Superstition （迷信) has always been part of human nature and has existed in every society.

Superstition (迷信) has always been part of human nature and has existed in every society. There are superstitions about numbers, animals, food, the weather, the sky, illness, work, sleep and parts of the body. In fact, superstitions have been part of every aspect of human existence. In the past, people had no scientific explanations for events such as birth, death, thunderstorms and changes in the weather, They thought that these events were caused by spirits, and they developed ways to welcome the good spirits and chase away the evil spirits. They hoped that by wearing special clothes, eating special foods or performing certain rituals (仪式), the spirits would be happy and would not harm them.

Some superstitions have a practical origin. When you spill salt, do you throw a pinch of it over your left shoulder？ Today we understand many of the chemical properties that make salt valuable, such as its ability to melt snow and to freeze ice cream. In the past, salt was thought to have magical powers. People probably realized the value of salt when they saw animals near a salt lick. They soon discovered that salt could be used to preserve food, and probably thought that it could protect people as well.

In modern times, although we have scientific explanations for many things, life still holds many uncertainties and fears. There are still things that we can not control, such as birth and death. Even the weather can be a source of anxiety. When we plan an outdoor party, for example, we hope that it does not rain. We try to be in control of various situations by making wishes, wearing lucky charms or reading our horoscopes (星位) to see what we should do. So, keep your fingers crossed and knock on wood. Good luck!

Superstitious activities can be observed in ______.

A．nature

B．the weather

C．animal behavior

D．human society