An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe(賄賂),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 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.
小題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 his boss how good he is at management
C．A knight(騎士)is said to be of limitless power by his followers
D．A teacher praised his students for their talent and wisdom.
小題2:Which of the following statement 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 nothing but excessive(過度的)pride
D．Flattery is one of the ways to apple-polish people.
小題3:King Canute of Denmark and England took his followers to the seashore because __________.
A．he was sick of his normal
B．he disliked being overpraised any more
C．he wanted them to realize how wise he was
D．he wanted them to see how weak he was as a king
小題4:The author thinks that flattery can do good to those who _________.
A．a(chǎn)re really excellent
B．lack confidence
C．a(chǎn)re politicians or in high offices
D．think highly of themselves

小題1:D
小題2:D
小題3:B
小題4:B
文中講到美言對人的作用和可能產(chǎn)生的不良后果。
小題1:細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)第二段中的例子可知教師表揚學(xué)生不是這種關(guān)系。
小題2:細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)文中“In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who gets so little of it”可知恭維的話也是每個人都喜歡的，也是一劑良藥。
小題3:細(xì)節(jié)理解題 根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段總“The king got tired of listening to the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers（朝臣）”可知這個國王不想聽這些阿諛奉承的話，因此要給他們這些人一點教訓(xùn)。
小題4:細(xì)節(jié)理解題 文中“...We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it...”講到美言并不適合所有的人，對這些不能特別肯定自己的人是有必要的。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


One summer evening I was sitting by the open window, reading a good but rather frightening mystery story. After a time it was too dark for me to read easily, so I put my book down and turned on the light.
I was just about to draw the   36  as well when I heard a loud cry “Help! Help! ” It 37  to come from the trees at the end of the garden. I looked out but it was too 38  to see anything clearly. So I decided to go out and have a look in the garden, just 39  someone was in   40  . I took the torch and picked up a strong walking stick,   41  that this might come to be useful, too.   42   with these, I went out into the garden.   43   I heard the cry. There was no    44  that it came from the trees at the end of the garden.
“Who’s there?” I   45  as I walked, rather 46  , down the path that   47   to the trees. But there was no  48  . With the help of my torch I   49  the whole of that part of the garden and the lower  50   of the trees. There was no sign of anybody or anything. I came to the ___51___ that someone was playing a rather silly joke on me.
___52   feeling rather puzzled, I went back to the house and   53   away the torch and the stick. I had just sat down when I was startled by the cry of “ Help! Help! ”, this time from  54  my shoulder. I dropped my book and climbed up. There, sitting    55  of the mantelpiece ( 壁爐 ), was a parrot!
小題1:
A．gun　　　 B．picture　　C．curtains　　　 D．car
小題2:
A．seemed　　B．looked　　C．sounded　　　　D．proved
小題3:
A．far　　　 B．distant　　C．dark　　　　　D．black
小題4:
A．a(chǎn)s if　　B．even thoughC．on time　　 　D．in case
小題5:
A．difficultB．power　　　C．trouble　　　D．ease
小題6:
A．thinking　B．wishing　　C．demanding　　D．requesting
小題7:
A．SuppliedB．Loaded　　　C．ArmedD．Decorated
小題8:
A．Again and againB．Now and then
C．From time to timeD．Once again
小題9:
A．wonderB．doubtC．problem　　　D．question
小題10:
A．spoke outB．called out C．got outD．said out
小題11:
A．seriouslyB．nervously　C．curiouslyD．hurriedly
小題12:
A．led　　　B．wentC．passed　　　　D．joined
小題13:
A．person　　B．body　　　C．a(chǎn)nswer　　　　D．voice
小題14:
A．studied　 B．searchedC．tested　　　　D．examined
小題15:
A．roots　　B．branches　　C．leaves　　　　D．bushes
小題16:
A．beginningB．end　　C．conclusion　　D．introduction
小題17:
A．But　　　B．Yet　　　　 C．Already　　　D．Still
小題18:
A．put　　　 B．took　　　　 C．threw　　　 　D．cleared
小題19:
A．far off　 B．down belowC．left to　　　D．right behind
小題20:
A．on top　　B．a(chǎn)t the foot　C．inside　　　D．Outside

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

Allan Paul, a final year engineering student, was considered as a safe driver by all who knew him. One sunny morning, Allan was on his way home from his friend’s house on his favorite bike. All of a sudden, due to a major 31  by a truck driver near a traffic signal, Allan’s bike was hit by the huge truck. Poor Allan lost his legs and was 32  in the middle of the road, trembling.
He cried out for help but no one troubled to  33 . They were afraid of the consequences they could face if they gave Allan  34 .
There was a huge crowd gathering,  35  Allan like he was an alien. Allan kept crying and shouting aloud and finally he  36  his body to the sidewalk. Then he saw a man getting out of a car. Allan  37  him and cried out, “Please help me. I want to live. Save me, I am  38 .”
The man ran over and  39 . He picked up Allan and took him to the hospital. Allan gave him his  40  number and the man then called Allan’s house to inform his parents about the  41  and their son’s situation. Allan’s parents rushed to the  42 ; the doctors told them there was no  43  and asked them to take Allan home since it was impossible for him to  44 .    
Allan asked his parents to only  45  one person when he died, the man who had helped him. He also requested that they not inform or allow anybody else to see his dead body. Allan  46 the same night. As was Allan’s last  47 , his father called only that man and informed him about Allan’s  48 .?
Only a person, who has a  49  heart and who offers his service for the good of his fellow human beings, is a man. Those who  50  to, remain animals forever.
小題1:
A．issueB．mistakeC．crisisD．problem
小題2:
A．sittingB．standing C．lyingD．rolling
小題3:
A．pick him upB．take him inC．calm him downD．leave him alone
小題4:
A．some supportB．some adviceC．a(chǎn) liftD．a(chǎn) helping hand
小題5:
A．greetingB．watchingC．a(chǎn)ttackingD．teasing
小題6:
A．carried B．pushedC．draggedD．conveyed
小題7:
A．turned toB．thought ofC．pointed at D．called on
小題8:
A．exhaustedB．helplessC．painfulD．dying
小題9:
A．yelledB．helpedC．hesitatedD．stopped
小題10:
A．officeB．a(chǎn)ccountC．contactD．street
小題11:
A．a(chǎn)ccidentB．operationC．injuryD．consequence
小題12:
A．roadB．scene C．homeD．hospital
小題13:
A．bedB．hopeC．timeD．trouble
小題14:
A．surviveB．recoverC．walkD．improve
小題15:
A．forgiveB．visitC．callD．thank
小題16:
A．broke down B．passed awayC．gave inD．burned out
小題17:
A．viewB．ideaC．wishD．comment
小題18:
A．situationB．willC．funeralD．death
小題19:
A．helpingB．innocentC．braveD．cheerful
小題20:
A．fearB．pretendC．failD．claim

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

My neighbor’s children love playing hide-and-seek (捉迷藏) as all children do, but no one   36  that a game they played last week would be reported in the local newspaper.
One afternoon, they were playing in the vacant lot (空地)down by the corner. Young Paul, who is only five years old, found the perfect place to   37 . His sister, Natalie, had   38  her eyes and was counting to ten when Paul noticed the mail box at the corner and that the metal door was standing open. The mailman had just   39  several bags of mail and had carried them to his truck which was standing a few feet away. Paul climbed   40  the mail box and pulled the door closed so hard that it   41 . Soon realizing what he had done, he became   42  and started crying. At that time, Natalie was looking for him everywhere but could not find him. It was   43  that she happened to stand at the corner for a minute and heard her brother’s cries. She   44  ran to tell the mailman who hurried back from his   45  to unlock the metal door. Paul was now   46 , but he had such a bad fright that he could not stop crying. The mailman, however, soon found a way of making him   47  again. He told him that the next time he wanted to hide in a mail box, he should remember to put a stamp on himself!
小題1:
A．realizedB．warned C．imaginedD．wondered
小題2:
A．hideB．watch C．rest D．sleep
小題3:
A．openedB．shutC．raisedD．wiped
小題4:
A．lostB．foundC．taken outD．put in
小題5:
A．throughB．overC．out ofD．into
小題6:
A．brokeB．fell downC．openedD．locked
小題7:
A．surprisedB．frightenedC．excitedD．a(chǎn)ngry
小題8:
A．luckyB．a(chǎn) pityC．possibleD．strange
小題9:
A．suddenlyB．slowlyC．immediatelyD．carelessly
小題10:
A．homeB．truckC．mail boxD．post office
小題11:
A．foundB．hiddenC．happyD．free
小題12:
A．laughB．cryC．climb inD．play

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The personal computer has overtaken the family dog as man's best friend．a(chǎn)ccording to a study．
Researchers found that just 6 per cent of us believe that“ most people rely more on their dog than they do on their PC”，while 67 per cent think the opposite to be true．
Even 38 per cent of dog owners admitted to relying more on their PC than on their dog, although 36 per cent disagreed.
And 71 per cent of 18 to 24-year-old dog owners said they relied more on their computer．
Paul Allen，editor of Computeractive magazine said：“These days you can even you’re your PC for fl walk，provided you have a laptop or tablet.”
“It's only a matter of time until the first PC that fetches your slippers．”
Researchers questioned 2，000 British adults to find out the change modern technology has brought to their home life．
They found that male dog owners are almost twice as likely as female owners to rely on their computer than a canine companion.
Mr．Allen said：“With broadband bringing them global news and newspaper sales falling，the family dog even misses out on the pleasure of taking the paper to his owner．”
But it's not all bad news for obedient dogs．
“The family PC has given dog owners access to a wealth of resources and information that can help with the long-term care that a dog needs，”Mr．Allen said．
小題1:Who are most likely to rely on computers?
A．Teens．
B．People in their early twenties．
C．People in their early thirties．
D．People in their early forties．
小題2:What is the general idea of the passage?
A．The personal computer has replaced the dog as man's best friends．
B．The computer and the dog as man's best friends．
C．Modern technology has brought changes to people's home life．
D．The dog as a pet will disappear completely from people's life．
小題3:The advantage of dogs as pets over the personal computer now is that
A．the dog can go out for a walk with people
B．the dog can help people fetch something
C．the dog can bring people more pleasure
D．the dog is more likely to follow its owner's orders
小題4:The underlined word“canine”in Paragraph 8 probably means
A．humanB．pet C．family D．dog
小題5:According to Mr. Allen，the personal computer
A．won't have effect on newspaper sales
B．can't help people take better care of the dog
C．will drive the dog as a pet out completely
D．will be able to help people fetch something

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


A group of graduates got together to visit their old university professor. They talked about the 36   topic-happiness. But soon their conversation turned into complaints about  37 in work and life.
To offer his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and  38 with a large pot of coffee and a variety of  39 -plastic glass, metal, porcelain (陶瓷), some  plain-looking  some  very  40 .The professor told his students to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in  41 . the professor said:" lf you have noticed, all the nice-looking  42 . cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is   43 for you to want only the best for Your belives, that is the  44 of your problems and stress. The professor continued," Believe that the cup itself adds no  45 to the coffee. ln most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases it even  46 what we drink. What all of you  47 wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went  48 the best cups. Now  49 this: life is coffee, the jobs, money, and  50 in society are the cups， which are just tools to hold and  51 life, and the different types of cups we have don't decide, nor   52 the quality of life. lf we concentrate only on the cups, we will  53 to enjoy the coffee in it. So don't let the cups  54 you...enjoy the coffee instead."
At these words, the graduates looked at each other in  55 embarrassment.
小題1:
A．hotB．sensitiveC．famousD．easy
小題2:
A．payB．joyC．experienceD．stress
小題3:
A．cookedB．tookC．returnedD．met
小題4:
A．cupsB．giftsC．platesD．drinks
小題5:
A．commonB．specialC．rareD．delicate
小題6:
A．orderB．timeC．handD．place
小題7:
A．prettyB．differentC．colorful D．expensive
小題8:
A．necessaryB．normalC．goodD．possible
小題9:
A．situationB．a(chǎn)nswerC．resultD．source
小題10:
A．qualityB．energyC．weightD．color
小題11:
A．makesB．givesC．hidesD．includes
小題12:
A．finallyB．reallyC．especiallyD．nearly
小題13:
A．forB．withC．offD．to
小題14:
A．forgetB．discussC．considerD．try
小題15:
A．positionB．relationC．workmatesD．friends
小題16:
A．createB．supportC．containD．own
小題17:
A．damageB．determineC．changeD．increase
小題18:
A．comeB．stopC．haveD．fail
小題19:
A．driveB．holdC．takeD．control
小題20:
A．quietB．speechlessC．a(chǎn)mazingD．reasonable

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


It was lunchtime and I walked into a small branch office on the West Side. I had come to   36  a checking account. The only officer on   37  was a fortyish black man, standing   38  a small counter from a young white boy who was wearing a V-necked sweater. I think I was especially   39  of the boy because he looked more like a kid from a prep school than a   40  in a West Side bank.
The boy continued to   41  my attention because of what happened next. He was holding an open savings-account book and   42  an expression of disappointment. “But I don’t understand. I opened the account myself, so why can’t I   43  any money?” the boy said, his voice breaking.
“I know it is, but those are the rules. I’ve already explained to you that a fourteen-year-old is not   44  to withdraw money without a letter from his parents,” the officer explained patiently.
Suddenly I noticed the account had a series of small deposits and withdraws. Then I questioned the officer, “How do you   45  that? Why did you let him withdraw money before, but not now?” He looked   46 . “Because the tellers were not aware of his age before and now they are. It’s really very   47 .” I turned to the boy with a shrug. “You’re really getting   48 ,” I said. “You ought to get your parents to come in here and   49 .” The boy looked destroyed.   50 , he put his savings book in a rear-pocket and walked out of the bank.
The officer turned to me. “You know,” he said, “you really shouldn’t have got   51 .” I couldn’t believe what this idiot was saying. “We were   52  this morning that some neighborhood bully has been shaking down (敲詐) this boy for more than a month. The other guy was   53  him to take money out every week and hand it over. The poor kid was   54  too scared to tell anyone. Anyway, the police are on the case and they’ll probably make a(n)  55  today."
“You mean there is no rule about being too young to withdraw money from a savings account?”
“Not that I ever heard of. Now, sir, what can we do for you?”
小題1:
A．makeB．openC．buyD．choose
小題2:
A．dutyB．boardC．displayD．show
小題3:
A．onB．a(chǎn)fterC．over D．a(chǎn)cross
小題4:
A．sureB．proudC．a(chǎn)wareD．a(chǎn)fraid
小題5:
A．guardB．customerC．clerkD．manager
小題6:
A．a(chǎn)ttractB．payC．a(chǎn)ttachD．control
小題7:
A．puttingB．writingC．sayingD．wearing
小題8:
A．borrowB．depositC．withdrawD．use
小題9:
A．toldB．inspiredC．encouragedD．a(chǎn)llowed
小題10:
A．a(chǎn)rgue B．explainC．a(chǎn)nswerD．declare
小題11:
A．a(chǎn)nnoyedB．disappointedC．excitedD．a(chǎn)mused
小題12:
A．easyB．a(chǎn)mazingC．fantasticD．simple
小題13:
A．a(chǎn)rrangedB．convincedC．cheatedD．caught
小題14:
A．protestB．promiseC．prohibitD．prepare
小題15:
A．Excitedly B．SilentlyC．CheerfullyD．Nervously
小題16:
A．interactedB．interruptedC．involvedD．infected
小題17:
A．a(chǎn)skedB．discovered C．suggestedD．informed
小題18:
A．rushingB．forcingC．requestingD．begging
小題19:
A．hardlyB．unwillinglyC．a(chǎn)pparentlyD．eagerly
小題20:
A．a(chǎn)rrestB．sentence C．a(chǎn)pologyD．difference

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


Visitors can find a small, old house called the O. Henry Museum in central Austin, Texas. William Sydney Porter(1862-1910)----better known as O. Henry, was one of America’s best loved writers of short stories. Beginning in 1893, he lived here. It was saved from destruction, moved, and turned into a museum in 1934. The museum is a good way to learn about the interesting life of him.
William Porter rented this house and lived with his wife and daughter for about two years. Many objects in the museum belonged to the Porters. Others did not, but are in the house to recreate the way it looked during their lifetime.
Porter worked at a pharmacy, farm, land office and bank. He also loved words and writing. The museum has special proof of Porter’s love of language---his dictionary. It’s said that he read every word in it. Porter started a small publication called “The Rolling Stone”. He wasn’t being published early on, so he published himself. His funny stories, poems, and drawings were published in the magazine. But it was too costly to continue for long, so he closed the project after about one year.
Other troubles would lead the Porters to leave Austin. Porter was accused of financial wrongdoing at the bank and lost his job. Fearing a trial, he fled the country. But he returned because his wife was dying. After her death, he faced trial and was found guilty. He served three and a half years in a federal prison in Ohio.
Porter would keep his time in prison a secret. But there was one good thing about it. It provided him with time to write. By the time of his release, he had published 14 stories and was becoming well-known as O. Henry.
Porter would later move to New York City and find great success there. He published over 380 stories in the last eight years of his life.
小題1:What is the author’s purpose of writing paragraph 3?
A．To attract more visitors to the O. Henry Museum.
B．To show the jobs O. Henry once did.
C．To show O. Henry’s early love of words and writing.
D．To introduce O. Henry’s publication called “The Rolling Stone”.
小題2:Which of the following shows the right order of O. Henry?
a. He was committed to prison.
b. He settled down in central Austin.
c. His wife died.
d. He started a small publication called “The Rolling Stone”.
e. He moved to New York City.
A．bdcaeB．bcadeC．bdceaD．bacde
小題3:What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Most of O. Henry’s short stories were finished in prison.
B．O. Henry didn’t start his career as a successful writer when living in central Austin.
C．O. Henry was born in a small, old house which is called the O. Henry Museum now.
D．O. Henry spent his last life in the small, old house in Texas.
小題4:What does the author want to tell us in the passage?
A．O. Henry’s experience in prison.
B．The objects in the O. Henry’s Museum
C．O. Henry’s achievement in literature.
D．A brief account of O. Henry’s life

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


A farmer had a cow.
A farmer had a cow. He took very good care of this cow and one day when it was ill, he was very worried. He telephoned the vet.
“What’s the problem?” The vet asked him when he arrived.
“My cow’s ill,” the farmer said. “I don’t know what's the matter with her. She’s lying down and won’t eat. She’s making a strange noise.”
The vet looked over the cow. "She’s certainly ill," he said, "and she needs to take some very strong medicine."
He took a bottle out of his box, put two pills into his hand and said, "Give her these. The pills should make her better."
“How should I give them to her?” the farmer asked.
The vet gave him a tube (管子)and said, "Put this tube in her mouth, then put the pills in the tube and blow（吹）. That’ll make it."
The next day the vet came to the farm again. The farmer was sitting outside his house and looked more worried.
“How’s your cow?” the vet asked.
“No change,” the farmer said, “and I’m feeling very strange myself.”
“Oh?” the vet said, "Why?"
“I did what you said,” the farmer answered. “I put the tube in the cow’s mouth and then put two pills down it.”
“And?” the vet asked.
“The cow blew first,” the farmer said.
小題1:The farmer asked the vet for help when his cow _______
A．couldn't lie downB．didn't eat the pillsC．couldn't make any noiseD．was ill
小題2:What medicine did the vet give the farmer?
A．A bottle of pills.B．A long tube. C．Two pills.D．A small box.
小題3:The vet taught the farmer how _________.
A．to blow the tubeB．to make the cow take the pills
C．to take the medicineD．to put the tube in his mouth
小題4:Which of the following is true?
A．The farmer ate the pills himself.
B．The cow got better after taking the medicine.
C．The vet came to help the farmer change the cow the next day.
D．The farmer was working outside his house the next day.

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