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.

人們總是想盡辦法去看一場免費的表演--即使很糟糕。當“皮尤”鳥食公司將在我們當?shù)赜霸貉莩鱿矂」?jié)目的消息傳開后。我們都爭相去看。我們必須排幾個小時的隊進場，表演開始前一定已經(jīng)有了幾百人到場了。不幸的是，這場是我看過的最單調(diào)的表演之一。

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.

那些沒能進場看表演的人不必感到失望，因為許多該來的藝術(shù)家都沒到。我們當晚聽到的唯一有趣的東西是節(jié)目開始時報幕員的開場白。顯然他很緊張，連續(xù)幾分鐘尷尬地站在麥克風前。

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!"

當他開口時，每個人都爆發(fā)出笑聲。我們都知道那人該說什么，但他說的卻是：“這是“皮尤”鳥食公司，好女士們，晚上和先生們！”