Why is the apple a symbol of education in the United States?
蘋果在美國文化裡是教育的象徵，為什麼？
https://www.51voa.com/VOA_Special_English/apple-polishers-often-become-teacher-s-pet-82827.html
2019-09-10
圖片來自bing.com
1）In the United States, people have long used the apple as a sign or symbol for education. 美國人拿蘋果作為教育的象徵由來已久。
2) Some historians say this tradition began in the 1800s when settlers were moving to what is now the western United States.
歷史學家說這種傳統開始於19世紀，當時移民正要搬到現如今的美國西部地區。
settler：Settlers are people who go to live in a new country.殖民者;移民
3）Back then, the U.S. government did not provide money for schools in the western frontier. The early settlers were responsible for making the schoolhouses and operating them. They also had to provide housing and food for the teachers.
那時候，美國政府沒給西疆的學校撥一分錢；早期的移民者得建校舍、還得負責學校的運營、還得給老師提供食宿。
4）Students would bring teachers food from family farms. This would often include potatoes, vegetables and apples. Apples were a fairly common form of payment since they grew easily in many different climates. And they were used to make apple cider, a popular drink.
學生從自家田裡給老師帶來吃的，充作學費，其中有土豆、蔬菜和蘋果；而蘋果是最常見的，因為蘋果在好多不同環境下都能長得很好。蘋果還能拿來做蘋果酒。
注：古代行拜師禮時弟子贈與師父的六種禮物（六禮束脩）分別是： 芹菜（寓意為勤奮好學，業精於勤） 蓮子（蓮子心苦，寓意苦心教育） 紅豆（寓意紅運高照） 紅棗（寓意早早高中） 桂圓（寓意功德圓滿） 乾瘦肉條（以表達弟子心意）
5）Over the years, the tradition of giving food, in this case apples, as payment changed. It became a way of welcoming a teacher on the first day of class and hopefully leaving a good impression.
隨著時間的流逝，食物當學費的傳統有了變化。它成了一種開學第一節課歡迎老師、希望給老師留下好印象的方式。
6）Giving apples to teachers became a way of trying to curry favor with them. To curry someone's favor means you try to win them over by giving them something.
給老師蘋果變成了一種拍馬屁的方式。
curry favour (with sb): (disapproving) to try to get sb to like or support you by praising or helping them a lot 討好；奉承；拍馬屁
7）You know, if you often give your teacher an apple, he or she may look kindly on you when they grade your next test. And if that apple is a beautiful, shiny one ... well, your chances of getting better treatment is increased. And that is where the term apple-polisher comes in.
你明白的，如果你經常給你的老師一個蘋果，他們可能在你下回考試打分時優待你一些；如果那蘋果漂亮又有光澤，呃，你被老師善待的機會又會大大增高；這就是術語“apple-polisher”的由來。
apple polisher: 英 [ˈæpl ˈpɒlɪʃə(r)] 美 [ˈæpl ˈpɑːlɪʃər] someone who humbles himself as a sign of respect 擦蘋果的人;馬屁精;拍馬屁的人;拍馬屁者
8) When you apple-polish, you use gifts or say nice things to improve your situation.
當你“apple-polish”時，你用禮物或說甜言蜜語來改善自己的境況。
9）We have other words that mean the same thing. We also call this type of person a kiss-up, toady or boot-licker. Another popular one is teacher's pet.
還有一些詞跟它意思是一樣的，我們把這種人叫做“kiss-up”、“boot-licker”、還有一種流行說法是“teacher's pet”。
lick sb's boots：(disapproving) to show too much respect for sb in authority because you want to please them 阿諛奉承；諂媚；拍馬屁
teacher's pet：老師的寵兒、得意門生
本材料源自www.51voa.com，經過本人節選、後期翻譯而成，若有翻譯的不妥當的地方，歡迎指正
