1 The way in which people use social space reflects their social relationships and their

ethnic identity. Early immigrants to America from Europe brought with them a collective style. of living, which they retained until late in the 18th century. Historical records document a group-oriented existence, in which one room was used for eating, entertaining guests, and sleeping. People ate soups from a communal pot, shared drinking cups, and used a common pit toilet. With the development of ideas about individualism, people soon began to shift to the use of individual cups and plates; the eating of meals that included meat, bread, and vegetables served on separate plates; and the use of private toilets. They Began to build their houses with separate rooms to entertain guests — living rooms, separate bedrooms for sleeping, separate work areas — kitchen, laundry room, and separate bathrooms.

2 In Mexico, the meaning and organization of domestic space is strikingly different. Houses are organized around a patio, or courtyard. Rooms open onto the patio, where all kinds of domestic activities take place. Individuals do not have separate bedrooms. Children often sleep with parents, and brothers or sisters share a bed, emphasizing familial interdependence. Rooms in Mexican houses are locations for multiple activities that, in contrast, are rigidly separated in the United States.

Changes in living styles among early immigrants were initially brought about by

A．rising living standards.

B．new concepts.

C．new customs.

D．new designs of houses.