Read the following English translation of an excerpt from a contemporary short story set in Patagonia, Argentina:
"For thirty years, Francisco had walked the rocky paths of the valley, his leather satchel weighed down by letters that smelled of woodsmoke and distant cities. In the early days, the arrival of his blue uniform was a town event; families would gather at the plaza, eager for news from Buenos Aires or across the ocean. Today, the satchel was nearly empty, save for a single envelope addressed to a house that had long been abandoned to the dust and wild shrubs. The younger generation in the valley now communicated through invisible signals sent to glowing screens, their voices bypassing the mountain passes entirely. Francisco stopped by the old stone bridge, listening to the rushing glacial river. He did not resent the silence or the empty roads. He understood that his journey was no longer about delivering news, but about maintaining the physical thread that connected the valley's past to its quiet present, even if he was the only one left who could feel its weight."
Which of the following best describes the central theme of the passage?
- AThe literal weight and physical challenge of delivering letters across rough terrains.
- BFrancisco's growing resentment toward the youth for ignoring local heritage.
- The preservation of tangible connection and historical memory during a period of technological transition.Answer
- DThe economic abandonment and decay of traditional towns in Patagonia.