【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[听力原文]
Picture this scene: you are walking home and there is a black cat on the path in front of you. Does it make you feel scared stiff?. Perhaps it might make you feel lucky? Putting a hat on the bed could cause evil spirits to slip into your clean sheets!
And opening an umbrella indoors might bring untold punishments.
Most superstitions are linked to something negative, or the thought that something will bring bad luck. One of the most terrifying and long-believed of all superstitions is that breaking a mirror will bring seven years of bad luck.
In ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese cultures, many people held the belief that a mirror reflected a person"s soul.
If the mirror was broken, the soul would be harmed too; and the person would be frightened out of their wits. Black cats have long been linked to luck. In continental Europe, the animals were thought to be shape-shifters, or witches" minions. If one crossed your path, it was sure to bring you ill fortune or even death. But, in the UK and Ireland, it"s generally considered to be a sign of future prosperity if a black cat crosses your path.
Superstitions have been found in a wide range of cultures for thousands of years, but research suggests that many of these beliefs can still be found in modem societies.
Dr. Kevin Foster, from Harvard University, believes it is an example of humans interpreting and reacting to threats.
So, if these threats are likely to be "incorrect", why are people still so superstitious? Well, it seems many people would prefer to be better safe than sorry.
What do people believe opening an umbrella indoors will bring?
[解析] 短文在开头列出了几条人们普遍相信的、会带来噩运的事情，并说在屋内打伞会bring untold punishments，由此可知，人们认为这样做会带来“未知的惩罚”，因此答案为选项D。
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[听力原文]
What makes people believe that breaking a mirror will cause long-time bad luck?
[解析] 此题询问为什么人们认为打破镜子会带来噩运。短文中提到In ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese cultures, many people held the belief that a mirror reflected a person"s soul. 由此可知，人们认为镜子能够反映出人的灵魂，一旦镜子受损，人的灵魂也会受损。因此答案为选项B。