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 “butter-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 or 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 gets so little of it.
We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it. But 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 the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers（朝臣）.They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless power.
He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. Then he ordered the waves to stop ing 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.
【小题1】Which of the following activities has nothing to do with “apple-polishing” ?A．A boy tells his girlfriend how pretty she looksB．An employee tells his boss how good he is at managementC．A knight(骑士)is said to be of limitless power by his followersD．A teacher praised his students for their talent and wisdom.【小题2】Which of the following statement about flattery is TRUE according to the author ?A．Too much flattery can carry us awayB．Flattery is too empty to do people any goodC．Flattery can get nothing but excessive(过度的)prideD．Flattery is one of the ways to apple-polish people.【小题3】King Canute of Denmark and England took his followers to the seashore because .A．he was sick of his normalB．he disliked being overpraised any moreC．he wanted them to realize how wise he wasD．he wanted them to see how weak he was as a king【小题4】The author thinks that flattery can do good to those who .A．are really excellentB．lack confidenceC．are politicians or in high officesD．think highly of themselvesD
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(答案→)D
解析：文中讲到美言对人的作用和可能产生的不良后果。
【小题1】细节理解题 根据第二段中的例子可知教师表扬学生不是这种关系。
【小题2】细节理解题 根据文中“In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who gets so little of it”可知恭维的话也是每个人都喜欢的，也是一剂良药。
【小题3】细节理解题 根据倒数第二段总“The king got tired of listening to the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers（朝臣）”可知这个国王不想听这些阿谀奉承的话，因此要给他们这些人一点教训。
【小题4】细节理解题 文中“...We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it...”讲到美言并不适合所有的人，对这些不能特别肯定自己的人是有必要的。