Unlucky for Some?

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. If you step on a crack, you'll break your
mother's back. Don't sweep your house on New Year's Day or you will sweep good
fortune away. If you wash your hair on the day of a test, the water will clean your
memory and you will forget everything you studied. If you break a mirror, seven years
of bad luck is unavoidable. These are examples of some the many superstitions
around the world.
A superstition is a belief that is not based on science. Many of these beliefs
date back hundreds of years ago, when unexplained events were thought to bring
bad luck. Even in the age of modern science, superstitions continue to affect
people's behavior.
Many superstitions are related to numbers. In some Western cultures, the
number 13 is thought to be unlucky. Some hotels skip 13 when they number their
floors. Friday the thirteenth is seen as an unlucky date in many countries. In China,
Japan, and Korea, the word for the number 4 sounds like the word for death, so it is
also considered unlucky. In many buildings, the fourth floor is skipped. The floor
numbers go from 3 to 5, or the fourth floor is labeled F instead of 4.
Superstitions are often linked to everyday objects. In Korea, if a woman holds
her chopsticks too close to the tip, she is warned that it will take her a long time to
get married. Dropping your chopsticks in China will bring bad luck. If you find an
uneven pair of chopsticks at your table, you will miss your next boat, train, or plane.
One recent study suggested that people who believe in superstitions actually
seem to have more bad luck than other people. For example, people who believe
that Friday the thirteenth is unlucky seem to have more accidents on that date. The
cause of this bad luck is not the date itself. Instead, say the researchers, people may
actually behave differently on that date. People who believe 13 is unlucky may feel
more nervous and uncomfortable, which may lead them to drive badly, for example.
People who don't believe 13 is unlucky are unaffected.
Even people who are not superstitious sometimes stop and think before
certain actions. For your next test, do you think washing your hair will make you
forget all the answers? Do you want to risk it?
I. Checking Fluency and Comprehension
Answer the questions
1. What is the main purpose of the article?
a. To give examples of study tips.
b. To describe different superstitions.
c. To explain why some numbers are unlucky.
2. How do some hotels’ number their floors?
a, Eleven, twelve, fourteen, fifteen.
b. Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen.
c. Eleven, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.
3. What do some people believe might happen if you drop your chopsticks?
a. You might never get married.
b. You might be late for a flight
c. You might have bad luck.
4. Why is the number 4 unlucky in some countries?
a. Because it is an unlucky date.
b. Because it is not a floor in many buildings.
c. Because it sounds like the word for death in some languages.
5. Why do researchers believe people have more accidents on Friday the thirteenth?
a. Because they are nervous.
b. Because they have bad luck.
c. Because they don't believe in good luck.

Prefixes - un
II. The prefix un- gives words the opposite meaning. Scan the text for six words
beginning with un-. Then use them to complete the definitions.
1. Someone who doesn't feel calm and relaxed is ……………………………..
2. If bad things often happen to you, you are ……………………………………
3. Something that is not changed by things is …………………….…………….
4. Something you don't know the reasons for is…………………………….…..
5. Something you can't stop happening is …………………………………….…
6. If a set of things are not regular, they are …………………………………..…
 Passive Voice
(S + be + V.3)

Active Voice ประโยคที่ประธาน (subject) เป�นผู้กระทำกริยา (verb)

Passive Voice ประโยคที่ประธาน (subject) ถูกกระทำ

Active Passive
…. when unexplained events were
thought to bring bad luck.
Many superstitions are related to
numbers.
Friday the thirteenth is seen as an
unlucky date in many countries.
…, it is also considered unlucky.

…, the fourth floor is skipped.

Superstitions are often linked to

everyday objects.
People who don't believe 13 is unlucky
are unaffected.

******* Passive ต้องมี Verb Be และ Verb 3 *******

 Conditional Sentence

First Conditional (Type I)

ประโยคเงื่อนไขแบบที่ 1 จะใช้เพื่อพูดถึงสิ่งที่เป�นเหตุเป�นผลกันว่า หากสิ่งหนึ่งเกิดขึ้นอีกสิ่งหนึ่งก็จะ
เกิดขึ้นตามมาด้วย เพราะตั้งอยู่บนพื้นฐานของความเป�นจริง

If clause (สาเหตุ/เงื่อนไข) Main clause (ผลที่เกิดขึ้น)

If this thing happens that thing will happen.

If + simple present future simple

If + s + v. (s,es) s+ will + v.

If you step on a crack, you'll break your mother's back

Don't sweep your house on New or you will sweep good fortune away.
Year's Day

If you wash your hair on the day of a the water will clean your memory and you
test, will forget everything you studied

If you break a mirror, seven years of bad luck is unavoidable.

If it rains, you will get wet.

You will get wet if it rains.

If Sally is late again, I will be mad.

I will be mad if Sally is late again.

If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus.

You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.