Answer:
A. before
Step-by-step explanation:
When a reader picks up a literary work, most especially an older piece of writing, it may be difficult to understand or connect with the prose with respect to a modern perspective. This is mainly due to the fact that the context and meaning of the words used are unfamiliar to the reader. Therefore, it is very important and essential for readers to have a good understanding of the cultural, social, economical, political and environmental conditions or situations that influenced the writing of a literary work before proceeding to read. Historical and cultural context provides unveils the meaning of a literary work, as well as provide a clearer perspective and informations that would have been missed by a reader.
Hence, before starting a reading process, you should research a story's historical and cultural context.