C1 English Reading – Short Story & Grammar Quiz
Eleanor faced a profound dilemma. For several years, she had cultivated a promising career in a large tech company, earning a good deal of respect and a comfortable salary. Her work would often entail long hours, but she was used to the challenge. Recently, however, her aging parents, living a couple of hours away, needed a large amount of care. Her mother would often struggle with daily tasks, and her father was on the point of needing constant supervision.
There were clearly two options: continue her demanding job, or move closer to provide the care they needed. Each and every day, the thought would creep into her mind, causing a good many sleepless nights. She discussed it with each of her close friends, but no one could offer a simple answer.
Leaving her job would mean a significant financial sacrifice. She had few savings to fall back on, and the prospect of finding comparable work in her parents’ rural town seemed nonexistent. She felt a little trapped, caught between two equally compelling obligations.
One evening, while reviewing her options, a new idea began to form. What if she could work remotely? The company had scarcely allowed it in the past, but recent changes due to global events might make it feasible. It would require a good deal of negotiation and a strong presentation of her case. The dilemma still weighed heavily, but now, for the first time, she saw a glimmer of a third path.