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over time, the simple twig chopstick evolved. during china’s tang dynasty (618–907 ce), silver chopsticks were sometimes used in the kitchen. people believed the silver would turn black if the food was poisoned. that wasn’t actually true. silver doesn’t react to poisons like arsenic or cyanide. but the silver chopsticks could change color based on the type of food that was being prepared. dishes made with garlic, onions, or rotten eggs, for example, would turn silver chopsticks black. that’s because they release hydrogen sulfide, a gas that tarnishes silver. at the time, this caused some panic!
chopsticks were used only for preparing food until about 400 ce. that’s when people started cooking food in smaller pieces. this new method sped up cooking time, which helped cooks save on fuel. bite - sized food was easy for diners to pick up with chopsticks. they didn’t really need knives at the table anymore.
around this time, confucius (551 bce–479 bce) helped make chopsticks popular. confucius was an ancient chinese philosopher and devoted vegetarian. he also preached nonviolence. he asked people not to use knives at the dinner table. confucius worried that the sight of knives on the table would stir up ideas about violence. his followers connected chopsticks with peace. confucius’s teachings spread across china and other parts of asia. that led more people to adopt the use of chopsticks.
today, chopsticks are widely used. they’ve become more than just a means to devour food. sometimes people wear chopsticks in their hair. in china, people often collect finely painted chopsticks. they give them as gifts, too. chopsticks are a common chinese wedding present for a newly married couple. they’re used to wish the couple happiness and express hope that they’ll never part from each other.
there’s a lot of history behind those two sticks.
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vocabulary
question 6 6 / 8
which two words are the closest antonyms?
hint
a. twig and limb
b. release and grasp
c. adopt and borrow
d. admiring and devoted

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: "twig" (small branch) and "limb" (large branch/limb) are related, not antonyms.
• Option B: "release" means to let go, "grasp" means to hold on. These are opposites (antonyms).
• Option C: "adopt" (take on) and "borrow" (take temporarily) are not antonyms.
• Option D: "admiring" (having respect) and "devoted" (loyal) are similar, not antonyms.

Answer:

B. release and grasp