Unit 5
A Few Kind Words for Superstition
Consolidation Activities
I. Text Comprehension
1. Decide which of the following best states the author's purpo.
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.
Key: [ B ]
2. Judge, according to the text, whether the following statements are true or fal.
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 becau it can meet people’s curiosity about their future. [ T ]
II. Writing Strategies
In this expository essay, the author first prents 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 the irrationa
l practices by taking a clo look at human nature. During the process, the author now and then inrts 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 becau it has an unacknowledged hold on so many of us? (Paragraph 1)
To express doubt.
2. You did not know that superstition takes four forms? (Paragraph 3)
To introduce the subquent classification.
3. And why not? (Paragraph 4)
with himTo express certainty.
4. Modest idolatry, but what el 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 surpri.
6. But when has astrology not been popular? (Paragraph 10)
To express certainty. (Of cour, 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.)
III. Language Work
翻译腔1. Explain the underlined part(s) in each ntence in your own words.sugar daddy
1). Is it becau 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 e superstition in its four manifestations, alive and flourishing among people who are stupid是什么意思indisputably rational and learned.
particularity unquestionably
3). If you have ever supervid 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 suppod to contain some power to bring good luck
4). When I talked with him, he did not think he was pricing God cheap becau he could afford no more.
merry xmas是什么意思 was offering God too little money
5). Most people keep their terror within bounds, but they cannot root it out, nor do they em to want to do so.
get rid of it completely
6). Superstition makes its appearance,酒桌上的礼仪 apparently unbidden, very early
comes into being
7). The psychoanalysts have their explanation, but calling a superstition a compulsion neurosis does not banish it.
enthusiast do away with
8). No u saying science discredits it.
according to science it is fal, 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
10). I am not one to stand aloof fromaccessible the rest of humanity in this matter ...
备词组 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 ri in unemployment was just a further manifestation (manifest) of the government’s incompetence.
5). Religious obrvances (obrve) such as fasting can be hard to follow.
6). The report absolved (absolution) her from all blame for the accident.
7). The fruit was prerved by submersion (submerge) in alcohol.
