Задание
Прочитай текст и выполни задания 12–18. В каждом задании запиши в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному варианту ответа.
Black cats
Among superstitions, one of the oldest and most enduring is that crossing paths with a black cat will bring on bad luck. The dark-coloured cats have also been folded into modern Halloween symbols, giving them the reputation of being spooky.
The connections between humans and cats can be traced back to some of the world's earliest civilisations, most notably ancient Egypt, where cats were considered divine symbols. Cats also made an appearance in Greek mythology, specifically Hecate, goddess of magic, sorcery, the moon, and witchcraft, was described as having a cat as both a pet and a familiar (a supernatural creature that assists a witch, according to European folklore).
Written records link black cats to the occult as far back as the 13th century when an official church document called "Vox in Rama" was issued by Pope Gregory IX on June 13, 1233. "In it, black cats were declared an incarnation of Satan," says Layla Morgan Wilde, author of "Black Cats Tell: True Tales and Inspiring Images". In addition to their early association with Satan, cats also became inextricably linked to witches in medieval Europe. According to Cerridwen Fallingstar, Wiccan priestess and author of "Broth from the Cauldron: A Wisdom Journey through Everyday Magic", witches were the pre-Christian pagan practitioners of Europe and knew the ropesof pagan rituals.
Although the early Christian church in Europe coexisted with witches, as the church gained power, it saw witches as their direct competition in gaining the hearts and minds of the people. That's when the church began hunting, persecuting, torturing, and killing witches in vast numbers.
But it wasn't only the connection the church fabricated between witches, cats, and the devil that the early Christians feared: it also saw them both as threats. "Cats, like the women accused of witchcraft, tend to exhibit a healthy disrespect of authority. They don't fawn, like dogs, upon even the unworthy. In the church, neither independent women nor independent animals were to be tolerated."
At some point, the pairing of witches with cats narrowed to black cats, although it's not entirely clear why that happened. "The relationship between witches and black cats, in particular, is probably imaginary, but it is possible that black cats make better mousers, since they cannot be seen at night and therefore have a hunting advantage," Cerridwen Fallingstar explains. "Witches do tend towards the practical."
Eventually, the fear surrounding black cats and their association with witchcraft made its way across the Atlantic, courtesy of Puritan colonists. The idea that witches could turn into their familiars likely evolved from those accused of witchcraft having cats as pets.
Given the belief in medieval Europe that the devil and witches were capable of taking the form of black cats, it makes sense that the superstition surrounding crossing their paths developed, says Phoebe Millerwhite, a folklorist and artist. "Therefore, a black cat crossing your path might very well be on a mission from a witch," she notes. "Just as easily, it could be the devil in disguise — and no one wants to cross paths with the devil. This explains why a black cat crossing your path is considered a bad omen."
This notion continued into the Renaissance, says Fallingstar, when a black cat crossing your path might have indicated that a witch had sent her familiar to do you harm. "Many fearful peasants of the day might have hurried to the nearest church and paid for a priest to bless them and rid them of any curse that might have been laid by the cat," she says. "As this was a source of income for the church, such fears would have likely been encouraged."
But the idea that black cats are bad luck isn't universal. In fact, some cultures believe that black cats bring good luck. "Their resemblance to the cat-goddess Bastet led them to be honoured in ancient Egypt," she explains. "In other countries, such as Scotland and Japan, they have been known to represent prosperity. Apparently, whether a black cat is viewed as a benevolent creature or an evil supernatural force is entirely based on whichever lore one is likely to embrace."
12.The word "fold"(".... have also been folded into modern Halloween symbols...") in the first paragraph is synonymous to…
1) wrap.
2) for.
3) gather.
4) bend.
13.When did people begin to associate black cats with bad luck?
1) In the Middle Ages.
2) In ancient times.
3) In the pre-Christian period.
4) In the last few centuries.
14. Which phrase is closest in meaning to the idiom "to know the ropes" ("...knew the ropes of pagan rituals…") in the 3rd paragraph?
1) To create something new.
2) To perform rituals.
3) To be experienced in something.
4) To accept something.
15.Which of the following sentences is NOT the reason why the church hunted witches?
1) The church believed that witches were servants of Satan.
2) The church was afraid of rivalry with witches.
3) Some women didn't want to obey the church.
4) The independence of witches was an enemy of the church.
16.Why were people afraid of cats which were black?
1) Black cats weren't popular; only some people had black cats.
2) Black colour is the opposite of white colour, which was the colour of the church.
3) Black cats were more practical.
4) Black cats could easily hide in the dark.
17.According to the article, the church invested in the belief that a black cat crossing your path would bring bad luck because…
1) the church believed that a black cat was a familiar of a witch.
2) it brought them money.
3) the church believed that black cats put a curse on people.
4) God asked them to.
18.In the last paragraph, the author implies that…
1) black cats are no longer associated with bad luck today.
2) whether black cats are good or evil depends on cultural traditions and beliefs.
3) black cats should be worshipped as in Ancient Egypt.
4) black cats are in fact good luck.