One of the most successful commercial
products ever launched is said to have come about
as the result of a mistake. In 1896, by accidental 1. ______.
adding fizzy water instead of still water to the
recipe, a pharmacist called John S. Pemberton
invented that has today become the most popular 2. ______.
soft drink in the world: Coca-Cola. Coke has
enjoyed huge success worldwide, particularly in
the past fifty years. Indeed, old Coke bottles and
"limiting edition" cans can often fetch considerable 3. ______.
sums from collectors, and there are even stores
which deal exclusively Coke products and 4. ______.
collectables.
What could possibly account for the amazing
success of Coca-Cola How has this combination
of carbonated water, sugar, acid and flavourings
come to symbolize the American way of a life for 5. ______.
most of the world After all, even the
manufacturers could hardly describe Coke as a
healthy product yet it contains relatively high 6. ______.
amounts of sugar and phosphoric acid, both of
that are known to damage teeth. 7. ______.
One explanation may be found in the name.
The original recipe included a flavouring from
the coca plant and probably included small amounts
of cocaine, but since the early part of the last
century all traces of cocaine have removed. 8. ______.
However, Coke also includes a flavouring from
the cola tree; cola extract contains caffeine,
which is a stimulant, and the Coca-Cola company
adds extra caffeine for good measure. While
caffeine is not thought to be an addictive
substance by itself, there is considerable evidence 9. ______.
that in a period of time the consumption of 10. ______.
caffeine has to be increased in order for its
stimulating effect to be maintained, and so sales
of Coke perhaps benefit as a result.