Unit 5
A Few Kind Words for Superstition
Consolidation Activities
I. Text Comprehension
1. Decide which of the following best states the author's purpose.
    A. To tell readers the origin and history of superstition in human society.
    B. To describe four types of superstition and their effects on human nature.
    C. To describe four types of superstition and their relevance to science and reason.
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Key: [ B ]
2. Judge, according to the text, whether the following statements are true or false.
1). Since superstition is a sign of naÏveté or ignorance, it is only practiced by ill-educated people. [ F ]
2). Idolatry is manifested by people’s profound but ungrounded conviction in something that could bring good luck.[ T ]
3). Many people have practiced superstition even without their own awareness. [ T ]
4). Religion and superstition have the same persistent and minatory power on all people.[ F ]
&
5). Superstition is prevalent because it can meet people’s curiosity about their future. [ T ]
II. Writing Strategies
In this expository essay, the author first presents four types of superstition by means of classification and division. Each type is clarified with some anecdotes and examples. Then,
he offers his explanation as to why some people are fascinated with these irrational practices by taking a close look at human nature. During the process, the author now and then inserts some rhetorical questions to achieve a variety of functions. Read the following questions taken from the text and explain their respective meanings:
1. Is it because it has an unacknowledged hold on so many of us (Paragraph 1) sort of和kind of
To express doubt.
2. You did not know that superstition takes four forms (Paragraph 3)
To introduce the subsequent classification.
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3. And why not (Paragraph 4)
To express certainty.
4. Modest idolatry, but what else can you call it (Paragraph 5)
To express submission or acceptance.
5. How did the Melanesians come by the same idea (Paragraph 9)
To express wonder or surprise.
6. But when has astrology not been popular (Paragraph 10)
To express certainty. (Of course, astrology has always been popular.)
7. When has the heart of man given a damn for science (Paragraph 10)
To emphasize the author’s conviction. (I don’t really believe that science could work in this manner.)
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III. Language Work
1. Explain the underlined part(s) in each sentence in your own words.
1). Is it because it has an unacknowledged hold on so many of us
  has an unrecognized control over
2). I live in the middle of a large university, and I see superstition in its four manifestations, alive and flourishing among people who are indisputably rational and learned.
  unquestionably
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3). If you have ever supervised a large examination room, you know how many jujus, lucky coins, and other bringers of luck are placed on the desks of the candidates.
  things that are supposed to contain some power to bring good luck
4). When I talked with him, he did not think he was pricing God cheap because he could afford no more.
was offering God too little money
5). Most people keep their terror within bounds, but they cannot root it out, nor do they seem to want to do so.
  get rid of it completely
6). Superstition makes its appearance, apparently unbidden, very early
.
  comes into being
7). The psychoanalysts have their explanation, but calling a superstition a compulsion neurosis does not banish it.
  do away with
8). No use saying science discredits it.
  according to science it is false, not believable
9). Superstition in general is linked to man’s yearning to know his fate, and to have some hand in deciding it.
  have some control in
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10). I am not one to stand aloof from the rest of humanity in this matter ...
  keep a distance from
2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the given words.
1). I don’t think you understand the gravity (grave) of the situation.
2). The tone of the letter was placatory (placate).
3). They are forced to live in deplorable (deplore) conditions.
4). She claimed that the rise in unemployment was just a further manifestation (manifest) of
the government’s incompetence.
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5). Religious observances (observe) such as fasting can be hard to follow.
6). The report absolved (absolution) her from all blame for the accident.
7). The fruit was preserved by submersion (submerge) in alcohol.

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