Vocabulary in context (Reading 2: And the lucky number is......)

For centuries people have had superstitions about numbers.

• silly fears

• unreliable beliefs

• exciting legends

• old traditions

In some countries the number five is considered lucky; in others it is not.

• designed

• formed

• believed

• placed

Four was considered by Ancient Egyptians to be a perfect number symbolizing unity, endurance, and balance.

• continuation

• equality

• independence

• strength

The number 13 has had a bad reputation.

• grade

• direction

• condition

• name

The Romans regarded 13 as a symbol of death, destruction, and misfortune.

• bad luck

• opportunity

• injury

• unhappiness

It's considered a bad omen for 13 people to sit at a table.

• promise

• sign

• action

• event

The thirteenth is not considered a good day on which to begin any new enterprise.

• building

• project

• journey

• meeting

Hotel owners will not usually assign the number 13 to a room.

• transfer

• choose

• allow

• give

In Italy, the number 13 is omitted from the lottery.

• left out

• added

• repeated

• replaced

The belief in the magic of numbers has persisted.

• gone away

• become greater

• changed

• continued