girl named Monica Gottlieb, who lived in Vienna. In poor English, she explained that she was doing an online search for people who shared the same names as members of her family. She tried her 19­year­old brother's name-Marcus, and that was how she hit upon me. Monica asked me to write back and tell her a little something about myself, which I did.

　　 Not long after our first exchanges, Monica's mother, Regine, wrote to me. Regine's English was a little better than Monica, so she was able to provide more details about their life in Vienna. She also mentioned that she and her husband Michael were planning their first visit to the US. As motorcycle lovers, they intended to make a two­wheeled tour of California and the Southwestern states. She wondered if I could tell her something that I thought they should know before they began their great adventure.

　　 I spent about an hour putting together what I considered reasonably practical advice and sent it along. Regine wrote back with thanks, and told me if I came to Vienna, I should consider the Gottlieb family home as my own. She even offered me both a room and a key to the house.

　　 The Gottliebs eventually made their motorcycle trip and enjoyed every minute of it. Eight months later, I was welcomed to Austria by the Gottlieb family.

　　 We got to know each other fairly quickly. Michael and I even seemed to hit it off particularly well. Almost the same age, and sharing a similar sense of humor, we were soon so comfortable with each other.

　　 A few days later, Michael, Regine, and I were walking off the big meal we had just had at an open­air restaurant. As we walked and chatted, an older man coming toward us said something in German to Regine. She replied politely, laughing. After he passed by, I asked Regine if the man was a friend.

　　 "No，" she said. "He looked at you and Michael and said, 'It's nice to see two brothers out for a walk together.'"

　　 Brothers? Well-not quite. But perhaps long­lost cousins after all.

　　【文章大意】　本文是记叙文。作者是美国人，共同的名字让他与维也纳的一家人成为了好朋友。

　　24. Which of the following helped start the author's friendship with Monica?

　　A．A stranger. B．Names.

C．Hobbies. D．A visit