Unlucky for Some(b) | 当数字 13 碰上星期五(b)

Unlucky for Some当数字 13 碰上星期五

by Jeremy BeacockFor some, Friday the 13th is a combination of the worst number on the worst day of the week.

对有些人而言，13 号星期五是最不吉利的数字遇上最不吉利的一天。

Ever since people first understood what numbers were, they have felt that certain numbers were special. Sometimes numbers bring bad luck, while other times they bring good luck. Although the actual numbers vary from place to place, the belief in the special power of numbers is common to most cultures around the world.For example, in most Western countries, the number 13 is regarded as very unlucky. There are several explanations for this, but the belief is so strong that in many countries, some hospitals, hotels, and apartment buildings skip from the 12th to the 14th floor in their numbering. On the other hand, the Chinese have no special fear of the number 13 at all. Instead, they believe that the number four is very unlucky because the word for four sounds much like the word for death in Mandarin. Like the thirteenth floor in the West, many people would refuse to be treated on, stay on, or live on the fourth floor.Of course, not all numerical superstitions are negative. For instance, the number seven is believed to be extremely lucky in many Christian cultures in that it is associated with, among other things, the seven virtues and the seven days God took to create the world. In Asia, it is not seven but eight that brings good luck because it sounds like fortune or wealth. As a matter of fact, Taipei 101 has eight different sections, which shows how serious people are about their superstitions in Taiwan.1.  Which of the following is NOT a reason why Friday the thirteenth is considered unlucky?

(A) It is connected to several horror movies.(B) The number 13 is related to an evil god.(C) Jesus was put to death on a Friday.(D) A book about a financial consultant near the beginning of the 20th century.

2.  What can be inferred about Friday the thirteenth from the final paragraph of Day 1?(A) More accidents occur because it is an unlucky day.(B) Very few accidents take place.(C) Fewer accidents occur because there are fewer people on the roads.

(D) Most people just stay in.

3.  Around the world, numbers are thought of as _____ because _____.(A) bad luck, they always symbolize unlucky things

(B) special, some of them seem to have extraordinary power

(C) unlucky, floor plans of hotels need to be changed because of them

(D) lucky, they can help turn a person's life around

4.  Which of the following statements is TRUE?(A) Every culture around the world dreads Friday the thirteenth.(B) People in Asia would worry if they had to live on the 13th floor of an apartment building.(C) Friday the thirteenth was started by a banker.(D) The number eight represents luck in China because the word sounds like prosperity in Mandarin.  

打从人们开始知道数字为何物时，就已经觉得有些数字非常特别。有时候数字会带来厄运，而有些时候则会带来好运。虽然带来厄运和好运的数字因地而异，但人们认为数字拥有特殊力量的想法则放诸四海皆准。　

比方说，在大多数的西方国家里，数字 13 被视为是很不吉利的。虽然这有好几种解释，不过，这样的观念是如此根深蒂固，以致于许多国家的一些医院、饭店和公寓大楼在楼层的编号上，都从 12 楼直接跳到 14 楼。另一方面，中国人对数字 13 并没有特别的恐惧。中国人反而认为数字 4 非常不吉利，因为中文的『四』和『死』的音听起来很像。如同西方世界的第 13 楼，许多中国人拒绝在 4 楼接受宴请、停留或居住。　

　当然，也不是所有有关数字的迷信都是负面的。比方说，数字 7 在许多基督教文化里被视为非常吉利，这有许多原因，其中包括它和 7 种美德（编按：7 种美德为 chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness 及 humility，即：贞节、节制、慈悲、勤奋、耐心、仁慈及谦逊），以及上帝创造这世界花的 7 天有关。在亚洲，能带来好运的数字不是 7，而是 8，因为 8 的音跟发财的『发』很像。事实上，台北 101 大楼共有 8 节，这证明了台湾人对迷信可是相当认真的。  

答案：1. (A)　2. (C)　3. (B)　4. (D)

For Your Information在北欧神话中，火神 Loki 是诸神中的第 13 位，他本身邪恶而狡诈。他欺骗并唆使黑暗盲神 Hoder 害死了自己的兄弟（光明之神 Balder），又成为葬礼上的第 13 位吊唁者。此后西方就有迷信：如果葬礼中有 13 个人出席，那么其中一人会在第二年死去。这也是大家害怕数字 13 的另一种由来。