Question

"Can you believe we're finally here?" said Meredith. "We only had to wait forty years," Katherine replied. "I'm thrilled, too, Mer." The pair had met in college. Now in their sixties, they were on vacation together in Tucson, Arizona. They were excited to see each other, but the purpose of their trip was to catch sight of the night-blooming cereus, a flower that blooms only once a year at nighttime. They'd learned about it in a botany class in college, and they had always wanted to see it in person. A botanical garden in Tucson had a specimen of the rare flower, which was supposed to bloom that week. Meredith and Katherine spent the first two days of their trip sightseeing, hiking, and waiting for the big announcement. At last, the botanical garden sent an email update: "We are excited to announce that the Cereus greggii (night-blooming cereus) will bloom this evening. Be prepared for long waits to see the flower." When the two women arrived at the botanical garden, the line was already stretching around the block. They waited over an hour to glimpse the rare flower. They were hungry and tired—and Meredith wished she'd brought a sweater—but they were still excited. Finally, it was in sight. In person, the flower was even more magical than they had expected. Barbed, pinkish-white petals ringed the puffy white central bloom. They snapped pictures to send to their families back home. Meredith and Katherine wanted to see it again the next day, but by morning it had wilted. "I can't believe how quickly it was over," Katherine remarked. "But how beautiful!" Meredith said. "And our memory of its bloom—and this trip—will last forever."

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage tells the story of Meredith and Katherine, two friends in their sixties who have come on a vacation to Tucson, Arizona. They have a particular goal in mind: to witness the blooming of the night-blooming cereus, a rare flower that only blooms once a year at night. The flower holds special significance for them because they learned about it during their college botany class and had always wanted to see it in person.

After spending a couple of days sightseeing and hiking, they receive an email notification that the night-blooming cereus is finally set to bloom. They rush to the botanical garden, where they join a long line of people waiting to see the flower. Despite the wait, hunger, and discomfort, their excitement remains undiminished.

When they finally get to see the flower, it exceeds their expectations with its unique appearance. They take pictures to capture the moment and share it with their families. However, the next day, the flower wilts and fades away, leaving a lasting memory for Meredith and Katherine.

The passage highlights the anticipation, excitement, and eventual fleeting nature of the experience. It's a story of friendship, shared memories, and the appreciation of natural beauty that can create lasting impressions even in a short span of time.