Question #N267

It’s a common observation that people tend to focus on what’s new, but when it comes to certain areas of life, like the natural world, we seem to be drawn to what’s familiar and comforting. And this is especially true for the kinds of experiences we’re likely to have in childhood. The early memories of an experience, like a first visit to the beach, tend to involve a sense of wonder and awe at the newness and excitement. But it is those same experiences that we later look back on with fondness and nostalgia, realizing that the simple act of revisiting those experiences can bring us a sense of familiarity and peace. What is the most likely reason why the writer includes this passage?

The author includes the description of a first visit to the beach to
A. illustrate the concept that familiarity can bring comfort and peace.
B. demonstrate that the natural world is a source of wonder.
C. explain why early memories are often the most vivid.
D. show that the author has a personal connection to the natural world.

Correct Answer is: A

The author is discussing how experiences, especially those in childhood, become sources of comfort and peace over time due to the familiarity that comes with repeated exposure. The example of a first visit to the beach emphasizes the idea that familiarity can bring comfort, as the author contrasts the sense of wonder and awe experienced during the first visit with the later feeling of fondness and nostalgia associated with revisiting the beach.