The alarm rang in my ear.After silencing it，I remained in bed.My motivation to push ahead with my Ph.D．was disappearing，which made it hard to face each new day.Continuing would risk a total breakdown.With anxiety，I decided to cease my Ph.D．temporarily and take a 9-month position at a health care charity.Back when I looked for Ph.D．positions，I was unclear what I wanted to study.For me，the degree mostly served as a means to an end，securing more interesting and higher-paid positions in the private sector than my master's degree would unlock.So I wasn't picky and reasoned a variety of projects would provide the training and degree I wanted.
    In hindsight （事后想來(lái)），I should have been more selective.I ended up working on a project I was technically capable of completing but over time felt full of disappointment.The purely academic research was intellectually interesting，yet I struggled to see how it would make an impact on the wider real world.
Some unexpected things amplified my trouble.I started my program in 2020，when meetings were virtual and in-person contact was actively discouraged，so I had few opportunities to form personal connections with co-workers.Research became my only focus，and when my interest in that faded，my project felt depressing.
    After only 1 month at the charity，it became clear that I'd made the right decision.My mental health improved and I found it easier to come into work.Things 1 did could matter and energize me after all — if I chose wisely.That was exactly what I needed and desired.After that realization，I decided I wanted to return to my Ph.D．program and make changes.I told my teacher I wasn't interested in the current research.To my relief，he was supportive，and we redesigned the project to better fit me.I will return to my program next month，optimistic that this time will be different.But if it doesn't go as I hope，my charity experience has given me direction and confidence that I'll live a satisfying life，with or without a Ph.D．

（1）What did the author view the Ph.D．degree as at first？

B

B

A．A struggle for new days.
B．A way of getting a better job.
C．A breakthrough in his study.
D．A chance to build connections.
（2）Why did the author become disappointed at his project？

A

A

A．It was of slight practical use.
B．It had a high degree of difficulty.
C．It failed to meet his social need.
D．It showed an unpromising future.
（3）What does the underlined word "amplified" in paragraph 3 mean？

D

D

A．Reflected.
B．Caused.
C．Solved.
D．Increased.
（4）How did the charity work affect the author？

C

C

A．It inspired him to face challenges.
B．It made him regain self-confidence.
C．It helped him find a purpose in life.
D．It fueled his enthusiasm for his program.