You cracked the case in class. Now solve these cases alone. The article is printed below whenever you need it — real detectives return to the evidence!
“Can walking under a ladder cause bad luck? Does breaking a mirror make you cringe? Do you think the number 13 spells certain doom? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be superstitious.”
“These beliefs often have a long history, says Donald Saucier, a psychologist—a scientist who studies how the mind works—at Kansas State University. ‘Many superstitions originate from ancient traditions that gave symbols—like animals, numbers, and shapes—evil or protective properties.’”
“Take, for instance, the number 13. It was considered unlucky in ancient Norse, Maya, and Christian traditions. This superstition persists today. Many modern hotels and tall buildings don’t have a 13th floor. Or maybe you’ve heard that you shouldn’t walk under ladders. This belief dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who viewed triangular shapes, like pyramids, as sacred. Since an open or leaning ladder makes a triangular shape, passing beneath one was—and still is—considered unlucky.”
“Not all superstitions involve misfortune, though. Finding a penny, hanging a horseshoe, or knocking on wood are thought to ward off bad luck. No matter the superstition, they were all created to serve the same purpose, says Saucier: ‘By avoiding black cats or throwing salt over their shoulders, people were able to believe they could better control what happened to them.’”
TESTING OUR LUCK: 2,236 people in the U.S. were asked which superstitions they believe in (they could choose more than one): penny 33% · groom seeing bride first 24% · knocking on wood 21% · walking under a ladder 20% · breaking a mirror 14% · opening an umbrella indoors 14% · black cat 13%.
HOW SUPERSTITIOUS? 1,497 U.S. adults (18+) answered a 2019 poll: not at all superstitious 31% · not very 35% · somewhat 20% · very 9% · don’t know 5%.
BELIEF ORIGINS: Black cats — linked to witches in the Middle Ages; today they’re common pets, helping dispel this myth. Umbrellas — popular in 1800s England; opening one indoors could be dangerous, so it became seen as unlucky. Salt — prized for preserving food; spilled salt was tossed over the left shoulder. Horseshoes — ancient Greeks thought iron warded off evil; hung open end up to draw luck in.
From “The Source of Superstitions” by Jeanette Ferrara, Scholastic Science World, October 18, 2021. Survey data: YouGov.
Some people say superstitions are silly — yet thousands of years later, people still follow them. In 6–8 sentences, explain why people continue to believe in superstitions. Use at least two pieces of evidence from the article: a survey number, a quote from Saucier, or a historical example.
Recipe: CLAIM → EVIDENCE → EVIDENCE → EXPLANATION. Do not write that superstitions are true — write about why people believe them.
Total: 20 marks · Reading source: “The Source of Superstitions,” Scholastic Science World (Oct 18, 2021), YouGov survey data.