Superstitions and Beliefs

Lesson A1 - 7

Words to know

• superstition (n.) = a belief in things that are not real or possible, e.g. magic

• culture (n.) = ideas, customs, and art produced by a particular society

• claim (v.) = report; say• fortune (n.) = good luck• wishes (n.) = desires• broom (n.) = a long-handled brush used to sweep the

floor• crow (n.) = a large black bird

Words to know

• argue (v.) = say against• assert (v.) = say or state firmly• admit (v.) = say that something is true• assume (v.) = suppose that something is true• doubt (v.) = think that something is not true or

possible• feel (v.) = think• heritage (n.) = something that is considered to be of

historical importance• ritual (n.) = ceremony

Words to know

• customary (adj.) = usual; common• smash (v.) = break something into pieces• give a toast (v.ph.) = drink wine or alcohol to show

appreciation and wish someone success• bride (n.) = a woman who is getting married• groom (n.) = a man who is getting married

Listening

• Bless you! = You say this when someone sneezes• allergies (n.) = illnesses that you have when you eat,

smell, or touch something• sneezes (v.) = involuntarily takes in breath and blow

it down through nose noisily• ensure (v.) = make sure• encourage (v.) = make alert; urge• dropped a mirror (v.ph.) = broke a mirror• You’re in for = something is certainly going to

happen to you• repair (v.) = fix

Listening

• kidding (v.) = joking• mood (n.) = emotion; feeling• He probably got up on the wrong side of the bed. =

Since most people are right-handed, they felt like being left-handed was suspicious.

• suspicious (adj.) = doubtful

Listening

1. She seemed unconcerned by the explanation.

2. He joked that his mother was going to have sseven years of bad luck.

3. Because Mr. Wilson is in a bad mood and might not like being called suspicious.

Words to know

• charms (n.) = magical objects• ignore (v.) = not pay attention to someone or

something• certain (adj.) + n. = some + n.• panics (v.) = feels extremely upset and nervous to

the point of losing self-control• level-headed (adj.) = having balanced emotions; not

becoming too upset about anything• ceremonies (n.) = rituals• goes out of his way to = makes a special effort to

Lesson B1 - 7

Words to know

• device (n.) = tool; instrument• loitering (adj.) = remaining in one place and not

doing anything• emits (v.) = sends out• paradise (n.) = a heaven-like place• leash (n.) = a rope-like piece of leather or nylon

attaching to a dog’s collar• lollipop (n.) = a sweet on the end of a stick• tasty (adj.) = delicious• wheel of (cheddar) cheese = a large round piece of

cheese• ripen (v.) = become ripe; grow up

Words to know

• conceivable (adj.) = believable; be able to believe that something is possible

• convincing (adj.) = credible; trusty; believable• credible (adj.) = believable• believable (adj.) = able to believe; credible• dubious (adj.) = doubtful; unreliable; dishonest• far-fetched (adj.) = exaggerated; unlikely (story, plan,

idea)• fishy (adj.) = smelly; questionable; doubtable• iffy (adj.) = uncertain; unpredictable; doubtable• misleading (adj.) = deceiving; false

Words to know

• phony / phoney (adj.) = false; insincere; pretentious• plausible (adj.) = likely to be true or valid; credible• well-founded (adj.) = justified; factual; credible• fabricated (adj.) = false; invented• estimate (v.) = approximately calculate or assess• gossip (n.) = talk about someone’s private affairs• hoax (n.) = trick; deception• practical (adj.) = sensible; useful• folktale (n.) = a traditional story

Listening (p.34)

• declared independence = announced separation from a central government and became an independent state

• trustworthy (adj.) = reliable; believable• tension (n.) = disagreement; problem• scary (adj.) = frightening• crashing (v.) = failing suddenly; not working

immediately• incredible (adj.) = unbelievable• announced (v.) = declared; let public know• well-founded (adj.) = well-built

Words to know

• digestive system (n.) = where food and drink are processed

• terrified (v.) = frightened; threatened• trauma (n.) = an extremely upsetting experience• erase (v.) = remove; leave out• online (n.) = the Internet• delivered (v.) = sent

The Legend of the Hope Diamond

• infamous (adj.) = notorious; well-known in a bad way• dubbed (v.) = known as; called• legend (n.) = a old story• variations (n.) = changes; slight differences• trader (n.) = merchants• plucked (v.) = pulled out; picked out of something• statue (n.) = a sculpture of a person or an animal• curse (n./v.) = insulting or evil saying; say evil• horrible (adj.) = shocked• attributed to (v.) = caused by

The Legend of the Hope Diamond (2)

• acquired (v.) = got; obtained• mysterious (adj.) = unknown• carat (n.) = a unit of weight of precious stone equal

to 200 milligrams• beheaded (v.) = cut head off• purchased (v.) = bought• auction (n.) = a public sale of goods to the person

offering the highest price• mansion (n.) = a large house• sultan (n.) = a ruler in some Muslim countries

The Legend of the Hope Diamond (3)

• magnificent (adj.) = very good, beautiful, and impressive

• ultraviolet light (n.) = a light not visible to human eyes

• glowed (v.) = produced bright light• reflects (v.) = sends back; relays• trail (n.) = a path or way• viewing (v.) = watching• donates (v.) = gives something for free

‘Luck’ expressions

• bad luck / hard luck / tough luckexpress sympathy when something had gone badly for someone

A: I’ve got to work until seven tonight.

B: Oh, bad luck.

• beginner’s luck

usually good luck you have when you do something for the first time

A: I won 1,000 baht on the first race.

B: Beginner’s luck. It won’t happen again.

‘Luck’ expressions (2)

• It’s the luck of the drawthe result of something depends on chance

A: You’ll pass your test, but it’s the luck of the draw. Some of the examiners are stricter than others.

• push your luck / be pushing your luckrisk doing or asking for something too much or too often

A: I’m going to ask for a day off as well as a bonus.

B: Don’t push your luck.

‘Luck’ expressions (3)

• out of luckwithout good luck; having bad fortune

I was out of luck. I got there too late to get a seat.

If you wanted ice cream, you’re out of luck.

• best of luck / good luckexpress hope that someone will be successful

Thank you Sara, and best of luck with your new novel.

‘Luck’ expressions (4)

• no such luckno, not at all

I thought that he might offer me something to drink, but no such luck.

• worse luck

do not like the situation that one is in

A: Are you coming tonight?

B: No, I can’t. I’ve got to work, worse luck.