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Direction (1-7): Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions.

1. After water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Its popularity has survived thousands of years and has played an important role in many cultures. It is enjoyed both hot and cold, as a refreshing drink, as part of a ceremony, and as a tonic for improving health.

2. The drink of Asia for hundreds of years, tea is believed to have been brought to Europe by the Dutch. Today, from remote Ladakh in India to Buckingham Palace in London, tea means happiness. It is rightly said that there will be no agreement on a perfect cup of tea. Though for tea drinkers, the drink is addictive, the preferred method of preparation and taste differ from person to person and region to region. From traditional black teas, to the newer, and extraordinarily healthy white teas, and recognizable flavoured teas such as Earl Grey, to exotic blends such as Rooibos Love, there is a flavour and a blend for everyone. Today many varieties of tea and tea brands are available in the market. An innovation is the tea bag that is easy, quick and less messy than traditional ways of making tea. Green tea is popular in China.

3. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a traditional way of greeting guests and is a social occasion. Unlike the tea we are familiar with, green tea is not drunk with sugar or milk. It is an olive-coloured liquid served in porcelain cups. In Morocco, green tea is served with freshly plucked mint.

4. Some scientists believe that tea prevents tooth decay because it is a rich source of fluoride.

5. Tea is also a traditional remedy for stomach upsets, flu and diarrhoea. Tea is also said to have anti-oxidants that fight cancer and also have anti-ageing properties that fight the free radicals in our bodies. Research suggests that drinking tea reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood;

6. A welcome thought for tea drinkers. Tea is the new apple a day to keep the doctor away.

According to the passage, one of the reasons for the popularity of tea is

A) its health benefits only

B) its versatility

C) the vast range of variety

D) its traditional relevance