Unit 13 The Power of Beliefs思维导图

Lucky / unlucky numbers, worship the dead by making offerings to dead ancestors(祭祖), hell money, tell one’s future by one’s facial /palm features, fengshui (geomancy in the West), zodiac, astrology, kow-tow for good luck/ heavenly blessing, pray to God for rain, set off fireworks for good fortune

Knock on /touch wood, hang a horse shoe over the door, keep a rabbit’s foot, keep one’s fingers crossed, discover a four-leaf clover

Walk under a ladder, break a mirror, see a black cat across one’s way, paranormal person, horoscope, tell one’s future by gazing into a crystal ball, last judgement, destruction of the world by God

To knock on something made of wood to keep from having bad luck.

Many people believe that you will have bad luck if you talk about good luck or brag about something, unless you knock on wood; often used in a joking way. Next year, I will be promoted to president of my company – knock on wood. I have never been without a job, touch wood!

hang a horse shoe over the door A horseshoe has always been considered a good luck charm. Some say this is because the horseshoe is in the shape of a half moon, a symbol of good fortune. Horseshoes often are hung over the door of a house or barn for protection.

Keep a rabbit’s foot It is considered lucky because rabbits have many offspring, and having many children is a sign of wealth.

Keep your/my/our fingers crossed (To hope for luck or success in something) xI will be keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well. ----I have a very important job interview tomorrow. ----Well, keep your fingers crossed. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, too.

discover a four-leaf cloverThe four-leaf clover is one of the most valuable of all good luck charms. The parts of the leaf represent four parts of life: fame, wealth, love and health. The owner of the clover will have good fortune in all four.

Walk under a ladder---- Many ancient peoples were afraid to walk under a ladder because they believed that the gods lived in the triangle shaped space underneath the ladder, where it rests on a wall. To walk through such a sacred place was considered to be disrespectful.

Believe in, have faith in, have credence in, give credence to, have no doubt, there is no doubt that, be convinced, be sure/certain/assured that, bet on, be unquestionable, take my word for it, you can count/ bank on it.

Disbelieve, misgiving, be skeptical (of/about sth), doubtful, dubious, take… with a grain of salt (对…持怀疑态度), unconvincing, implausible, untenable （groundless）, filled with doubt, incredulity, says who (谁说的), unbelievable, questionable, you’re joking/ kidding, in a pig’s eye, pigs might fly, don’t be ridiculous, can’t swallow that…

Untenable: ( formal ) ( of a theory, position, etc.) that cannot be defended against attack or criticism 难以捍卫的；站不住脚的；不堪一击的 His position had become untenable and he was forced to resign.

Says who: used when you are arguing with someone, to show that you do not accept or agree with what they say You're the best? Says who?

in a pig’s eye: used to say that you think that something is not at all true or that something will definitely not happen ---- He told me his father was born in a rich family. ---- In a pig’s eye.

take… with a grain of salt: to accept it but to maintain a degree of skepticism about its truth. Horoscope占卜 is fun, but it’s not necessarily accurate. I always take it with a grain of salt. Uncle Bill tells some stories, but we take what he says with a grain of salt because he sometimes likes to exaggerate or makes things up.

superstitions

Part 1 （1-3） Expressing why he writes fighting against superstition/religion

Part 2 (4-13) Explaining his reasons for contempt for superstition/religion 1st reason (4-7) ; 2nd reason （8-13）

Part 3 （14-15） Part 3 (14-15)

Plague [vt. cause worry, pain or difficulty, trouble to someone or something over a period of time] e.g. Financial problems have been plaguing their new business partners. The children plagued him with questions all through lunch.

By one’s own admission:自己招供（过错、罪行等）

Solace [help and comfort] e.g. When his wife left him, he found solace in the bottle.

at one’s disposal [available to be used] e.g. Having sold the house she had a large sum of money at her disposal.

in essence [relating to the most important characteristics or ideas of something] e.g. In essence, both sides agree on the issue.

have the call to do …[a strong feeling that you want to do sth, especially a particular job] e.g. He felt the call of the priesthood early on in his life.

Accord [vt. treat someone specially, usually by showing respect] e.g. The massed crowds of supporters accorded him a hero's welcome. His version of events does not accord with witnesses' statements.

Bribe [vt. try to make someone do something for you by giving them money, presents or something else that they want] e.g. He bribed immigration officials and entered the country illegally.

strive to do [try very hard to do something ] e.g. In her writing she strove for a balance between innovation and familiar prose forms.

have a pipeline to … [have access to] e.g. The theatre company has several new productions in the pipeline for next season.

Fallible [able or likely to make mistakes]

Have a pipeline to: have a way to do

Fallible: able to make mistakes or be wrong 会犯错误的 Everybody is fallible.

without let or hindrance: without being prevented from doing sth; freely Please allow the bearer of this passport to pass freely without let or hindrance.请予护照持有人顺利通行

with let or hindrance [without being prevented from doing something] e.g. People will be able to travel from country to country without let or hindrance.

sociopath [a person with an antisocial personality disorder]

What of it? [vt. used to rudely say that you do not think something is important] e.g. "That's the third time you've done that!" "Yeah, what of it?"

lure sb. into … [persuade someone to do something or go somewhere by offering them something exciting] e.g. She was lured into the job by the offer of a high salary.

by and large [when everything about a situation is considered together] e.g. There are a few small things that I don't like about my job, but by and large it's very enjoyable.

insofar as [to the degree that] e.g. That’s the truth, insofar as I know it.

Analogy

pernicious [having a very harmful effect or influence] e.g. The cuts in government funding have had a pernicious effect on local health services.

inscrutable [(especially of a person or their expression) not showing emotions or thoughts and therefore very difficult to understand or get to know]

beneficent [adj. helping, generous] e.g. the beneficent powers of Nature

multiplying [increasing] e.g. There are a few small things that I don't like about my job, but by and large it's very enjoyable.

viable [able to work as intended or able to succeed; able to survive e or continue] e.g. In order to make the company viable, it will unfortunately be necessary to reduce staffing levels. Rising costs are threatening the viability of many businesses.