Part 4

Questions 27 - 32
You are going to read an article about superstition. Six
sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from
sentences A to H the one which fits each gap (27 to 32).
There are two extra sentences which you do not need to use.
Write your answers in the blanks provided.

Shoes on the Table, Handbags on the Floor

'Don't put your umbrella up indoors. It's bad luck.' Some

people believe that before coming back into the house after a
walk in the rain, you should close your umbrella. 27
Maybe people don't want them to take away all their good luck!

There are items which, according to superstition, shouldn't be

put in certain places. Handbags are an example of this. .28
It shouldn't touch the floor in case you lose your money. If your
purse fall onto the floor, it is said to be unlucky - you won't get
any money in the near future. Similarly, new shoes are not
supposed to be placed on a table. This could also bring bad
luck.

If you drop a pair of gloves, try not to pick them up yourself. It

may be difficult if you are in town and on your own. If you're
with someone you know, that person should pick up your
gloves for you, but don't say 'thank you'! 29 Perhaps
you could say something like, 'I won't thank you because it's
bad luck for both of us'!

New year is a part of the year associated with different

superstitions, including eating grapes at midnight. As soon as
it's midnight on 1 January, you start eating grapes. For every
strike of the clock, you have another until you've had twelve. .
30 You'll then have a whole year of good luck.

Chinese people believe that it is lucky to clean the house two

days after New Year so that none of the good luck is lost. The
floors are cleaned in the opposite direction from the front door.
. 31 After that, any rubbish of dirt is taken out through
the door.

Fresh flowers and fruit are considered to bring positive energy

to a home. 32 A model elephant is also a positive
addition to a home. However, don't forget to point him in the
direction of a door - so that he can get out!
A Obviously, you don't want to be rude, so try expressing it
in an indirect way.

B The colour and the number are both bad luck.

C It's probably a good idea, as they can take a lot of room!

D Oranges and lemons are supposed to be especially

lucky.

E The best place to put it is on a chair next to you.

F Make sure you have one every second.

G This is to keep the good fortune inside the home.

H The colour and the number are both good luck.

ANSWERS

27.C 28.E 29.A 30.F 31.G 32.D