The apple trees have lots of big apples ________ them. And some birds are singing ________ the trees.

A. in; on   B. at; in    C. on; in   D. with; through

D
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.
“Apple-polishing” is as old as human society, but the phrase itself is recent, about 50 years old. It comes from the schoolroom. For a long time, some schoolboys would leave a shiny（有光泽的，发光的） apple on the teacher’s desk. They would rub and polish the apple to give it a bright shine, so as to make it look more tasty. Such a gift, the students hoped, might make the teacher shut her eyes to their poor work and give them a good mark.
All sorts of people are apple-polishers, including politicians and people in high offices—almost everybody.
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 way that is just as effective as apple-polishing is flattery, giving someone high praise — telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how wise he is. Flattery, of course, is the cheapest kind of “apple polishing”.
To flatter another costs you nothing and you can give it as freely as you want. And you can always find somebody eagerly looking for it.
53. An “apple-polisher” is one who ________.
A. tries to please someone to get favor   
B. bribes with money to get something
C. is really friendly to everyone around him
D. plants apple trees and polishes his apples every day
54. Why did the students polish the apple for their teacher?
A. They hoped that she would not pay attention to them.
B. They didn’t want her to wash the apple by herself.
C. They wished to draw her attention.
D. They longed for her giving them a good mark.  
55. According to the passage, the cheapest way to please someone is ________.
A. to flatter him                                               B. to bribe him
C. to talk freely with him                             D. to play jokes on him
56. The author seems to suggest that ________.
A. nobody likes to be flattered                    B. very few people apple-polish others
C. apple-polishing is a kind of bribe            D. many people like to be soft-soaped

The apple trees have lots of big apples ________ them. And some birds are singing ________ the trees.

1. A.
   in; on
2. B.
   at; in
3. C.
   on; in
4. D.
   with; through

The apple trees in the garden have ________. many apples.

1. A.
   born
2. B.
   borne
3. C.
   to bear
4. D.
   been bearing

An apple that stays fresh for moths has been developed by Australian scientists and could be on shop shelves by next year. Researchers have spent the last 20 years developing the fruit, which they have now claimed （声称） to be "the world's best apple."

The apple – at this stage known as RS103-130 – stays "crispy" for 14 days in a fruit bowl, but if kept in a fridge will remain fresh for as long as months. Its longevity （持久） is also obtained without GM （真菌） – its disease – resistant qualities come from a gene found in the Asian apple called mauls floribunda.

Tim Mulherin, Primary Industries （第一产业） Minister, said the state government was looking for a commercial supply partner to put the new apple on the market as early as next year.

"The beauty of this fruit is that you can buy it and stick it in a fruit bowl and it will maintain its firmness, texture and crispness for up to 14 days," he said.

"Another advantage is that if it goes into longer term storage, it will retain its freshness for months on end.

“This new variety is sweet and since it is disease－resistant, it requires few or no fungicides.” “Taste tests carried out so far have been outstanding. Out of the five apple types tasted, the new variety scored the highest – even better than the Pink Lady which is very popular in Britain."

Scientist Dr Simon Middleton has been working with apples at the Mapplethorpe Research Station since 1980 and said he was impressed by RS103-130. He said that this variety is unique in that it is naturally resistant to black spot （黑斑病）, a disease that costs the apple industry 6 million （more that $ 10 million） a year in Australia alone.

1．In what way is RS103 – 30 different from common apples?

       A．It is more expensive.                            B．It is more beautiful.

       C．It can be kept fresh longer.                   D．It can help resist diseases.

2．The underlined word “fungicides” （in Paragraph 6） probably means “kinds of      ”.

       A．technologies        B．advertisements     C．packages             D．chemicals

3．What do we know about RS 103 – 130?

       A．Tests have been carried out on its taste.

       B．It sells well in Britain as well as in Australia.

       C．Its disease – resistant qualities come from GM.

       D．It was developed by scientists 20 years ago.

4．What is the main purpose of the passage?

       A．To persuade us to buy RS 103 – 130.

       B．To introduce a new type of apple.

       C．To show us scientists’ contribution.

       D．To tell us how RS103 – 130 was developed.