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Picture this scene: you are walking home and there is a black cat on the path in front of you.
想象一下這個場景：你走在回家的路上，突然一只黑貓出現在前方。
Does it make you feel scared stiff? Perhaps it might make you feel lucky?
你會不會被嚇傻了？還是你會感覺自己交好運了？
Putting a hat on the bed could cause evil spirits to slip into your dean sheets! And opening an umbrella indoors might bring untold punishments.
把帽子放在床上，你可能會被幽靈糾纏！在房間打開傘可能會招致某種懲罰。
Most superstitions are linked to something negative, or the thought that something will bring bad luck.
大部分的迷信都和不好的事情或厄運相關。
One of the most terrifying and long-believed of all superstitions is that breaking a mirror will bring seven years of bad luck.
流傳最久、最令人畏懼的一個迷信直說就是，打碎一面鏡子會帶來7年的霉運。
In ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese cultures, many people held the belief that a mirror reflected a person's soul.
在古希臘、羅馬和中華文明中，很多人相信鏡子反應著一個人的靈魂。
If the mirror was broken, the soul would be harmed too; and the person would be frightened out of their wits.
鏡子碎了，靈魂也受到創傷，人也會因驚嚇而失去理智。
Black cats have long been linked to luck.
人們長久以來將黑貓與運氣聯系在一起。
In continental Europe, the animals were thought to be shape-shifters, or witches' minions.
在歐洲大陸，人們認為黑貓是巫師可以移形換影的寵物。
If one crossed your path, it was sure to bring you ill fortune or even death.
遇到黑貓必定意味著霉運甚至死亡。
But, in the UK and Ireland, it's generally considered to be a sign of future prosperity if a black cat crosses your path.
但是在英國和愛爾蘭，如果遇到黑貓那就代表著你將有好事發生。
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 modern societies.
在很多國家，迷信已經存在了幾千年。但是調查顯示當代社會中仍然能找到它們的殘留。
Dr. Kevin Foster, from Harvard University, believes it is an example of humans interpreting and reacting to threats.
哈佛大學的凱文?福斯特博士認為，這是人類面對危險的一種理解和反應方式。
So, if these threats are likely to be "incorrect", why are people still so superstitious?
既然如此，如果這些“危險”都是“不科學”的，為什么人們還要迷信呢？
Well, it seems many people would prefer to be better safe than sorry.
啊，人們好像覺得小心一點比后悔好吧。
16. What do people believe opening an umbrella indoors will bring?
16.人們認為在房間撐雨傘會有什么后果？
17. What makes people believe that breaking a mirror will cause long-time bad luck?
17.人們為什么會認為打碎鏡子會帶來長時間的厄運？
18. Why are people still superstitious in modern societies?
18.當代社會人們為什么還是迷信？
