"What is the biggest challenge of graduate school?,, an undergraduate asked the group of graduate students at an event I helped organize last summer. "Not letting the support from my community turn into pressureone member responded. That answer might have surprised some, who probably expected to hear about experiments that didn't work or trudging through academic materials. But I understood exactly what she meant.
Throughout my education, friends and family have expected me to take advantage of every opportunity I come across because I may not get the same chance again. They expect me to give outstanding performances everywhere I go because I represent them and our culture. Mentors （导师）expect that I will never give up. This has been a great source of motivation, but also of pressure.
I remembered a conversation with a mentor. At the end of my first year of graduate school, I struggled with a strong desire to leave the program with a master's degree. I was accustomed to hearing "Don't give up" and "You have to finish,,一words that were meant to be motivational. Instead, they made me feel I would be a disappointment if I left. After I discussed the pros and cons of leaving with my mentor, she responded completely different from what I expected. **I support any decision you make," she said. "I will always be proud of you and your achievements. '' Hearing this simple, direct statement of support. I felt every muscle of my body loosen.
My mentor knew the right thing to say, but we can t expect the same from everyone. Sometimes, friends and family ask me, ** How long until you get your degree?" As many graduate students will agree, this question is a stress starter. Now, when people in my community—always with the best intentions——say something that creates pressure and makes me feel bad, I tell them and we talk about it. I tell them that I prefer to hear, “Do you need someone to talk to? How can I help you through this rough This was a bit awkward at first. But I've started to notice a change. These days. I get fewer stress-inducing （弓【起压力 的）questions and comments.
24. Which can replace the underlined word "trudging" in paragraph 1?
A. Struggling. B. Seeing. C. Breaking. D. Cutting.
25. What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about the author?
A. He was afraid to leave his program.
B. He appreciated what his mentor said.
C. He preferred to discuss pros and cons.
D. He had a strong desire to get a master's degree.
26. Which does the author prefer to hear when he needs support?
A. Never give up! B. How about a chat?
C. Have you prepared for the result? D. Go ahead! I will back you up!
27. What's the main idea of the text?
A. Value the source of inspiration from your community.
B. Communicate with your community more about study.
C. Find a way to block out support from your community.
D. Let support from your community become less stressful.
24. A词义推测题。本句表示那样的回答可能会使一些人感到惊讶，他们可能希望听到的是•'实验不顺利”或 “在学术材料的学习中遇到一些困难”。人们一般认为大学生面临的挑战应是学业上的问题，故trudging应 与struggling意义相同。
25. B推断题。根据第3段可知，导师给他的回应出乎他的意料，使他感受到了真正的支持而非压力。
 26. B推断题。根据最后一段倒数第4、5句可知.作者希望别人能和他交谈.而不是一味地给他鼓励。
27. D主旨大意题。根据全文可知，作者希望来自社区或家人朋友的支持不要变成压力。