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.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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight.Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal changes that increase feelings of hunger.
In one study,researchers in the United States examined information on more than 1000 people.The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders.
Some people slept less than five hours a night.They had 15 percent higher blood levels of a hormone called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours.And they had 15 percent less of the hormone leptin.Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry;leptin makes you feel full.
The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity in Western societies.They note the combination that limitation is common and is widely available.
The results were not affected by how much people exercised.People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy.But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods,so people gain weight.It seems that,for survival,the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.
Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study.They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is 7.7 hours a night.
The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine.Internet users can read the full study,free of charge,at plos.org.Which of the following shows the right way in which lack of sleep causes weight gain?
| A．more ghrelin and less leptin→feeling hungry→eating more |
| B．feeling hungry→eating more→more ghrelin and less leptin |
| C．burning more energy→feeling hungry→eating more |
| D．more leptin and less ghrelin→feeling full→less exercise |
The two words missing in the 4th paragraph should be “_________”and “_________”.
| A．weight;sleep | B．sleep;food | C．hunger;food | D．weight;work |
When you sleep 7.7 hours a night,you will_________.
| A．have your ghrelin level rise and leptin level drop |
| B．have your leptin level rise and ghrelin level drop |
| C．have your ghrelin and leptin levels properly balanced |
| D．feel neither hungry nor full |
The writer wrote this passage to_________.
| A．make a news report | B．offer a piece of medical advice |
| C．make an advertisement | D．keep a record of the research findings |
| 1.Needed:Full time secretary position available.Applicants should be able to type 60 words a minute.No computer skills required.Apply in person at United Business Ltd.,17 Browning Street. |
2.Are you looking for a part time job?We require 3 part time shop assistants to work during the evening.No experience is required,applicants should be between 18 and 26.Call 366-76564 for more information. |
| 3.Computer trained secretaries:Do you have experience working with computers?Would you like a full time position working in an exciting new company?If your answer is yes,call 457-896754. |
4.Teacher needed:Tommy's Kindergarten needs 2 teachers/trainers to help with classes from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m.Applicants should have appropriate licenses(许可证）.For more information visit Tommy's Kindergarten in Leicester Square No.56. |
5.Part time wor available:We are looking for retired adults who would like to work part time at the weekend.Responsibilities include answering the telephone and giving customers information.For more information contact Nile Airlines by calling 345-674132. |
6.University positions open:The University of Cumberland is looking for 4 teaching assistants to help with homework correction.Applicants should have a degree in one of the following:Political Science,Computer Science,Economics or History.Please contact the University of Cumberland for more information. |
Suppose you are a first-year student who wants to earn some money to pay your university expenses,you may_________.
| A．call 345-674132 |
| B．call 366-76564 |
| C．contact United Business Ltd |
| D．contact Cumberland University |
According to the advertisements,which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Experience is required if you want to work as a shop assistant. |
| B．You may be employed by United Business Ltd.if you can type fast enough. |
| C．You are sure to get a job at Tommy's Kindergarten if you have a degree. |
| D．Nile Airlines needs a peson to deal with customers' information. |
Who are the advertisements intended for?
| A．Job hunters. | B．College graduates. |
| C．Retired teachers. | D．Computer majors. |
Contact us
Email:hywinter@263.net
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Tel:+86-10-82115893
Fax:+86-10-82115893
Add:Room 405,17 Building,Sun Garden,Haidian District,Beijing
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Tel:0086-21-34240860 34240925
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Tel:0086-20-38981061
Fax:0086-20-38981062
Add:North 6F,Junhui Tower,No.9 of Sports West Road,Tianhe District,Guangzhou.
Post Code:510620
Recruitment policy.
Please carefully read the following before applying.
You are a native speaker of the language you translate into ［Target language］.
You were awarded at least a Masters Degree or equivalent in your native language.
You have a perfect understanding of the language you translate from ［Source language］.
You have studied or spent a subsequent number of years in the country of the language you
translate from.
You have minimum five (5) years experience in the translation field.
You specialise in only a couple of subjects but have extensive experience in these fields.
You have a good command of computer software and are familiar with basic layout techniques.
Your spelling and grammar is impeccable.
You can show at least two professional references.
Your average turnaround for translation is 3000 words daily.
You can work easily under pressure and respond quickly to queries.
If you can answer “YES” comfortably to these questions,please fill in the application form only for sending details and we would be glad to hear from you.The purpose of the text is_________.
| A．to give advice on how to be a good translator |
| B．to introduce a translation company |
| C．to encourage native speakers to become translators |
| D．to advertise for qualified translators |
.If you live in Shanghai,you may get in touch with the company by_________.
| A．writing to Room 405,17 Building,Sun Garden,Haidian District,Beijing |
| B．sending an email to hywinter@263.net |
| C．calling 0086-21-34240925 |
| D．sending a fax to 0086-20-38981062 |
Which of the following is NOT included in the requirements to apply?
| A．You have worked as a translator for at least 5 years. |
| B．You are a native speaker of the language you translate from. |
| C．You can operate computer well. |
| D．You make no spelling or grammatical mistake. |
We can infer from the text that_________.
| A．people from different countries are welcome to apply |
| B．you only need to meet some of the requirements mentioned |
| C．you have to translate 3000 words every day |
| D．you should know how to work together with others |
When I come across a good essay in reading newspapers,I am often inclined to cut and keep it.But just as I am about to do so I find the article on the opposite side is as much interesting.It may be a discussion of the way to keep in good health,or advice about how to behave and conduct oneself in society.If I cut the front essay,the opposite one is bound to suffer damage,leaving out half of it or keeping the text without the subject.As a result,the scissors would stay before they start,or halfway done when I find out the regretful consequence that inevitably causes my repentance.
Sometimes two things are to be done at the same time,both deserving your attention.You can only take up one of them,the other has to wait or be given up.But you know the future is unpredictable—the changed situation may not allow you to do what is left behind.Thus you are caught in a fix and feel sad.How come that nice opportunities and brilliant ideas should gather around all at once? It may happen that your life changes dramatically on your preference of one alternative to the other.
In fact that is what life is like:we are often faced with the two opposite aspects of a thing which are both desirable like newspaper cutting.It often occurs that our attention is drawn to one thing only after we are engaged in another.The former may be more important than the latter and give rise to a divided mind.I still remember a philosopher’s remarks:“When one door shuts,another opens in life.”So a casual or passive choice may not be a bad one.
Whatever we do in our lifetime,wherever life’s storm tosses us,there must be something we can achieve,some shore we can land,that opens up new vistas to us.Don’t forget God always keeps an alternative door open for every one.While the front door is closed,there must be another open for you.When the writer finds a good article in reading newspapers,_________.
| A．he is always glad to cut and keep it |
| B．he is always hesitant to cut and keep it |
| C．he often has a desire to cut and keep it |
| D．he often finds it difficult to decide which side to cut and keep |
The writer feels regretful because_________.
| A．he fails to choose a good essay |
| B．he fails to cut the two essays on both sides well |
| C．he finds the essay on the opposite side is better |
| D．he finds that he just keeps the text without the subject |
What’s the meaning of the underlined part in Paragraph 2?
| A．You’re trapped in a trouble. |
| B．You find it difficult to fix something. |
| C．You are trapped in a situation where you can’t decide which choice is better. |
| D．You have so many opportunities that you don’t know which to choose. |
Which one do you think is the best title of this passage?
| A．Paper Cutting | B．Two Opposite Sides |
| C．Difficult Choices | D．Another Door |
A severely handicapped teenager who cannot walk,talk or hold a paintbrush has won a place at Oxford to study fine art.
Hero Joy Nightingale,16,who communicates through hand movements,is to be given assistants to paint and sculpt on her behalf.Her mother Pauline Reid “translated for” her daughter during interviews for the place at Magdalen College.
The teenager is the most severely handicapped student ever to be granted a place at Oxford.She suffers from “locked-in syndrome”,a profound apraxia caused by brain damage that renders her body useless and her voice mute.
She is unlikely ever to be able to walk,feed or care for herself but,thanks to the efforts of her mother,she can communicate.When Hero was four,Pauline devised a complicated system of hand gestures that equate to the alphabet.
A spokesperson for Oxford said,“The university welcomes applications from students with disabilities.In cases where students are profoundly disabled,there may be many issues that need to be carefully addressed before an individual can take up a place,such as establishing how the student can best be taught and examined.”
Hero,who suffers almost daily epileptic fits and has a hole in her heart,has not attended school since she was six.She has been taught at home by her mother and father,the pro-vice chancellor of Kent University.
Peter Giles,her art tutor until last year,said she has a genuine talent for art.“She is ferociously gifted.We would sit together and her mother would grab her daughter’s hand and then we would begin work,”he said.
Together,they built several modern sculptures from plaster and metal.“The instructions would take a while to decipher.But eventually,they would come,and eventually make sense.”
Hero’s classes will be held at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art.Hero communicates with others _________.
| A．through common hand movements |
| B．by typing words on computer |
| C．through a complicated system of hand gestures devised by her mother |
| D．by drawing pictures on a board |
According to the passage,how does Hero paint or sculpt?
| A．She instructs her assistants to paint or sculpt through hand movements. |
| B．She gives instructions,and her mother paints or sculpts following her instructions. |
| C．She paints or sculpts with her own hands. |
| D．She gives instructions,her mother “translates” them,and her assistants paint or sculpt according to the “translations”. |
From the story we can infer _________.
| A．Oxford welcomes any handicapped student who is good at fine art |
| B．Hero has not attended school since she was six |
| C．Hero is gifted in fine art |
| D．Hero is a strong-minded girl who loves life very much |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Hero is the most seriously handicapped student ever to be admitted to Oxford. |
| B．Oxford will admit a disabled student without any requirements. |
| C．Hero has been taught by her parents at home for10 years. |
| D．Hero is not able to walk,talk or hold a paintbrush. |