Unit 2 @ Cloze & Writing Practice

Unit 2  Superstitions

Every culture in the world believes certain superstitions. Even societies that are very rational and __1__ are sometimes a little bit superstitious. __2__, the United States is a country that is very advanced in science and technology. But even in American society, people sometimes believe superstitions. They __3__ “thirteen” an unlucky number. So, __4__ rare to find a building of thirteen stories or a house with the number 13. You can imagine how they feel when Friday __5__ on the thirteenth day of a month. The day is thought by a lot of people to be an unlucky day. In addition to being superstitious about numbers, Americans often consider __6__ unlucky to break a mirror. If a person breaks a mirror, he or she will have seven years of __7__. Moreover, they always __8__ walking under a ladder for fear of bringing themselves bad luck. Black cats are also unlucky especially when they cross people’s path. A long time ago, people believed that black cats were really witches __9__. Some superstitions have become their customs. When someone sneezes, they say “God bless you.” People __10__ think that the soul would escape from the body when they sneezed. Being blessed can protect people from losing their souls.

(   ) 1. (A) traditional         (B) scientific            (C) democratic         (D) independent

(   ) 2. (A) For example            (B) However            (C) Moreover           (D) In addition

(   ) 3. (A) regard               (B) think of              (C) consider                   (D) describe

(   ) 4. (A) they are                   (B) they                          (C) it is                    (D) there is

(   ) 5. (A) appears                   (B) goes                   (C) becomes                   (D) falls

(   ) 6. (A) that                         (B) this                    (C) they                          (D) it

(   ) 7. (A) performance            (B) misfortune         (C) resistance           (D) survival

(   ) 8. (A) avoid                (B) permit                (C) allow                 (D) suggest

(   ) 9. (A) in disguise         (B) as a proof          (C) under pressure   (D) on purpose

(   ) 10. (A) may                (B) will                   (C) used to              (D) are used to

Sentence Pattern Analysis:

1. S + consider/think/believe/find + O + O.C.(Adj./N)

2. It + be + Adj./N (+ for sb.) + to V….(It作需主詞)

3. S + V1 + it + Adj./N + to V2…(It作需受詞)

Q&A:

1. What’s the main idea of this passage?àPeople in U.S. believe some superstitions.

2. Why do Americans think that black cats will bring them bad luck?àPeople in the Middle Ages believed that black cats were witches in disguise. Black cats have been believed to be evil since then.

3. Write down just one sentence that tells about the superstition you believe.àI believe Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day.

Sentence Making:

1. find + O + Adj.àI find him stingy and critical.

2. It is necessary…àIt is necessary for us to keep everything in order.

3. find it impossible…àI find it impossible to master a foreign language in one or two years.

Sentence combination or rewriting:

1. I pay him one million dollars. He will not fix the CD player for me. (Even if…)

àEven if I pay him one million dollars, he will not fix the CD player for me.

2. The engine made a lot of noise. I was unable to get to sleep it.

àThe noise if the engine made it impossible for me to get to sleep.

3. He will take my advice. That is certain.àIt is certain that he will take my advice.

4. Telling the difference between them is difficult for him.

àIt is difficult for him to tell the difference between them.