An "apple polisher" is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe, but is close to it

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问题     An "apple polisher" is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe, 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 the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers. 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.
King Canute of Denmark and England took his followers to the seashore because

选项 A、he was sick of his normal life.
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.

答案B

解析 文章第6段第3句的got tired点明了卡努特国王此举的原因,由此可确定B为本题答案。本题最具干扰性的是D,虽然该选项可在最后一段的最后一句找到,但只要对比选项和句子就可以发现,选项只包含了句子一半的内容,概括性不够。B在文中未提及;C与原文事实不符。
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