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INSTRUCTIONS: Read the essay. Then answer the questions that…

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the essay. Then answer the questions that follow. Culture Shock      About a quarter of a billion people around the world have immigrated to another country. In addition, every year more than 4 million people go to another country for short-term study. How does it feel to live so far from home? While every person’s experience is different, most adults living abroad go through a similar emotional journey. This journey, often called “culture shock,” has several stages, starting with great excitement, followed by a period of frustration, and ending with adjustment and acceptance.     The first stage of culture shock is sometimes thought of as the honeymoon period because everything is new and exciting. (A honeymoon is the time right after a wedding when a couple often takes a fun vacation.) With culture shock, this stage begins when a person first arrives in a new country or culture. Overall, people in this stage feel very positive about their experience. For example, Nin, an engineer from Thailand, took a job in Australia for two years. In the beginning, she was curious and interested in the new culture and language, and she tried to make Australian friends. Every day was a new, fascinating experience.     Soon, however, things began to change. In the second stage, many people experience frustration with the new culture and begin to see problems. Nin grew tired of speaking English all the time and became irritated when people did not understand her. She thought about the countless things from home that she missed: familiar places, food, her family, and her friends. She also started to make negative comparisons between Thailand and Australia. During this period, Nin wanted spend time with other Thais because they reminded her of happy times back home. For many people who live abroad, these feelings can lead to loneliness and depression. It can be a time of crisis, and some people even decide to go home.     In the third stage, adjustment and acceptance, more positive emotions return. The language and culture of the new country become more familiar, and it becomes easier to make friends with local people who can provide support when things go wrong. For example, Nin stopped making comparisons between her homeland and Australia. Instead, she appreciated what is good in Australia, and she accepted the drawbacks of living far away from home. After a year in the country, she learned how to get things done and solve problems. While in the beginning things frustrated her or made her angry, now she can laugh about them.      Almost everyone who lives in a different country goes through these stages of culture shock. If you are going to another country, you should assume that you will, as well. Once you understand this process, you can be prepared. People who have experienced culture shock advise that it is crucial to ask questions, to be patient, and above all to keep your sense of humor. What is the connecting information in the introduction?