Seinan Gakuin University: Economics in 1994
Most educated people will not admit
to being superstitious. Yet their behavior
often indicates a certain unwillingness to
ignore customs claimed to ward off bad luck.
A superstition is an illogical belief that
some action will affect something else that
is unrelated to the action. Many people
believe, for example, that breaking a mirror
will result in seven years of bad luck.
When one speaks of one's good fortune, knocking on wood is said to ensure its continuation. Lucky charms, rabbits' feet, and other amulets provide insurance to keep the possessor safe.
Many superstitions originated in religious beliefs. Historically, the cat has been worshipped by several cultures, including the ancient Egyptian. The fear that a black cat crossing one's path foretells misfortune may stem from the old belief in its power. The advice to avoid walking under a ladder seems sound from a practical point of view, yet it may stem from the use of the triangle as a symbol of the Trinity, which should not be crossed or broken.
The practices of voodooism are religious ceremonies to its believers but superstitions to those who do not believe in them. The idea that someone may suffer physically as a result of injury to a doll or model is not supported by science---yet the power of suggestion can have a tremendous impact on one's health. Many athletes have their own superstitious rituals. They often make a connection between a particular victory and some article of clothing, jewelry, or the location of a particular spectator. When questioned about their faith in such superstitions, most will reply casually that they don't want to take any chances.
The tendency to believe in superstitions and to behave in accordance with that belief tends to run in families. Most people who throw spilled salt over their shoulders witnessed their parents doing the same thing when they were young. They may or may not know that the original intention was to keep the devil from getting too close. Often the explanation for this behavior is simply "My mother always did it." Superstitious practices that are accepted in one family may seem very strange to others who were brought up in another culture.
One danger of superstition is that it encourages people to believe that their future is entirely out of their hands, subject to the whims of fortune and unrelated to their own planning and effort. Fortunately, most of us who engage in superstitious practices attribute our behavior to habit or sentiment.
各文に続けるものを選びなさい。
1) We are superstitious when we
イbelieve in a connection between two unrelated
actions.
ロbelieve in ancient Egyptian religions.
ハbreak a mirror by accident.
ニwalk under a ladder.
2) When someone wants to ensure that his/her good fortune will continue, he/she may
イadmit to being superstitious.
ロlook for a black cat.
ハinjure a doll.
ニknock on wood.
3) the practical reason that we should avoid walking under a ladder is that
イit may break the Trinity.
ロit may be dangerous.
ハwe do not believe in voodooism.
ニwe do not want the devil to come close.
4) Superstitions that are believed in and practiced in one family
イare usually transferred to another family.
ロneed to be supported by science in order
for them to be effective.
ハare often more popular among children than
their parents.
ニmay not be shared by those in a family
from another culture.
5) Believing in superstitions is dangerous when
イwe avoid walking under ladders.
ロmany of us become believers of the same
religion.
ハwe think that we cannot control our future
at all.
ニwe throw spilled salt over our shoulders
without looking behind.
6) Many people follow superstitious practices because
イinuring a doll or model is easier than
causing someone to suffer.
ロthey read about the ancient Egyptian culture.
ハthey witnessed their parents doing so when
they were young.
ニscience has failed to explain many events
that have taken place in human history
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