Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes the natural process that occurs during malting?

1. A flower produces seeds

2. A fruit is transported by other animals

3. A living plant begins to decay

4. A seed begins to grow into a new plant

The correct answer is: A seed begins to grow into a new plant

The correct response is that the process during malting involves a seed beginning to grow into a new plant. In malting, barley grains are soaked in water to initiate germination. This process activates enzymes within the grain that convert stored starches into fermentable sugars, which are crucial for brewing beer. As the grains germinate, they start to sprout roots and shoots, signifying that they are beginning to grow into new plants. This growth is carefully controlled and halted by drying the grains, which leads to the production of malt used in brewing. The other provided options do not fit the context of malting. The first choice relates to reproduction in flowering plants, which does not specifically describe the malting process. The second choice about fruit transport pertains to seed dispersal, which is unrelated to malting. The third option discussing decay does not identify the constructive process of seed germination and is contrary to the idea of growth that defines malting.