees can grow up to 75 ft in height.
E. T. cacao is probably planted in Indonesia.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Farmers can harvest it at least four decades after plantation.
B. Central American used cacao beans as money in the past.
C. Cacao is originated from Latin America
D. Cacao is cultivated for its seeds.
E. T. cacao is grown in tropical regions.

5. …. they are dried to prevent molding.

What does the underlined “they” refer to?
A. leaves
B. beans
C. species
D. trees
E. workers

REPORT TEXT 3 - CACAO SMA YPK/XI/II/22