superstition (n) the belief that particular events happen in a way that cannot be explained by reason or science; the belief that particular events bring good or bad luck ( ความเชื่อเรื่อง โชคลาง ) charm (n) a small object worn on a chain or bracelet, that is believed to bring good luck ( เครื่องราง ) Vocabulary (Ex. 1) Do you believe it? 11

China four thirteen Friday black egg

HG IA CBFE

Audio script and answers C 2.28 D – see a ladybird 1 H – find a four-leaf clover 2 G – open an umbrella 3 I – keep a horseshoe 4 A – walk under a ladder 5 C – touch wood 6 B – break a mirror 7 F – spill salt 8 E – pull a wishbone

Possible answers A:I think finding a four-leaf clover is lucky. B: Me too! A:I think opening an umbrella in the house is unlucky. B: I don’t think so. A:I think keeping a horseshoe is lucky. B: So do I. A:I think walking under a ladder is unlucky. B: Me too! A:I think touching wood is unlucky. B:I don’t think so. A:I think breaking a mirror is lucky. B:I don’t agree. A:I think spilling salt is unlucky. B:I think you’re right. A:I think pulling a wishbone is unlucky. B:I think you’re wrong.

Possible answers 1 It might be a horseshoe. It can’t be an umbrella. 2 It can’t be a ladybird. It must be an umbrella. 3 It can’t be a horseshoe. It might be a ladder. 4 It can’t be an umbrella. It must be a four-leaf clover.

Possible answers A 1 - It might be because the pencil remembers what you have written before. / It can’t be true! B 2 -It must be because your shoes are dirty and because you might sit on your hat. / It can’t be true! C 3 -It might be because this shows you are strong! / It might be true. D 4 -It might be because it is an unusual event. / It can’t be true.

C B A

Do many people like studying star signs? Yes, they do. 1For the star signs, what is a Gemini like? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ 2What was the most sacred tree for the Celts? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________ 3What did it represent? __________________________________________________________ ________________________________________ 4Why do people tie ribbons and notes to trees? __________________________________________________________ ________________________________________ 5For Chinese Astrology, what are the characteristics of a tiger? And of a dragon? __________________________________________________________ ________________________________________ 6Where are Fortune Cookies from? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________ For the star signs, a Gemini is really lively and he / she doesn’t like being alone. The most sacred tree for the Celts was the oak. It represented strength and independence. People tie ribbons and notes to trees because they hope dreams and desires will come true. For Chinese Astrology a tiger is impulsive and powerful and a dragon is strong and ambitious. They are from America.

L D H F J A C E G I K

Audio script and answers C 2.30 B – Aries 1 L – Taurus 7 C – Scorpio 2 D – Gemini 8 E – Sagittarius 3 H – Cancer 9 G–Capricorn 4 F – Leo 10 I – Aquarius 5 J– Virgo 11 K – Pisces 6 A – Libra

D G A F C E

may

may be may like may arrive

might snow might go might rent might break

be do doesn’t

He doesn’t believe in horoscopes, does he? They broke a mirror, didn’t they? You can’t come to my Halloween party, can you? He’s going to buy a black cat, isn’t he? He will believe it, won’t he? He shouldn’t throw any salt over his shoulder, should he?

won’t he did you has he isn’t it are you wasn’t it

did she isn’t it can he were you didn’t you doesn’t she

don’t like reads were didn’t study don’t believe has visited

This house is scary. Strange things started to happen about a month ago. Mum was the first to see something. It was late at night, on the stairs. She saw a little girl in a kind of long, white nightie. She was really frightened. The rest of us - Dad, me, and my brother and sister - didn't believe her. Then we started to hear strange noises from downstairs. Dad wanted to investigate, but Mum said no. Night after night, it became worse. Other figures started to appear, not only on the stairs but in the kitchen and even the bedrooms. I was terrified. Finally, last night, my dad and brother went downstairs to investigate while my mum, sister and I waited upstairs. When they came back they were very worried. ‘There’s no doubt,’ my dad said, We’ve got to do something.’ You see, people haven’t lived in this house for years because we’ve frightened them all. But no one believes in ghosts anymore and so there are humans here again. We’re not going to share our house with humans. No way. So, tonight, we're going to get them. And then no one will want to live here again. Ever. [Haunted House, Louise Cooper]

1Who lives in the haunted house? 2Who did Mum see? 3What did the family hear? 4Where did figures start to appear? 5How did the writer feel? 6Who speaks in the last paragraph? 7Why haven’t people lived in the house for years? 8 Why do the ghosts want to “get” the people? (A family: mum, dad, and three children – the writer, her brother and her sister) (A little girl in a kind of long, white nightie) (Strange noises from downstairs) (On the stairs, in the kitchen and in the bedrooms) (Terrified) (A ghost) (Because the ghosts have frightened them) (Because they don’t want to share their house with humans) กิจกรรมเพิ่มเติม

nightie (n) (= nightdress) a long loose piece of clothing like a thin dress, worn by a woman or girl in bed ( ชุดนอนที่เป็นชุดเสื้อกระโปรงติดกัน หลวมๆ ) investigate (v) to carefully examine the facts of a situation, an event, a crime, etc. to find out the truth about it or how it happened ( ค้นหาความจริง ) frighten (v)to make somebody suddenly feel afraid [ ทำให้กลัว, ตกใจ ] Vocabulary

hoax (n) an act intended to make somebody believe something that is not true, especially something unpleasant ( การหลอกลวง, การเล่นตลก )

Audio script and answers C 2.32 The BBC often plays April Fool’s hoaxes and one of the most famous was in 1957 when they showed farmers picking spaghetti from trees!! The Guardian published an article, titled “Britain Rules the Skies”, about the invention of a new machine to control the (1) weather. The article said the machine could guarantee long, dry summers, rain only at night and lots of snow every Christmas. Another UK newspaper reported that a Japanese runner, Kimo Nakajimi, entered the London Marathon but was confused by an incorrect translation of the rules. He understood that he had to run for (2) 26 days, not 26 miles. A few years ago, the respectable Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued an announcement which said that the (3) Internet needed an annual spring clean and that it would be closed for 24 hours.

In 1998, Burger King announced their new left-handed (4) hamburgers. They had the same (5) ingredients, but they were rotated 180° so that left handed people could eat them more easily. What about whistling vegetables? A UK supermarket announced they had some special, new (6) carrots for sale. They were genetically modified and had (7) holes in them so they could make a whistling sound when cooked.