Final answer:
The most likely reason the author begins the article with that sentence is to engage the reader's imagination and curiosity, which aligns with the text’s goal of teaching landscape literacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely reason the author opens the article with that particular sentence is C. To engage the reader's imagination and curiosity. This approach is effective because it invites readers to visualize themselves traveling through the American countryside, thereby prompting them to consider the significance of the landscape as they would witness it. As detailed in the text, the aim is to encourage students to become active readers of the landscape, using it as a source of information about cultural histories and the forces that shape our environment.
The text underscores the concept of ‘landscape literacy,’ where readers learn to interpret the various elements within a landscape—such as agricultural buildings, farm fields, etc.—and understand their deeper meanings and historical context. The introduction sets the tone for a learning experience that goes beyond mere observation, cultivating the skill to ask critical questions about why things are the way they are, which is a central theme in geographical education and understanding cultural landscapes.