(1) Absinthe, a licorice-flavored alcoholic beverage that was once popular throughout Europe, was first produced in Switzerland in the eighteenth century. (2) Unlike most other alcohols, spirits, or liquors, absinthe has an extremely high alcohol content of 55% to 72%. (3) Whiskey, however , only contains about 40% alcohol. (4) Because absinthe is so strong, it is meant to be diluted with ice water that has been poured over a sugar cube. (5) This thins out the alcohol, sweetens the drink, and turns it from a clear green color to milky white. (6) For many years, absinthe was the most popular drink in France. (7) It was served every day at 5:00 PM in cafes all over the country. (8) Therefore, 5:00 PM became known as the "green hour." (9) However, abuse of this strongly alcoholic drink soon led many people to believe that it was poisonous. (10) That idea became even more popular when scientists learned that wormwood, one of the three main ingredients of absinthe, contains a dangerous chemical. (11) Even though there is a harmless amount of this chemical in absinthe, many countries banned the drink. (12) Even now, few brands of absinthe are allowed into the United States. Source: General Articles and Editorials. The Wormwood Society, n. d. http://www. wormwoodsociety. org/index. php. The organizational pattern at work in this passage is . Directions: Read the question and choose the best response from the choices given. Based on the passage, which of the following is the best definition of absinthe? A drink that contains more alcohol than whiskey and is mainly served after 5:00 PM A poisonous green drink that is banned in the United States A strong liquor with a licorice taste that was once very popular in European countries A harmless alcoholic beverage made of wormwood