1. to make prescribed malted milk drinks
   to crush ice
2. to quench the thirst of soldiers in battle

Blenders were first introduced in the early 1900s to make malted milk drinks prescribed by doctors.

1. Homeowners used blenders to make creamy soups.
   Industries employed blenders for making sauce mixes.
2. Soda fountains used them for making ice cream concoctions.

Soda fountains began using blenders for whizzing up novelty ice cream drinks.

1. the 1960s
   the 1910s
2. the 1930s

The blender gained popularity in the 1930s as an essential cocktail mixer.

1. to mix chemicals
   to allow hungry researchers easy access to smoothies
2. to extract bacteria from samples

Blenders are truly versatile appliances. Researchers use blenders in the lab to extract bacteria from samples.

1. mumps vaccine
   polio vaccine
2. tuberculosis vaccine

Jonas Salk used a Waring blender in the development of the polio vaccine.

1. the lid
   the motor
2. the jar

The base of the blender, also known as the housing unit, contains of a variety of parts, including a high-speed, fan-cooled electric motor.

1. the motor
   the coupler
2. the jar nut

The coupler, which connects to the motor, controls the movement and speed of a blender.

1. Nothing -- all your yummy ingredients will stay in the blender.
   Food is likely to coat your walls and ceiling.
2. The blender won't start.

Have a soapy rag on hand if you don't put the lid on a blender while using it. If the blender is full and you turn it on, you will likely cause a mess.

1. The shape funnels food down toward the blades.
   The shape allows for easy removal of blended food.
2. It tricks your eye into thinking there is more food in the jar.

The shape of a blender's jar doesn't simply look sleek; the tapered form promotes blending efficiency by funneling food down toward the blades.

1. You can remove the fill cap to put more food in while the blender is on.
   The fill cap can be used for measuring liquids when blending cocktails and other beverages.
2. The fill cap fits snugly against the inside of the blender jar to scrape out all the food.

The fill cap also should be removed from the lid to allow steam to escape when blending hot foods and liquids. If the steam has nowhere to go, you could be burned by a very hot food explosion!

1. a circular motion similar to a tornado
   an up-and-down motion
2. a side-to-side motion

The circular motion, also known as a vortex, is similar to a tornado, only this tornado won't blow the roof off your house!

1. It makes the blender look more efficient.
   It promotes maximum contact between food and blades.
2. Blenders can't function with fewer than four blades.

Four blades positioned at different angles promote maximum contact between the food and the blades. This design can make cleaning the blades a pain at times.

1. between 100 and 300 watts
   between 300 and 500 watts
2. between 500 and 750 watts

Most household blenders range from 500 to 750 watts. Don't be fooled though -- wattage and blender efficiency are generally not correlated.

1. blending food directly in the pot after it's cooked
   crushing very large chunks of ice
2. juicing citrus fruit

An immersion blender, also called a stick blender or a hand blender, is a wand-shaped device with a small blade at the bottom. It's often sold with attachments for grinding small amounts of food such as nuts and garlic.

1. the power generated by the motor
   the power consumed by the motor
2. the sharpness of the blades

The power generated by the motor determines blender performance. Unfortunately, companies only list the watts for power consumption, which is irrelevant for a blender's actual efficiency.

1. three
   five
2. seven

Foodies say that three-speed blenders are all that's needed, though you can find models that offer a seemingly infinite number of speeds.

1. The blender can make white snow out of ice.
   The blender has multiple functions specifically for smoothies.
2. The blender mixes ice cream well.

If you want to make velvety, scrumptious smoothies, seek out reviews that mention whether the blender crushes ice efficiently into snow.

1. six months to a year
   several years
2. more than 20 years

A good blender motor should hang on for several years before it starts to slow down. Even though you may still have a functional 20-year-old blender, this typically isn't the norm.

1. They're easier to clean than other models.
   They're cheaper than other models.
2. They're the most efficient model.

A blender with a removable blade is definitely easier to clean. However, blenders with nonremovable blades tend not to leak as often.

1. The buttons may pop off.
   These blender models are less efficient.
2. The buttons are hard to clean.

You may figure this one out only after buying a blender, but push buttons can be a pain to clean and can sometimes get stuck in one position.