文章大意：本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者讲述了自己成为父母后因为无法回到原来的工作岗位而感到困惑和担忧。然而，幸运的是，他们的研究主任为他提供了一份可以远程参与项目的合同，这成为了他职业生涯的转折点。经过几年的休假，作者感到自己已经准备好重新全职工作，最终找到了一份讲师职位。凭借着之前在离开期间的经验，回归工作并没有那么困难。
3 . “I am so sorry,” I tearfully said to my principal investigator (PI), explaining I would not be able to return to work as originally planned. Before I became a parent, I had assumed a baby would fit right into my academic plans. But now, as the end of my leave approached, I realized I couldn’t simply carry on as I always had. I was worried this decision might signal the end of my academic career — but I felt I had no other choice.
Thankfully, my PI had more foresight. He told me I didn’t need to resign and that he could offer me a contract that would allow me to contribute to our project from afar. It proved to be an absolute career lifeline tailored to me.
Then five years after stepping back from academia, I felt ready to re-enter more fully. Because I had been able to keep my hand in during my time away, the prospect was much less daunting than it would have been otherwise. I ended up landing a lecturer position that allowed me to slowly ease back in, focusing on teaching and scholarship with research taking a back seat. And when, 4 years on, a senior lectureship position came up in the very group I had left a decade earlier, the timing was right. With both of my children in “big school”, I was ready to really put my foot down on the career accelerator. I got the job.
Now, 6 months into my new role, I am happy to be right where it all began, with involvement in so many interesting projects. But what truly made the difference for me was the offer of what I needed during that time away. I hope more institutions and PIs can come up with creative provisions (条款) for those in their workforce who don’t want to give up their careers but want-or-need to take extended periods of leave. And to those who are taking such breaks, or considering it, know that returning is possible. Above all, on both sides: Please do not discount extended leavers. We have a lot to offer — if we are given the chance.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?
| A．Her path to PI began when she became a parent. |
| B．She struck a balance between work and family. |
| C．She had intended to stick to her academic plans. |
| D．She chose to prioritize her career over her family. |
2. Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “daunting” in paragraph 3?
| A．Fearsome. | B．Realistic. | C．Regretful. | D．Promising. |
3. What contributed most to her success according to the author?
| A．Academic researches. | B．Supportive work environment. |
| C．Interest in the projects. | D．Involvement in engaging projects. |
4. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the passage?
| A．To analyse. | B．To entertain. | C．To report. | D．To promote. |
