2014 高考英语二轮阅读理解三月特训 <br />An &ldquo;apple polisher&rdquo; is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special <br />treatment. It is not exactly a bribe(贿赂), but is close to it. <br />All sorts of people are &ldquo;apple polishers&rdquo;， including politicians and people <br />in high offices&mdash;just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, <br />offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed. <br />There are other phrases meaning the same thing as &ldquo; apple ­ polishing &rdquo; &mdash; <br />&ldquo;soft­soaping&rdquo; or &ldquo;buttering­up&rdquo;. A gift is just one way to &ldquo;soft­soap&rdquo; <br />somebody, or to &ldquo;butter him up&rdquo;. Another that is just as effective is flattery, <br />giving someone high praise&mdash;telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, <br />or how talented and wise he is. <br />Endless are the ways of flattery. Who does not love to hear it? Only an unusual <br />man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is. In truth, flattery is <br />good medicine for most of us, who get so little of it. <br />We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried <br />away by it. But if we just lap it up for its good value and nourishment, as a cat <br />laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves. <br />Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much <br />of it. A good example is the famous 12th century legend of King Canute of Denmark <br />and England. The king got tired of listening to endless sickening flattery of his <br />courtiers(朝臣). They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless power. <br />He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. <br />Then he ordered the waves to stop coming in. The tide was too busy to listen to him. <br />The king was satisfied. This might show his followers how weak his power was and <br />how empty their flattery was. <br />1. Which of the following activities has nothing to do with &ldquo; apple ­ <br />polishing&rdquo;？ <br />A．A boy tells his girlfriend how pretty she looks. <br />B．An employee tells her boss how good he is at management. <br />C．A knight is said to be of limitless power by his followers. <br />D．A teacher praises her students for their talent and wisdom. <br />2. What does the writer want to prove with Cromwell&#039;s example? <br />A．Everybody can be an &ldquo;apple­polisher&rdquo;． <br />B．Cromwell was not a good &ldquo;apple­polisher&rdquo;． <br />C．George Fox and his party were not &ldquo;apple­polishers&rdquo;． <br />D．There are people who don&#039;t like being &ldquo;apple­polished&rdquo;． <br />3. Which of the following statements about flattery is TRUE according to the <br />author? <br />A．Too much flattery can carry us away. <br />B．Flattery is too empty to do people any good. <br />C．Flattery can get you nothing but excessive(过度的) pride. <br />D．Flattery is one of the ways to apple­polish people. <br />4. Why did King Canute of Denmark and England take his followers to the seashore? <br />A．Because he was sick of his no...