I could not have been better prepared for the talk, my first conference presentation as a PhD student. I had learned my speech by heart, and I had practiced the answers to potential audience questions. The day before the talk,alone in my room, I felt confident. But as soon as the moderator invited me on stage, I felt like I was walking the plank. I was overwhelmed by a fear I had experienced too many times before — the fear of getting stuck because of my stutter (口吃).

Looking for a strategy to deal with my stutter, I realized I could speak smoothly when I recited text I had learned by heart. But this wasn’t a realistic approach for the entirety of my university training. I needed another tool. I tried speech therapy(治疗), but the exercises I learned there didn’t make much of a difference. To stop my stutter from affecting my new career, I would need a more drastic intervention.

After much hesitation, I decided to finally try psychoanalysis (心理疗法) to confront my deep feelings of shame related to my stutter. With the help of my therapist, I slowly realized the real problem was not the stutter itself; it was my fear of stuttering. I decided to get rid of that fear. It took me about a year to spit out during one of the weekly sessions that I love myself as I am. Stutter or not, I was going to pursue my desired career in science.

My first chance to test my newfound confidence by speaking in public arrived at a departmental meeting at the institute where I was a research assistant. I presented my data to 25 or30 people — and received compliments for my speech for the very first time. I returned home excited, relieved, and, most of all, proud.

Now, I no longer shun public speaking; instead, I actively seek opportunities to be on the stage. It is rewarding and inspiring, and I feel excited to have a good story to share. And if I happen to stutter along the way, so be it.

【小题1】What can be learned about the author?

A．He had a poor memory.

B．He was often misunderstood.

C．He was ashamed to try any therapy.

D．He focused much on whether he could speak smoothly.

【小题2】What really helped the author solve his problem?

A．Speech therapy.	B．Mental treatment.
C．Making new friends.	D．Talking more with others.

【小题3】What did the author think of his speech at the departmental meeting?

A．Instructive.	B．Successful.
C．Awkward.	D．Ridiculous.

【小题4】What does the author’s story tell us?

A．If you think you can, you can.

B．The shortest answer is doing.

C．All things come to those who wait.

D．You’re unique,and nothing can replace you.