Lesson 89   A slip of tongue

Who made the only funny joke that evening and why?

People will do anything to see a free show---even if is a bad one. When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company, we all rushed to see it. We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen. Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed, as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was; ‘This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!’

Summary writing

Make a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words. Write two different paragraphs using the points and connections given below.

The local cinema was packed塞满的 because the P & U Bird Seed Company was presenting a free comedy show. As many of the artistes who should have appeared failed to turn up出现发生,the

show was very dull. The funniest thing we heard came at the beginning from the advertiser who introduced the programme saying,‘ This is the Poo and Ec Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!                  68 words

   The local cinema was packed. The P & U Bird Seed Company was presenting a free comedy show but many of the artists who should have appeared failed to turn up. Because of this, the show was very dull. The funniest thing we heard came at the beginning from the advertiser who introduced the programme saying, ‘ This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!’                         70 words

Composition

Write a newspaper report of the event事件 described in the passage. Write two paragraphs in about 150 words using the ideas given below;

1 There was a long queue of people outside the cinema---many people failed to get in---they were the lucky ones.

2 A description of the stage舞台---there was a large, ugly model

of a yellow bird---free packet of bird seed for the audience观众---the advertiser’s mistake---how the audience reacted---the rest of the show; a disappointment.

     Yesterday afternoon, a comedy show was given at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company. Before the show began, there was already a long queue of people outside, but many of them failed to come in. Fortunately the show was one of the dullest ones. So they were the lucky ones.

There was a bare空的 stage with only a microphone in the middle and an ugly model of a yellow bird beside it. And some free packets of bird seed were prepared for the audience. The

Only funny thing about the show was the advertiser. As he was too nervous to speak, he stood awkwardly 笨拙的 before the microphone for some minutes. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. The audience knew what he should have said, though he kept making mistakes. The rest of the show was not as amusing as the audience had expected, so they felt somewhat disappointed.               159 words

Letter writing

Write three letter-endings followed by postscripts附言

1.    I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

                Your love,

                   Peter

   P.S. I’ll send you a copy of the novel小说 by separate单独的 post.

2. I shall be looking forward to hearing from you soon.

                Best regards

                   Lily

   P.S. I am leaving for Shanghai on a business trip, and shall be back in a week.

3. I wish you a happy holiday.

                 Yours sincerely真诚的,

                     John                    

   P. S. Will you please send me some pictures you have taken during the holiday?

Key structures

Exercise

C Supply must not or need not in the following sentences;

1 You () open the door of the compartment until the train has stopped. It is very dangerous.

2 You () bother操心 to post those letters for me. I’ll be going out myself soon.

1 must not

2 need not

D Supply the correct form of have to or should in the following sentences;

1 I’m sorry I couldn’t get here on time. I ____(go ) to the bank.

2 I ____(go) to the dentist yesterday but I forgot all about it.

3 We ____(begin) work at 9 o’clock but we never do.

1 had to go

2 should have gone

3 should begin

Special difficulties

Words often confused and misused

Study these examples

A Free and Single.

People will do anything to see a free show.

The people are free to choose who will govern them.

Is she still single? I thought she was going to get married last April.

B Queue and Row.

We had to queue for hours to get in.

There was a long queue outside the cinema.

I enjoyed the performance because I had a very good seat in the fifth row.

had a very good seat in the fifth row.

had a very good seat in the fifth row.

had a very good seat in the fifth row.

C Funny                         

The only funny things we heard that evening…

There’s something funny about this house. ( Something peculiar特殊的罕见的.)

Exercises

A Choose the correct words in the following sentences;

1 I joined the (queue) (row) at the bus stop.

2 He’s still (free) (single) even though he’s over fhorty. I don’t think he’ll ever get married.

1 queue

2 single

B Write two sentences bringing out the meanings of the word funny.’

1 It was so funny that I still laugh whenever I think about it!

2 It’s funny (that ) he hasn’t replied to your letter.

Multiple choice question

Comprehension

1 There was a big demand需求 for tickets because().

A they didn’t cost any money

B there many famous artistes in the show

C the show was presented by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company

D the show was very funny

A

2 The audience ().

A enjoyed the advertiser’s opening remarks

B enjoyed the show

C enjoyed the advertisements宣传

D enjoyed the performance表演 by the artistes

A

Structure

3 People will do anything to see a free show---even if it is___.

A badly

B bad one

C a bad

D bad

D note; bad one 前要加a

4 How long ___queue?

A did they have to

B they had to

C had they to

D they did have to

A

5 There must have been several hundred people present___.

A There had to be

B There must be

C It was necessary to be

D I think there were

D note; There must have been several hundred people present中的must + 不定式完成时，表示对过去发生的事的推测。

There had to be 没有推测的含。There must be不是对过去发生的事的推测。

6 Many of the artistes who ___did not come.

A ought to appear

B should appear

C had to appear

D ought to have appeared

D note; ought to appear 和 should appear 是现在时

7 He stood awkwardly___ the microphone.

A in front of

B ahead of 强调在时间上的先于早于

C on top of

D instead代替 of

A

Vocabulary

8 A comedy show is usually very ___.

A serious

B different

C unusual

D light

D

9 We had to queue. We had to wait our ___.

A queue

B turn 轮次

C row

D line

B

10 The show was dull. It was ___.

A disinterested 无私的冷漠的公正的

B uninterested 不感兴趣的

C interesting

D uninteresting

d

11 He was nervous. He felt ___.

A angry

B bad-tempered

C annoyed

D anxious

d

12 Everyone burst out laughing. There was a lot of___.

A laughs

B laughter

C laughings

D laugh 常做动词

B