Question

An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe(贿赂), but is close to it.

All sorts of people are apple polishers, including politicians and people in high offices—just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed.

There are other phrases meaning the same thing as “apple-polishing”—“soft-soaping” or “buttering-up”. A gift is just one way to “soft-soap” somebody, or to “butter him up”. Another that is just as effective is flattery, giving someone high praise—telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how talented and wise he is.

Endless are the ways of flattery. Who does not love to hear it? Only an unusual man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is. In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who get so little of it.

We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it. But if we just lap it up for its food value and nourishment, as a cat laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves.

Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much of it. A good example is the famous 12th century legend of King Canute of Denmark and England. The king got tired of listening to endless sickening flattery of his courtiers(朝臣). They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless might.

He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. Then he ordered the waves to stop coming in. The tide was too busy to listen to him. The king was satisfied. This might show his followers how weak his power was and how empty their flattery.

1.Which of the following activities has nothing to do with “apple-polishing”?

A．A boy tells his girlfriend how pretty she looks.

B．An employee tells her boss how good he is at management.

C．A knight is said to be of limitless power by his followers.

D．A teacher praises her students for their talent and wisdom.

2.What does the writer want to prove with Cromwell’s example?

A．Everybody can be an apple-polisher.

B．Cromwell was not a good apple-polisher.

C．George Fox and his party were not apple-polishers.

D．There are people who don’t like being apple-polished.

3.Which of the following statements about flattery is true according to the author?

A．Too much flattery can carry us away.

B．Flattery is too empty to do people any good.

C．Flattery can get you nothing but excessive(过度的) pride.

D．Flattery is one of the ways to apple-polish people.

4.Why did King Canute of Denmark and England take his followers to the seashore?

A．Because he was sick of his normal life.

B．Because he disliked being overpraised any more.

C．Because he wanted them to realize how wise he was.

D．Because he wanted them to see how weak he was as a king.

5.Who does the author think that flattery can do good to ?

A．Those who are politicians or in high offices.

B．Those who lack confidence.

C．Those who are really excellent.

D．Those who think highly of themselves.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.B

5.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文论述了现在的社会存在的一个普遍现象，人们往往为了自己的一点利益去送礼或者说一些阿谀奉承的话，当然有时即使这样做了也未免就能实现自己的愿望。

1.推理判断题。根据An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment.一个老师表扬学生并不是想得到什么好处，故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据All sorts of people are apple polishers, including politicians and people in high offices—just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed.高层的领导者都是拍马屁的人，可以想象每个人都可能是这种人，故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. A gift is just one way to “soft-soap” somebody, or to “butter him up”. Another that is just as effective is flattery, 故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据The king got tired of listening to endless sickening flattery of his courtiers(朝臣). 国王厌烦了朝臣的阿谀奉承，故选B。

5.细节理解题。根据In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who get so little of it. We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it.对于缺乏自信的人是有好处的，故选B。

考点：社会现象类短文阅读。

点评：做推理判断类试题时我们不仅要弄懂文章字面的意思，更重要的是要知道文章潜在的含义，以及作者所给的提示。同时要对文章的含义和作者的暗示作合理的猜测和推论。关键是：意思要靠推断得出，而不是原文照搬。这就要把握住文章的主题思想和每段的内容；明确作者的观点及其写作该文的目的；分析文章里所给的有关信息；注意词汇在词典里的定义和词典以外的含义；最后运用自己的知识进行由表及里的逻辑推理，挖出文章的伏笔，得出正确的推论。