课文 · 精读
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People will do anything to see a free show -- even if it is a bad one.
人们为了看一场免费演出什么都愿意做，哪怕它很糟。
开头就是带评语的总论句。
When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P.
当“皮尤”鸟食公司将在我们当地影院演出喜剧节目的消息传开后，我们都赶紧跑去观看。
and U.
我们不得不排了好几个小时才进得场去。
Bird Seed Company, we all rushed to see it.
在演出开始前场内肯定已有好几百人了。
We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began.
不幸的是，这次演出是我们看过的最乏味的演出了。
Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen.
不幸的是，这场演出是我们看过最无聊的演出之一。
one of the dullest 是很强的否定评价。
Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed, as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come.
那天晚上唯一有趣的事情是节目开始时那个报幕员的开场白。
The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme.
那晚唯一有趣的东西来自节目开始时的报幕员。
only funny things 把笑点来源锁定到一个人身上。
He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone.
但他刚一开口说话，人们便哄堂大笑起来。
As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing.
他一张口，所有人都大笑起来。
burst out laughing 是典型瞬时反应。
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!"
单元概要
本课写一场免费喜剧演出其实无聊透顶，真正唯一的笑点却来自报幕员的紧张口误。重点在于 audience expectation 与 actual result 的反差，以及 A slip of the tongue 这种“口误制造幽默”的机制。
精读导图 1. 先写大家为免费看演出付出很大代价。 2. 再写节目本身极其无聊。 3. 最后把唯一笑点集中到报幕员口误上。 精读关注 - one of the dullest - burst out laughing 的瞬时效果
单词表
| 单词 | 音标 | 释义 | 精讲 |
|---|---|---|---|
| slip | /slɪp/ | 小失误 |
|
| comedy | /ˈkɒmədi/ | 喜剧 |
|
| queue | /kjuː/ | 排队 |
|
| dull | /dʌl/ | 枯燥的 |
|
| artiste | /ɑːˈtiːst/ | 艺人 |
|
| advertiser | /ˈædvətaɪzə(r)/ | 报幕员 |
|
| awkwardly | /ˈɔːkwədli/ | 局促地 |
|
| microphone | /ˈmaɪkrəfəʊn/ | 麦克风 |
|
短语
| 短语 | 意思 |
|---|---|
| do anything to do | 不惜一切做某事 |
| queue for hours | 排队好几个小时 |
| one of the dullest | 最无聊的……之一 |
| burst out laughing | 突然大笑起来 |
| what he actually said | 他实际上说的是 |
语法点
even if 表让步
even if it is a bad one 强调即便质量差，人们也愿意去看免费演出。
相似句：
- I will go even if it rains.
- She smiled even if she felt nervous.
should have appeared
本该出现却没来，说明期待落空。
相似句：
- He should have arrived by now.
- They should have told us earlier.
as soon as 的瞬时反应
As soon as he opened his mouth... 说明口误和观众反应之间几乎没有间隔。
相似句：
- As soon as she saw him, she laughed.
- The dog ran as soon as the gate opened.
读写提示
- 这课要抓“免费、排队、无聊、口误”四步。
- 真正的 comedy 并不来自节目设计，而来自意外口误。
- 结尾原话最好保留错位效果，不要概括得太平。
- 讽刺语气是这课的灵魂。
考点
4
考点
4第 1 / 4 题
为什么说唯一真正的笑话来自报幕员？