The sun was rising as we drove across the Minnesota state line to New York for my new PhD program. The move was good for me professionally, but I worried about my husband and daughters. I also feared that I wouldn’t be able to give my kids the childhood they deserved (应得的).
Anne, our first daughter, came into the world when I was a junior majoring in biology in college. It was challenging to balance classes, work schedules, and being a mom. But I got through it, finding moments of joy along the way. On the nights when I was home, I’d read my class notes out loud with my daughter. She’d respond by asking questions, such as “Mom, what are bacteria (细菌)?” It helped us both learn.
After I graduated, I knew that I would need a PhD to land the kind of job I wanted. I arrived in New York feeling more than the usual new-graduate-student anxiety. I also suffered from a more personal fear that I was being selfish — that my decision to prioritize my career was going to have long-term bad impacts on my kids. So, I made a rule lo never be visibly upset about my work in front of my children.
Over the past year, though, I’ve started to let go of some of this worry. I’ve realized that we have not only adapted to our new situation, but things are getting better. My husband landed a job that he is happy with. Anne dreams of becoming a biologist. Recently, while driving past the cancer institute I work at, Anne said, “Thinking about people having cancer is so sad, but I feel better knowing that you are researching it to help.”
Pursuing academic career as a young mother is hard, but it’s also rewarding. My kids are learning to look at the world through science, and watching their mom succeed inspires them. I look forward to seeing them follow ray footsteps, whatever path they choose.
4. How did the author feel about the move for her PhD program at first?
A.It was fruitful but boring. |
B.It was hopeful but challenging. |
C.It was the last thing she would do. |
D.It was promising for the whole family. |
5. What does the underlined word “prioritize” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A.Create | B.Change. | C.Evaluate. | D.Emphasize. |
6. What could be inferred from Anne’s words in Paragraph 4?
A.She is proud of her mother. |
B.She is interested in biology. |
C.Her mother takes her job seriously. |
D.She is ready to help patients with cancer. |
7. What might be the best title of the text?
A.Ups and Downs in Life |
B.Like Mother Like Daughter |
C.Double Harvests of Mom’s Pursuit |
D.Generation Gap Narrowed by Love |