Final answer:
Stephen Hawking's childhood was marked by being surrounded by and encouraged by an intellectual family, though these particular texts do not detail his life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question 'Which of the following best describes Hawking's childhood?' is not explicitly provided in the text excerpts given above. However, given the available information, we can highlight that Edwin Hubble, not Stephen Hawking, faced pressures from his family regarding his career choice. To discuss Hawking, we must look for other sources beyond this text. From known historical accounts, option (a) He was surrounded and encouraged by intelligent friends and family is the most accurate description of Stephen Hawking's childhood. Stephen Hawking's parents were both intellects, and he grew up in a stimulating intellectual environment, which influenced his early interest in science and the cosmos.