Which of these excerpts from "Once in a Lifetime" by Jhumpa Lahiri most clearly exemplifies diversity within socioeconomic status? 1. "It's a cigarette you smell," he said when he came back to bed. "Sorneone has been smoking in the bathroom." "I didn't know Dr. Choudhuri smoked," my mother said. "Should we have put out an ashtray?" 2. "First class!" my mother exclaimed, with an intake of breath. "How did you end up there?" "It was my fortieth birthday gift," your mother explained. She looked over at your father, smiling, "Once in a lifetime, right?" "Who knows?" he said, clearly proud of the extravagance. "It could become a terrible habit." 3. "There's a stream back there," you said, "in those woods." My mother became nervous then, warning you not to go there, as she had so often warned me, as I had warned you the night you came, but your parents did not share her concern. What had you photographed? They asked instead. 4. "Bombay is nothing like Calcutta," you added, as if reading my mind. "Is it close to the Taj Mahal?" "No." You looked at me carefully, as if fully registering my presence for the first time. "Haven"t you ever looked at a map?"

To determine which excerpt from "Once in a Lifetime" by Jhumpa Lahiri most clearly exemplifies diversity within socioeconomic status, we can analyze each option for indications of differing economic backgrounds or lifestyles. 1. The first excerpt discusses a casual conversation about smoking in the bathroom. It does not provide significant insight into socioeconomic diversity, as it focuses more on a personal habit rather than economic status. 2. The second excerpt highlights a moment of surprise and pride regarding a first-class travel experience as a birthday gift. The mention of "first class" and the father's pride in the "extravagance" suggests a higher socioeconomic status, contrasting with the mother's surprise. This indicates a disparity in how they perceive luxury and financial capability. 3. The third excerpt involves a conversation about a stream in the woods and parental concerns. While it shows differing attitudes towards safety, it does not directly address socioeconomic status. 4. The fourth excerpt discusses geographical knowledge and perceptions of different cities. It does not touch on economic conditions or lifestyles. Based on this analysis, the second excerpt most clearly exemplifies diversity within socioeconomic status, as it contrasts the characters' views on luxury and financial capability.