专题限时训练(二十四)[社会生活型阅读理解(二)](限时:25分钟)(一)An“applepolisher”isonewhogivesgiftstowinfriendshiporspecialtreatment.Itisnotexactlyabribe(贿赂),butisclosetoit.Allsortsofpeopleare“applepolishers”,includingpoliticiansandpeopleinhighoffices—justabouteverybody.OliverCromwell,thegreatEnglishleader,offeredmanygiftstowinthesupportofGeorgeFoxandhisparty,butfailed.Thereareotherphrasesmeaningthesamethingas“apple-polishing”—“softsoaping”or“butteringup”.Agiftisjustonewayto“softsoap”somebody,orto“butterhimup”.Anotherthatisjustaseffectiveisflattery,givingsomeonehighpraise—tellinghimhowgoodhelooks,orhowwellhespeaks,orhowtalentedandwiseheis.Endlessarethewaysofflattery.Whodoesnotlovetohearit?Onlyanunusualmancanresistthethrillofbeingtoldhowwonderfulheis.Intruth,flatteryisgoodmedicineformostofus,whogetsolittleofit.Weneedittobemoresureofourselves.Itcannothurtunlesswegetcarriedawaybyit.Butifwejustlapitupforitsgoodvalueandnourishment,asacatlapsupmilk,thenwecanstillremaintruetoourselves.Sometimes,however,flatterywillgetyounothingfromonewhohashadtoomuchofit.Agoodexampleisthefamous12thcenturylegendofKingCanuteofDenmarkandEngland.Thekinggottiredoflisteningtoendlesssickeningflatteryofhiscourtiers(朝臣).Theyoverpraisedhimtotheskies,asamanoflimitlessmight.Hedecidedtoteachthemalesson.Hetookthemtotheseashoreandsatdown.Thenheorderedthewavestostopcomingin.Thetidewastoobusytolistentohim.Thekingwassatisfied.Thismightshowhisfollowershowweakhispowerwasandhowemptytheirflatterywas.1.Whichofthefollowingactivitieshasnothingtodowith“apple-polishing”?A.Aboytellshisgirlfriendhowprettyshelooks.B.Anemployeetellsherbosshowgoodheisatmanagement.C.Aknightissaidtobeoflimitlesspowerbyhisfollowers.D.Ateacherpraisesherstudentsfortheirtalentandwisdom.2.WhatdoesthewriterwanttoprovewithCromwell'sexample?A.Everybodycanbeanapplepolisher.B.Cromwellwasnotagoodapplepolisher.C.GeorgeFoxandhispartywerenotapplepolishers.D.Therearepeoplewhodon'tlikebeingapplepolished.3.WhichofthefollowingstatementsaboutflatteryisTRUEaccordingtotheauthor?A.Toomuchflatterycancarryusaway.B.Flatteryistooemptytodopeopleanygood.C.Flatterycangetyounothingbutexcessive(过度的)pride.D.Flatteryisoneofthewaystoapplepolishedpeople.4.WhydidKingCanuteofDenmarkandEnglandtakehisfollowerstotheseashore?A.Becausehewassickofhisnormallife.B.Becausehedislikedbeingoverpraisedanymore.C.Becausehewantedthemtorealizehowwisehewas.D.Becausehewantedthemtoseehowweakhewasasaking.5.Whodoestheauthorthinkthatflatterycandogoodto?A.Thosewhoarepoliticiansorinhighoffices.B.Thosewholackconfidence.C.Thosewhoarereallyexcellent.D.Thosewhothinkhighlyofthemselves.(二)Somesayeverydaymiracles(奇迹)arepredestined(注定的)—therighttimefortheappointedmeeting.Anditcanhappenanywhere.11yearoldKevinStephenwasabatboyforhisyoungerbrother'sLittleLeagueteaminLancaster,NewYork.ItwasanearlyeveninginlateJuly.Kevinwasstandingonthegrassawayfromtheplate,whereanotheryoungsterwaswarmingupforthenextgame.Swinginghisbatbackandforth,givingitallthepoweranelementaryschoolkidcouldgive,theboybroughtthebatbackhardandhitKevininthechest.Hisheartstopped.WhenKevinfelltotheground,themotherofoneoftheplayersrushedoutofthestandstohisaid.PennyBrownhadn'tplannedtobetherethatday,butatthelastminute,hershift(换班)atthehospitalhadbeenchangedtoseeherson'sperformance.Shewasgiventhen...