It is interesting to note that lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take constructive action to improve their lives. Conversely, superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the less lucky, worried about life, had a strong need for control, and could not tolerate ambiguity The survey also revealed some unexpected beliefs. For example, one respondent could not stay in the bathroom once a toilet had been flushed There was no evidence that superstitious ever worked, even, when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week. They didn't feel any luckier or more stratified with their lives at the end of that week than when they started Armstrong attempted to explain this phenomenon: When students are preparing for exams with a lucky charm, they may trust the charm, rather than doing some extra revision Reasons foe More Thanks, perhaps, to falling stock markets and unrest in the Superstitions Middle East, Britons have become even more superstitious than I Lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take onstructive action to improve their lives. Conversely superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the Who are more less lucky superstitious There was no evidence that superstitious ever worked. even when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week Do superstitions They d idn't feel any luckier or more stratified work? Explanation When students are preparing for exams with a lucky charm. they I may trust the charm. rather than doing some extra revision VI. Further Listening and Speaking Task1: Horseshoes as a Sign of good luck Script Horseshoes are a traditional sign of good luck. Most people believe this comes from the fact that the horseshoe is shaped like the crescent moon, a period of prosperity and good fortune. One legend has it that the Devil was in disguise and wandering at large, looking for trouble. He happened to call on St. Dunstan, who ea skilled in shoeing horses. St Dunstan recognized the devil and tied him to a wall with only his feet free to move. He then set to work shoeing him as though he were a horse, but with such roughness the Devil cried out for mercy. St Dunstan stopped his work and released the Devil after making him promise never to enter a home on which a horseshoe was8 It is interesting to note that lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take constructive action to improve their lives. Conversely, superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the less lucky, worried about life, had a strong need for control, and could not tolerate ambiguity. The survey also revealed some unexpected beliefs. For example, one respondent could not stay in the bathroom once a toilet had been flushed. There was no evidence that superstitious ever worked, even, when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week. They didn’t feel any luckier or more stratified with their lives at the end of that week than when they started. Armstrong attempted to explain this phenomenon: “When students are preparing for exams with a lucky charm, they may trust the charm, rather than doing some extra revision.” Reasons foe More Superstitions Thanks, perhaps, to falling stock markets and unrest in the Middle East, Britons have become even more superstitious than usual Who are more superstitious? Lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take constructive action to improve their lives. Conversely, superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the less lucky Do superstitions work? There was no evidence that superstitious ever worked, even, when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week. They didn’t feel any luckier or more stratified Explanation When students are preparing for exams with a lucky charm, they may trust the charm, rather than doing some extra revision. VI. Further Listening and Speaking Task1: Horseshoes as a Sign of Good Luck Script Horseshoes are a traditional sign of good luck. Most people believe this comes from the fact that the horseshoe is shaped like the crescent moon, a period of prosperity and good fortune. One legend has it that the Devil was in disguise and wandering at large, looking for trouble. He happened to call on St. Dunstan, who ea skilled in shoeing horses. St. Dunstan recognized the Devil and tied him to a wall with only his feet free to move. He then set to work shoeing him as though he were a horse, but with such roughness the Devil cried out for mercy. St. Dunstan stopped his work and released the Devil after making him promise never to enter a home on which a horseshoe was