1Dear Journal: I think that Armenia is like no other place on the planet. It is located between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Armenia is like the connection point between these very different cultural worlds, and it absorbs a little from each of them. The result is a land with many kinds of ideas and lifestyles. 2Although I was born and raised in the United States, I am now in Armenia visiting my Aunt Peprone and Uncle Agatan. I know that the words “America” and “Armenia” look a lot alike, but the countries themselves are different in many ways. Every day I’m surprised by the little unexpected lessons I learn about life in Armenia. 3For example, last night, the city of Yerevan where I’m staying was struck with a large snowstorm. In the morning, my aunt, uncle, and I looked out the windows at huge banks of heavy white snow. Uncle Agatan works at a restaurant downtown and he was unable to even get to his car in the driveway. We decided we’d better shovel the snow before any more fell. 4I went outside and immediately attacked the snowdrifts. I scooped up the heavy snow and threw it into piles as quickly as I could, since I did not want my uncle to be late for work. However, Uncle Agatan was working much more slowly and watching me curiously. In a few minutes, I was exhausted, and I looked at him. Uncle Agatan said I was working too hard—in the way many Americans do, I worked as fast and hard as possible without really thinking about it. Uncle Agatan said that Armenians worked more slowly and sang and told jokes. They turned a job into a fun activity. 5Later that day, I joined Aunt Peprone on a trip to the market. I enjoyed walking with her along the brightly colored streets, greeting neighbors as we passed. Everyone seemed very friendly even when I did not understand exactly what he or she was saying. People’s smiles said a “hello” that did not need a language. 6Back in America, people usually walk alone or in small groups, and occasionally people hold hands. But in Armenia, people often walk in large groups, and everyone holds hands or links arms. Sometimes it can be very difficult to move through the streets since everyone is walking in rows! If you’re walking alone, you have to run around each oncoming row or else, as politely as possible, squeeze through it. At first I found this behavior rather rude, but I realized that the Armenian ways were no more or less rude than my own. Their handholding was really just a wonderful way of showing their care for one another. 7When Aunt Peprone and I reached the market, we found a wide variety of fresh foods surrounding us. Aunt Peprone taught me how to speak with the vendors at the market, who often liked to make deals with customers. For instance, I started out trying to buy some oranges for 900 drams, an Armenian form of money worth about three dollars. By the time the seller was done dealing, I’d spent 2,000 drams and had purchased bread, batteries, shoelaces, and a raincoat—but no oranges! Aunt Peprone laughed at my mistake. 8As we walked home, we suddenly heard a radio start playing traditional Armenian music. People all over the street raced over and began dancing! They grabbed Aunt Peprone and I and swung us around in a merry spin. We laughed and danced for an hour. Armenia is definitely unlike America, but I can get used to it! 14)The picture with the article was MOST likely included
A)to show where Armenia can be found.
B)to show where the author used to live.
C)to explain the lifestyles of Armenian people.
D)to explain differences between two countries.