英语听力精选进阶版 6382

Picture this scene: you are walking home and there is a black cat on the path in front of you. Does it make you feel scared stiff? Perhaps it might make you feel lucky?

Would you dare to put your shoes on the table? If so, then you may be dabbling¹ with death. Putting a hat on the bed could cause evil spirits to slip into your clean sheets! And opening an umbrella indoors might bring untold² punishments.

Most superstitions⁴ are linked to something negative, or the thought that something will bring bad luck. For example, the number thirteen is thought by many to be particularly unlucky, especially the date Friday 13th. In western numerology, twelve is a number of completeness – there are twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac. In contrast, thirteen is considered irregular, unusual and therefore unlucky.

Walking under a ladder is also something that many people believe will tempt⁵ fate. Some believe that this superstition³ has its roots in Christianity and think that walking under a ladder is disrespectful to God, so they don't take the risk. Others, perhaps, are more afraid that something will fall on their head from a great height!

One of the most terrifying and long-believed of all superstitions is that breaking a mirror will bring seven years of bad luck. In ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese cultures, many people held the belief that a mirror reflected a person's soul. If the mirror was broken, the soul would be harmed too; and the person would be frightened out of their wits.

Black cats have long been linked to luck. In continental⁶ Europe, the animals were thought to be shape-shifters, or witches' minions⁷. If one crossed your path, it was sure to bring you ill fortune or even death. But, in the UK and Ireland, it's generally considered to be a sign of future prosperity if a black cat crosses your path.

Superstitions have been found in a wide range of cultures for thousands of years, but research suggests that that many of these beliefs can still be found in modern societies. Dr Kevin Foster, from Harvard University, believes it is an example of humans interpreting and reacting to threats. "Natural selection can readily favour making all kinds of associations," says Dr Foster, "including many incorrect ones."

So, if these threats are likely to be 'incorrect', why are people still so superstitious⁸? Well, it seems many people would prefer to be better safe than sorry.

Quiz 测验

Which animal is closely associated with both good and bad luck?

Black cats

What phrase is used to mean 'very frightened'?

Scared stiff

Which superstition mentioned in the article has religious roots?

Walking under a ladder

Is the following statement true, false or not given? Spilling salt is considered to be extremely unlucky.

Not given.

What phrase from the article means 'bad luck'?

Ill fortune

Glossary 词汇表

black cat 黑猫

scared stiff 吓呆了

lucky 幸运

dare 敢（做什么）

dabbling with death 涉足死亡

evil spirits 恶灵

opening an umbrella 打开雨伞

bring bad luck 带来厄运

numerology （数字）命理学

walking under a ladder 从梯子下走过

tempt fate 玩命，藐视命运

take the risk 冒险

terrifying 可怕的

breaking a mirror 打碎了一面镜子

frightened out of their wits 被吓得惊慌失措

shape-shifters 可移形换影的人或动物

minions 仆从，奴才

ill fortune 厄运

beliefs 信仰

better safe than sorry 宁可事先谨慎有余，不要事后追悔莫及

1 dabbling   

v.涉猎( dabble的现在分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资

参考例句：

• She swims twice a week and has been dabbling in weight training. 她一周游两次泳，偶尔还练习一下举重。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The boy is dabbling his hand in the water. 这孩子正用手玩水。 来自辞典例句

2 untold   

adj.数不清的，无数的

参考例句：

• She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
• They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖，因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。

3 superstition   

n.迷信，迷信行为

参考例句：

• It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
• Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。

4 superstitions   

迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Old superstitions seem incredible to educated people. 旧的迷信对于受过教育的人来说是不可思议的。
• Do away with all fetishes and superstitions. 破除一切盲目崇拜和迷信。

5 tempt   

vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣

参考例句：

• Nothing could tempt him to such a course of action.什么都不能诱使他去那样做。
• The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.她有钱了，可这丝毫没能让她改变节俭的生活习惯。

6 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

7 minions   

n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者

参考例句：

• She delegated the job to one of her minions. 她把这份工作委派给她的一个手下。 来自辞典例句
• I have been a slave to the vicious-those whom I served were his minions. 我当过那帮坏人的奴隶，我伺候的都是他的爪牙。 来自辞典例句

8 superstitious   

adj.迷信的

参考例句：

• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
• These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。