July 2012 - Southeast Michigan Mensa

M-Pathy Page 10
Strange Superstitions
2012 Jim Szirony
Superstitions can be seen as an attempt of exerting some control over a capricious world. Some superstitions have practical
origins. The dangers of being hit by a falling object, for instance, clearly explains why walking under a ladder may
be unlucky. Other superstitions can arise through a much simpler mechanism. In an experiment using pigeons, B.
F. Skinner demonstrated that when given rewards at fixed intervals, pigeons would repeat whatever behavior had
previously ‘caused’ that reward. The same conditioning process results in the many ritualistic behaviors exhibited
by pro athletes. Cross your fingers for luck and complete the following quiz to test your knowledge of some
unusual superstitions.
A. A baseball player must never:
A. Step on the foul line when coming on or off the
field.
B. Talk about a no-hit or perfect game while in
progress.
C. Shave after the first postseason win.
D. All of the above.
B. Which of the following is not considered bad luck in
the theatrical world?
A. Whistling backstage.
B. Mentioning the name of the play Macbeth
anywhere within a theater.
C. Having the author of the play attend the first
performance.
D. Wishing an actor “good luck.”
3. In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner, a ship is beset by a storm and
blown to Antarctica. A bird appears and leads the
ship to safety. The narrator of the tale then kills the
bird, unleashing a curse upon the crew. The dying
crew forces the Mariner to wear the dead bird around
his neck. In sailing lore, as in Coleridge’s poem, this
bird represents both good fortune and bad. Said to
embody the souls of sailors returning to the sea, this
bird is the:
A. Pelican
B. Albatross
C. Erne (Sea Eagle)
D. Seagull
4. To feed soldiers in combat, the U.S. military
developed the MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat.) In the
1980’s the military began including this candy in each
MRE package. Soldiers now consider this candy
cursed. Military forums are replete with stories of
misfortune due to eating this sweet. This cursed
candy is:
A. Mars bar
B. Gobstoppers
C. Charms
D. Skittles
5. In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner, a ship is beset by a storm and
blown to Antarctica. A bird appears and leads the
ship to safety. The narrator of the tale then kills the
bird, unleashing a curse upon the crew. The dying
crew forces the Mariner to wear the dead bird around
his neck. In sailing lore, as in Coleridge’s poem, this
bird represents both good fortune and bad. Said to
embody the souls of sailors returning to the sea, this
bird is the:
A. Pelican
B. Albatross
C. Erne (Sea Eagle)
D. Seagull
6. Because of an ancient superstition, the British
government pays to keep at least six of these birds in
the Tower of London. It is believed that if the birds
ever leave the Tower, disaster will befall England. A
Tower guard (Yeoman Warder) is assigned to hand
raise and care for these birds from fledglings.
Among most other cultures, however, this bird is
considered an ill omen. Identify this creature.
A. Raven
B. Owl
C. Robin
D. Catbird
7. The number 13 is the unluckiest of all numbers. The
Mayans hated this number. The last 13 year cycle of
the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012,
supposedly signifying the end of time. Tall buildings
and elevators commonly do not have a marked 13th
floor. Hotels omit a room 13. Even Friday the 13th
has negative connotations. The fear of Friday the
13th or the number 13 in general is called:
A. Agoraphobia
B. Demonophobia
C. Amaxophobia
D. Triskaidekaphobia
Answers
1. D, 2. C, 3. B, 4. C, 5. B, 6. A, 7. D