🌙
ESL · Reading & Listening · B1–B2

Strange Beliefs
Around the World

Read · Study vocabulary · Learn expressions · Listen · Answer 15 MCQ questions!

📚 Reading🎧 Listening x2 💬 8 Expressions❓ 15 MCQ🏆 Score

How to use this lesson:
1. Start with the Reading Passage — hover over highlighted words for quick definitions.
2. Study Key Vocabulary and Expressions & Idioms.
3. Answer Reading Questions — choose A, B, C or D and get instant feedback.
4. Listen carefully then answer the Listening Questions.
5. Check your Score at the end!

📚
Reading Passage
Read the full text
📝
Key Vocabulary
14 key words
💬
Expressions
8 idioms + quiz
❓
Reading Questions
6 MCQ
🎧
Listening Part 1
Listen carefully!
👀
Listening Q's 1
4 MCQ
🎙
Listening Part 2
More challenging!
👀
Listening Q's 2
5 MCQ
🏆
My Score
Total result
📚
Section 1 — Read

📚 Reading Passage

Read carefully. Hover over highlighted words to see their definitions.

🌙 Strange Beliefs Around the World
Voice
Speed

Many people around the world believe in superstitionsSuperstition: a belief not based on science that people still follow. 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 stay dry in the rain inside the house is considered bad luckBad luck: when unfortunate things happen, as if by fate. People think it may bring problems.

In other places, a black catBlack cat: bad luck in some countries, good luck in others! 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 with four leaves, believed to bring 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): someone who supposedly sees future events 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 something; having doubts, but they enjoy talking about these strange and sometimes spookySpooky: scary, ghostly or eerie in a mysterious way beliefs.

📝
Section 2 — Vocabulary

📝 Key Vocabulary

Learn these 14 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.
"Do you believe in superstitions?"
bad luck
/ bad luk /
When unfortunate things happen, as if by fate. Opposite: good luck.
"Breaking a mirror is said to bring bad luck."
good luck
/ good luk /
When fortunate things happen in your favour.
"Finding a penny brings good luck."
lucky charm
/ LUK-ee charm /
An object believed to bring good fortune to whoever carries it.
"She carries a lucky charm everywhere."
four-leaf clover
/ for-LEEF KLOH-ver /
A rare plant with four leaves instead of three, believed to bring success.
"He found a four-leaf clover in the garden."
fortune teller
/ FOR-chun TEL-er /
A person who claims to predict what will happen in the future.
"The fortune teller predicted a long journey."
clairvoyant
/ klair-VOY-ant /
A person who supposedly has the ability to see future events or hidden things.
"The clairvoyant said she could see my past."
skeptical
/ SKEP-ti-kul /
Not fully believing something; having doubts about whether it is true.
"I am skeptical about fortune tellers."
spooky
/ SPOO-kee /
Frightening or mysterious in a ghostly way.
"The abandoned house looked very spooky at night."
outskirts
/ OWT-skerts /
The outer areas of a town or city, far from the busy centre.
"They lived on the outskirts of the city."
laid-back
/ layd-BAK /
Relaxed and calm; not easily worried or stressed.
"He has a very laid-back attitude to life."
spot on
/ spot ON /
Exactly right; completely accurate. (British English)
"Your answer was spot on!"
colleague
/ KOL-eeg /
A person you work with; a workmate or co-worker.
"My colleague warned me about the old building."
convinced
/ kun-VINST /
Completely certain about something after thinking or hearing evidence.
"I am not convinced that superstitions are real."
💬
Section 3 — Expressions

💬 Expressions & Idioms

Common English expressions about fear, luck and the supernatural. Click to hear each one!

💬 Spooky & Superstition Expressions
👻 A shiver ran down my spine
/ uh SHIV-er ran down my SPINE /
Meaning: A sudden cold feeling of fear or excitement, as if something crept down your back.
💬 "When I entered the dark house, a shiver ran down my spine."
🍀 Touch wood / Knock on wood
/ tuch wood /
Meaning: Said after something good to prevent bad luck. You physically touch wood while saying it.
💬 "I haven't been sick all year — touch wood!"
😱 It gives me the creeps
/ it GIVz mee the KREEPS /
Meaning: Something makes you feel deeply uncomfortable, scared or unsettled.
💬 "That spooky old house gives me the creeps!"
🔮 Have a gut feeling
/ hav uh GUT FEEL-ing /
Meaning: A strong inner instinct about something, not based on facts — just a deep personal sense.
💬 "I had a gut feeling something strange was about to happen."
😨 My heart skipped a beat
/ my HART skipt uh BEET /
Meaning: A sudden moment of shock, fear or strong excitement — your heart felt like it briefly stopped.
💬 "When the black cat crossed my path, my heart skipped a beat."
🤷 Tempt fate
/ TEMPT fayt /
Meaning: To do something risky that might cause a bad outcome — as if challenging bad luck to happen.
💬 "Don't say you'll never get sick — you're tempting fate!"
🌑 Under a dark cloud
/ UN-der uh DARK klowd /
Meaning: Going through a period of bad luck, misfortune or unhappiness.
💬 "He has been under a dark cloud since he broke that mirror."
🍀 Strike it lucky
/ STRIKE it LUK-ee /
Meaning: To suddenly have very good luck — something great and unexpected happens to you.
💬 "She found a four-leaf clover and struck it lucky — she won the lottery!"
🎯 Quick Expression Quiz — Choose the correct answer!
❓
Section 4 — Reading Questions

❓ Reading Questions

Choose the correct answer. Instant feedback after every choice!

0 / 6 answered
🎧
Section 5 — Listening Part 1

🎧 Listening — Part 1

Press play and listen carefully. Do not read — just listen! Replay as many times as you need.

⚠️ Important: Do NOT read while listening. Focus on every word 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."
👀
Section 6 — Listening Questions 1

👀 Listening Questions — Part 1

Answer from memory. Do not go back to the text!

0 / 4 answered
🎙️
Section 7 — Listening Part 2 (Challenging!)

🎙️ Listening — Part 2

More advanced vocabulary! This one is harder — listen very carefully.

🔴 Challenge level! New vocabulary: outskirts · laid-back · spooky · spot on · colleague · skeptical
🎙️ Extra Listening Passage
Listen only. Text hidden. Replay as many times as you need.
"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 is weird, but I do not believe in superstitions. Later, he said the story was spot on, but he was still skeptical."
👀
Section 8 — Listening Questions 2

👀 Listening Questions — Part 2

Challenge questions. Answer from memory only!

0 / 5 answered
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🏆 My Score

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