Don't use apply(), use f(foo, *args, *kwargs).

src/ZODB/tests/StorageTestBase.py

@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@ def handle_serials(oid, *args):
 
     A helper for function _handle_all_serials().
     """
-    args = (oid,) + args
-    return apply(handle_all_serials, args)[oid]
+    return handle_all_serials(oid, *args)[oid]
 
 def import_helper(name):
     mod = __import__(name)

src/ZODB/tests/Synchronization.py

@@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ class SynchronizedStorage:
 ##        self.assertRaises(StorageTransactionError, callable *args)
 
     def verifyNotCommitting(self, callable, *args):
-        args = (StorageTransactionError, callable) + args
-        apply(self.assertRaises, args)
+        self.assertRaises(StorageTransactionError, callable, *args)
 
     def verifyWrongTrans(self, callable, *args):
         t = Transaction()