JAN 2010

Culture: Superstitions

READING

Find more grammar exercises in Oxford Practice Grammar series.

Oxford University Press España www.oup.com/es Photocopiable Resources 1

 JAN 2010

1. Read through this text and find:

1 another negative modal.

2 a sentence that contains three different modals.

2. Answer the following questions.

1 What expressions can you use to bring luck?

2 Name at least three things that can bring bad luck.

3. Choose one of the following as the final sentence of each of the paragraphs A–E
above.

1 People will just think you’re very superstitious or possibly crazy. (. . .)

2 That explanation makes the superstition much easier to understand. (. . .)
3 With your fingers like this, however, it may be hard to nail that horseshoe over your door.
(. . .)
4 We just don’t open one until we are outside. (. . .)
5 Perhaps he had opened an umbrella indoors. (. . .)

VOCABULARY
4. Write a synonym or a definition of the following words from the text.

1 spill (line 14) 3 tokens (line 39)

2 ordinary (line 28) 4 tap (line 61)

GRAMMAR

5. Choose the correct modal verb.

1 The chemist’s was open, so luckily I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . buy some

aspirin.
a) can b) can’t c) did can d) was able to

2 Susan has to work very hard. I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . do her job, I’m sure.

a) can’t b) couldn’t c) don’t d) shouldn’t

Oxford University Press España www.oup.com/es Photocopiable Resources 2

 JAN 2010

3 We had a party last night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . spend all morning clearing up the mess.
a) I must have b) I’ve been to c) I’ve had to d) I’ve must

4 There was no one else at the box office. I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in a queue.

a) didn’t need to wait b) mustn’t wait c) needn’t have waited d) needn’t wait

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I carry that bag for you? ~ Oh, thank you.

a) Do b) Shall c) Will d) Would

6 I’ve lost the key. I ought . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . it in a safe place.

a) that I put b) to be putting c) to have put d) to put

WRITING

6. Choose one topic. Write 100-120 words.

1 Do you believe in superstitions? Justify your answer.

2 Write a story using the following expression: “wish me the best of luck!”

Oxford University Press España www.oup.com/es Photocopiable Resources 3

 JAN 2010

ANSWER KEY

READING

1.
1 We should never (line 7) OR don’t have to (line 48) OR won’t (line 65)

2 We may be told, for example, that we should never open an umbrella indoors because
that will bring bad luck. (line 6)

2.
1 “Good luck”, “touch wood” and “knock on wood”.

2 Breaking a mirror, walking under a ladder or spilling salt.

3.
1E 2C 3D 4A 5B

VOCABULARY

4.
1 drop
2 common
3 physical symbol of recognition
4 hit lightly

GRAMMAR

5.
1 d)
2 b)
3 c)
4 a)
5 b)
6 c)

WRITING

6.
Open exercise.

Oxford University Press España www.oup.com/es Photocopiable Resources 4