新视野大学英语视听说教程第四册 Unit 6 MODEL2 Is there any relationship between superstitions and real life?
Chris: It’s strange that so many people are superstitious. There must be some relationship between superstitions and real life.
Susan: You know, Richard Wiseman, a British psychologist researched the relationship betweensuperstition and luck.
Chris: What did he find? Most people would be interested. At least I would
Susan: He polled ,000 people and fond that people who believe themselves to be lucky tend to go for positive superstitions .They may wear a ring as a talisman or often say,” touch wood” for good luck.
Chris: Then, what about the unlucky people? Do you mean if they think they ate unlucky, they tend to believe in superstitions abut bad luck.
Susan: Yeah. They worry a lot about a broken mirror, a black cat running across their path, and so on.
Chris: So what is his point?
Susan: His point is that people make their own luck by their attitude to life. So, 49 percent of lucky people regularly cross their fingers, compared to 30 percent of unlucky people. And only 18 percent of lucky people are anxious if they break a mirror.
Chris: So, our fate is linked to our attitude rather than to our superstitions.
Susan: I think that’s what he is suggesting.
Chris: This research seems too complicates. If I were a psychologist, I would conduct a survey to find whether 13 really is an unlucky number. I f there ere traffic accidents or murders on the 13th than on other days, then we have to believe in superstitions.
Susan: What if there weren’t?
Chris: Then I wouldn’t be superstitious.
Susan: What a brilliant idea! I never expected you to be as wise as Solomon.
Chris: Well as long as you don’t think I’m a fool.
