Reading comprehension.

Like a lot of other ideas, chewing gum developed when an inventive person was trying to develop something else. In 1870, Thomas Adams was trying to create a substance similar to rubber. He knew that in the past, natives of Mexico had enjoyed chewing chicle, which was the gum of the Line sapodilla tree; he thought that this chicle might possibly be useful as a replacement for rubber.

(5) While he was working with it, he decided to try chewing it, just as had been done in Mexico. He enjoyed the sensation and decided that he should try selling it. Unfortunately, however, not many people bought it. He then improved the product by adding flavorings and sugar to it, and he gave out free samples until the product caught on. Though he never succeeded in his original search for a replacement for rubber, he became highly successful as a chewing gum producer

29. The main idea of the passage is that

(A) chicle was commonly chewed in Mexico

(B) Thomas Adams invented chewing gum by accident

(C) Thomas Adams enjoyed chewing chicle

(D) Thomas Adams was unsuccessful in finding a substitute for rubber

30. In line 1, the expression "an inventive person" could best be replaced by

(A) a creative person

(B) an illogical person

(C) a destructive person

(D) a mistaken person

31. According to the passage, what did Thomas Adams originally want to create?

(A) Chewing gum

(B) The sapodilla tree

(C) A rubber substitute

(D) Flavorings

32. Which of the following is NOT true about chicle?

(A) It comes from a tree.

(B) Some people like chewing it.

(C) It is part of the rubber plant.

(D) Adams thought he might find a use for i

33. In line 3, "natives" are

(A) trees

(B) people

(C) places

(D) plastics

34. The word "sensation" in line 6 is closest in meaning to

(A) thought

(B) feeling

(C) taste

(D) look

35. According to the passage, what happened when Thomas Adams first tried selling his chicle product?

(A) It did not sell very well.

(B) It was successful because of the taste.

(C) People thought it was rubber.

(D) Adams became immediately successful.

36. "Flavorings" in line 7 are used to improve a product's

(A) appearance

(B) feel

(C) taste

(D) smell

37. It is implied in the passage that Adams gave out free samples of gum because

(A) he had a lot that he did not want

(B) he did not care about making money

(C) he was not a very smart businessman

(D) he wanted to improve future sales

38. According to the passage, in his search for a rubber substitute, Adams

(A) was not successful

(B) found the original rubber plant

(C) succeeded late in his life

(D) was highly successful

39. Where in the passage does the author explain what chicle is?

(A) Lines 1-2

(B) Lines 3-4

(C) Line 5

(D) Lines 8-9

29-B, 30-A,31-C,32-C,33-B,34-B,35-A,36-C,37-D,38-A, 39-B