Lesson 89 A slip of the tongue

Text:

People will do anything to see a free show -- even if it 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!"

Words & Expressions:

*slip of tongue/pen口误/笔误

--It is now apparent that his statement was not a slip of the tongue.

--He had made an unfortunate slip of the tongue himself.

*dull/dʌl/ 枯燥无趣，迟钝，阴暗

--a dull movie

--The weekly meeting tends to be deadly dull(=very dull).

--The pain was dull but persistent. 长时间隐隐作痛

*tedious 乏味烦闷的 adv.tediously=flat

--a tediously long film

--Construction crews are hauling in heavy equipments to start the long and tedious clean-up process.

Sentences:

*People will do anything to see a free show -- even if it is a bad one.

虚拟语气的一种：纯条件的虚拟语气，时态为一般现在时，表示若if的条件存在，预期的结果会出现。如,If he is here, I will beat him.

连接副词除了if,还可以是once, when, before, as soon as, unless等,用法与if相同。主句中的助动词现在时+动词原形。

--As soon as he arrives, I will let you know.

--When he finishes it, he may come.

Pronunciations:

*artiste [ɑr'tist]

*queue [kju]

*obviously /ˈɑːbviəsli/

*nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/

*present n&adj: /ˈprezənt/ v:/prɪˈzent/

poor这个单词认识有二十年了原来一直读错，类似pull吧，然而正确的是/pʊr/，r的音要发的完整！