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ESL · Reading & Listening · B1–B2

Strange Beliefs
Around the World

Read the passage · Listen carefully · Answer questions · Get AI feedback on every answer!

📖 Reading🎧 Listening ×2❓ 14 Questions 🤖 AI Feedback🏆 Score

How to use this lesson:
1️⃣ Start with the Reading Passage — read carefully, hover over highlighted words for definitions.
2️⃣ Check the Key Vocabulary to understand difficult words.
3️⃣ Answer Reading Questions — AI will correct each answer.
4️⃣ Move to Listening Part 1 — listen only, don't read!
5️⃣ Then try Listening Part 2 — more challenging.
6️⃣ Check your Score at the end!

📖
Reading Passage
Read the full text
📝
Key Vocabulary
Words + pronunciation
❓
Reading Questions
5 questions · AI corrects
🎧
Listening — Part 1
Listen carefully!
👂
Listening Q's — Part 1
4 questions · AI corrects
🎙️
Listening — Part 2
More challenging!
👂
Listening Q's — Part 2
5 questions · AI corrects
🏆
My Score
See your total result
📖
Section 1 — Read

📖 Reading Passage

Read carefully. Hover over highlighted words to see definitions.

🌙 Strange Beliefs Around the World
Voice
Speed

Many people around the world believe in superstitionsSuperstition: an idea not based on science that people still believe. These are ideas that are not based on science, but people still follow them.

For example, in some countries, opening an umbrellaUmbrella: a device you open to protect from rain ☂️ inside the house is considered bad luckBad luck: when something unfortunate happens because of fate. People think it may bring problems.

In other places, a black catBlack cat 🐱: in some countries = bad luck; in others = good luck! crossing your path is a bad sign. However, in some countries, black cats actually bring good luck!

A four-leaf cloverFour-leaf clover 🍀: a rare plant believed to bring good luck is known as a lucky charmLucky charm: an object believed to bring good fortune. It is rare, and people believe it brings happiness and success.

Some people visit a fortune tellerFortune teller: a person who claims to know the future 🔮 or a clairvoyantClairvoyant / klair-VOY-ant: a person who can supposedly see the future to know their future. They believe these people can see things others cannot.

Even today, many people are still a little skepticalSkeptical: not fully believing; having doubts, but they enjoy talking about these strange and sometimes spookySpooky: scary; ghostly; eerie 👻 beliefs.

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Section 2 — Vocabulary

📝 Key Vocabulary

Learn these words before answering questions. Click 🔊 to hear each one.

🔤 Important Words from the Text
superstition
/ soo-per-STISH-un /
A belief not based on science that people still follow, e.g. "Don't walk under a ladder."
bad luck
/ bad luk /
When something unfortunate happens. Opposite = good luck.
good luck
/ good luk /
When something fortunate happens in your favour.
lucky charm
/ LUK-ee charm /
An object believed to bring good fortune, e.g. a four-leaf clover 🍀.
four-leaf clover
/ for-LEEF KLOH-ver /
A rare plant with four leaves, believed to bring happiness and success.
fortune teller
/ FOR-chun TEL-er /
A person who claims to know what will happen in the future 🔮.
clairvoyant
/ klair-VOY-ant /
Someone who supposedly sees things others cannot, including the future.
skeptical
/ SKEP-ti-kul /
Not fully believing something; having doubts about it.
spooky
/ SPOO-kee /
Scary or ghostly in a mysterious way 👻.
outskirts
/ OWT-skerts /
The outer edge of a town or city, away from the centre.
laid-back
/ layd-BAK /
Relaxed; not easily worried or stressed.
spot on
/ spot ON /
Exactly right; completely accurate. (British English expression)
colleague
/ KOL-eeg /
A person you work with; a workmate.
convinced
/ kun-VINST /
Fully believing something after seeing or hearing evidence.
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Section 3 — Reading Questions

❓ Reading Questions

Answer each question in a full sentence. AI will check your answer and give you feedback!

0 / 5 answered

📌 Instructions: Write your answer in the box. Click "Check with AI" to get feedback. Try to write full sentences!

🎧
Section 4 — Listening Part 1

🎧 Listening — Part 1

Now listen carefully. Don't look at the text — just listen! You can play as many times as you need.

⚠️ Important: Do NOT read while listening! Close your eyes and focus on the words you hear.
🎙️ Listening Text
Press Play to hear. The text is hidden — reveal it after listening.
"Many people believe in superstitions. Some think opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck. A black cat can mean bad luck in some places, but good luck in others. A four-leaf clover is a lucky charm. Some people visit fortune tellers to know their future."
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Section 5 — Listening Questions 1

👂 Listening Questions — Part 1

Answer from memory. Don't look back at the text! AI will check your answers.

0 / 4 answered
🎙️
Section 6 — Listening Part 2 (Challenging!)

🎙️ Listening — Part 2

More advanced vocabulary! Listen carefully — this one is harder.

🔴 Challenge level! New vocabulary: outskirts · laid-back · spooky · spot on · colleague · skeptical
🎙️ Extra Listening Passage
Listen only. The text is hidden. You can play multiple times.
"On the outskirts of a small town, a laid-back man visited a spooky house. His colleague told him it was unlucky. However, he was not scared. He said, 'That's weird, but I don't believe in superstitions.' Later, he said the story was spot on, but he was still skeptical."
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Section 7 — Listening Questions 2

👂 Listening Questions — Part 2

Challenge questions. Answer from memory in full sentences.

0 / 5 answered
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Your Results

🏆 My Score

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🏆 Overall Result