Read the following English translation of an excerpt from a contemporary short story set in Montevideo, Uruguay:
Under the high ceilings of the old café on Calle Sarandí, Clara wiped the dark marble table where her father and grandfather had served espresso to generations of patrons. Outside, the rain washed over the cobblestones of the Ciudad Vieja, reflecting the neon signs of new fast-food chains and sleek offices. In her hand, she held a tarnished silver spoon, engraved with the café’s original logo from 1920. She felt the weight of a changing city that seemed eager to sweep away the slow, conversational afternoons in favor of rapid progress. But as evening fell, a young student entered, sat in the corner with a worn notebook, and ordered a traditional cortado, greeting Clara with a familiar, respectful nod. Clara looked around at the dark wood paneling and realized that the true essence of the place was not its physical survival, but its role as a sanctuary for human connection.
Which of the following best identifies the central theme of the passage?
- AThe financial difficulty of maintaining family-owned businesses in a competitive economy.
- BA young student's desire to isolate themselves from the noise of the city to write poetry.
- The endurance of cultural spaces as sanctuaries for community and connection amid urban modernization.Answer
- DThe physical deterioration of historic buildings when subjected to harsh weather conditions.