新视野大学英语视听说教程 4 Unit 6-13

Task 2: Superstitions¹ or real bad lucks?
Script
Joan: Pass me that mirror, would you? I’ll see if my makeup² is OK.
Dick: OOOPS!! Sorry I dropped it…but is it you or me that gets the seven years of bad luck?
Joan: You, I hope, but probable neither of us. I wonder where that “old wives’ tale” originated anyway.
Dick:  There used to be a lot of superstitions: black cats, ladders, numbers. My parent and grandparents are full of them.
Joan: I agree. People today are much more educated than before. These superstitions are just amusing pieced of history rather than beliefs, don’t you think so?
Dick: Perhaps, but some people today still go for them. People whose livelihoods³ depend more on luck—like professional athletes, or fishermen—often they have superstitious⁴ routines.
Joan:  It’s rue⁵. I have heard of athletes who wear lucky socks or a treasured medal to bring them good fortune.
Dick: And let’s not forget lucky numbers. We all know about the number4,6, and 8 in China.
Joan: I know 4 is death and 8 is wealth, but what is the significance of 6?
Dick: 6 means good luck. Some people include 6 in their e-mail address just for luck.
Joan: Maybe we are not as smart as we think we are.
Dick: Well, there are many things in the universe that we cannot control, and that’s why people are superstitious.

 

Keys: TTFFT

1 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。

2 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

3 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

4 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。

5 rue   

n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔

参考例句：

• You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
• You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。