S e c o n d e d I t I o n 1 Reading for the Real World 1

crossing
your 
fingers
to 
bring a little luck. After all, who doesn’t want a little luck?
Reading Time
_______ minutes _______ seconds
574 words
32 
expect --- to guess; to consider likely
35
respondent --- a person who answers a survey 
37 
minimal --- low; of the smallest amount
38
common --- usual; occurring frequently
40
check --- to mark
41 
widely --- over a large range or area
51 
cross one’s fingers --- to put the second finger over the first finger
7

---

R 
eading Comprehension
8
A
Mark each statement as either true (T) or false (F) according to the 
reading.
 1.
____ The majority of people said they do not believe in bad luck.
 2.
____ None of the non-believers think four-leaf clovers are lucky.
 3.
____ It is bad luck to climb a ladder.
 4.
____ Few people thought that breaking a mirror was bad luck.
B
 
Choose the best answer.
 1.
Which of the following would bring bad luck?
a. A cracked mirror
b. 
Crossed 
fingers
c. Money on the street
d. Walking under mistletoe
 2.
Which of these good-luck traditions was most commonly followed by 
non-believers?
a. Avoiding black cats
b. Kissing under mistletoe
c. Knocking on wood
d. Picking up money
 3.
Who would be most likely to admit being superstitious?
a. A nineteen-year-old, female, college student
b. A thirty-year-old, male, high school drop-out
c. A forty-year-old, male, college graduate
d. A seventy-year-old, female, college graduate
C
For the next two questions, look for the answers in the passage and