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[1] It's easy to dismiss many common good luck charms as purely wishful thinking — after all, how can any inanimate object determine whether you'll have a good day or one plagued by bad luck? Well, it turns out that so-called good luck charms may actually help you succeed in life, whether that means performing better on a test or making it through a tough day of work.
dismiss A as B:把某物当作是不切实际的而无视它
--Their evidence was dismissed as completely worthless他们的证据被视为没有价值，而不予考虑。
Wishful thinking:不实际的幻想, 痴心妄想（illusion/fantasy）
---I've got a feeling that Alex likes me, but that might just be wishful thinking.自作多情。
inanimate [ɪn'ænɪmət] adj. 无生命的; 单调的; 无生气的; 没精打采的lifeless; spiritless;
plague [pleig] n. 瘟疫, 天罚, 麻烦, 灾祸 vt. 折磨, 使苦恼, 使得灾祸
The east coast has been plagued by blizzards for most of this month.
Well, it turns out that so-called good luck charms may actually help you succeed in life, whether that means performing better on a test or making it through a tough day of work. “不管是……还是……都…”
“选择条件-让步状语从句”由这一个复合连词whether..or引导的让步状语从句主要是为了说明正反两方面的可能性都不会影响主句的意向或结果，所以它的语气是比较强烈的，从而也更加坚定了主句的内容。例如：
1. You'll have to attend the ceremony whether you're free or busy
2. It will bring you into a magical world and make your dreams come true, whether traveling through space, or meeting your favourite Disney cartoon character.
[2] What matters is that you believe in the charm. It's the belief that gives the talisman its power by boosting your self-confidence and allowing you to perform at your peak. Think of it as a placebo effect of sorts. Even if there's absolutely no evidence or any good reason that a charm should turn the odds in your favor, your belief in the charm might just influence your actions enough to actually boost your chance of success — or leave you feeling more positive about your results, whatever they may be. The best part is, any charm will do, because the power comes from inside your mind, not from the object itself. Need some ideas? Check out these bizarre good luck charms for a bit of inspiration!
placebo [pla·ce·bo || plə'sɪːbəʊ] n. 为死者所诵的晚祷词, 安慰剂
---She was only given a placebo, but she claimed she got better - that's the placebo effect.
turn the odds in your favor ：把几率转向对你有利
talisman ['tælɪzmən]n. 护身符, 法宝, 避邪物
---Beauty is sometimes a most powerful talisman.美貌有时是一种极为强大的法宝。
boost [buːst] raise n. 推进, 增加, 支援v. 举, 抬; 推动; 推; 促进
---The new resort area has boosted tourism.
[3] Ladybugs are seen as universally lucky among a variety of cultures and regions, but the origins of this luck are unclear. Some believe it was inspired by the Virgin Mary, or "Lady Bird," but the ladybug is lucky even in areas where Christianity isn't the dominant religion, such as Asia.
[4] No matter its origins, it's said that simply having a ladybug land on you will bring you luck as long as you let it leave on its own accord — no brushing it away. If you must send the ladybug flying, preserve your luck by gently blowing it away and reciting the poem, "Ladybug Ladybug." A ladybug landing not only brings luck, but also allows the bug to carry your problems away with it when it goes.
[5] Beyond basic luck, ladybugs are also said to predict the future. Some say that counting the spots on a ladybug will tell you how many kids you'll have. Others believe that the number of spots reveals the number of happy months ahead. While it's difficult to carry a ladybug in your pocket for luck, the ladybug's lucky reputation makes it a popular choice for clothing and décor, particularly in Asian cultures.
universal [,ju:ni'vә:sl]a. 全世界的, 普遍的, 宇宙的, 通用的n. 一般概念
a universal truth 普遍真理
---Food is a subject of almost universal interest.
dominant ['dɒminәnt] a. 占优势的, 支配的
---The firm has achieved a dominant position in the world market.
--- It is easy to spot the dominant wolf in the pack.
---he takes the dominant position in their relationship.
accord [ac·cord || ə'kɔːd]
n. 调和, 一致, 符合; 条约; 协议; 自愿
v. 调解, 使一致; 赠予; 给予; 授予; 调和, 一致, 符合as long as：On the condition that 引导条件状语从句。
---I will cooperate as long as I am notified on time. 只要及时告诉我，我就会合作
While it's difficult to carry a ladybug in your pocket for luck, the ladybug's lucky reputation makes it a popular choice for clothing and décor, particularly in Asian cultures大家稍微注意一下，这个while的用法就好了
While=in spite of the fact that= although 引导的让步状语从句
---While never a big eater, he did snack a lot.
..makes it a popular choice for… 使得他备受。。的欢迎 /使它成为热门选择
---The university's history and it’s academic strengths make it a popular choice for overseas students.
[6] Amulets, or small charms made from metal, bone, stone or gems, have long served as protective charms throughout many parts of the world. The ancient Egyptians gave young girls a fish amulet called a nekhau, which they wore around their necks or tied to a lock of hair to help prevent drowning. Variations of this amulet can be found throughout different cultures, but what's interesting is that each culture changes the design slightly, modeling the amulet after local fish species.
[7] One modern researcher, epidemiologist Christopher Charles, has taken advantage of these charms' power to benefit one Cambodian village's population. In 2008, Charles handed out tiny iron fish amulets — made in the likeness of a popular local fish species — to the village's residents. By urging the residents to cook with the lucky fish in the pot, the researcher virtually eliminated anemia, which had once plagued a large percentage of villagers.
[8] It was the fish design itself that spurred his success: When he'd handed out shapeless lumps of iron for the same purpose, villagers declined to throw them in the pot. It took the so-called lucky likeness of the fish for his plan to work — and to improve the health of the local people.
amulet ['æmjulit]n. 护身符
epidemiologist ['epɪ,diːmɪ'ɒlədʒɪst] n. 流行病学家
virtually ['vә:tʃuәli] ad. 事实上 almost or very nearly
eliminate [i'limineit] vt. 除去, 排除, 剔除, 消除 remove, get rid of，比如参加选秀节目，被淘汰了，我们就可以说sb is eliminated
anemia [ә'ni:miә]n. 贫血, 贫血症, 无活力
urge [ә:dʒ] n. 冲动, 推动力, 迫切的要求vt. 驱策, 力劝, 推动vi. 强烈要求
spur [spɜr /spɜː]n. 马刺, 鼓舞, 刺激物v. 用靴刺踢; 鞭策, 鼓励;给予刺激; 急速前进 stimulate
have long served as 一直担任，作为 替换be动词
---this should serve as a stepping stone for you to discover what works for you.
take advantage of 利用; 占...的便宜;
1 : use for one's own benefit
2 : to impose on : EXPLOIT also : to exploit sexually
---They decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and go to the country．他们决定利用这么好的天气到乡村去。
---He takes advantage of his fine secretary by leaving all the work to her and doing nothing himself．他利用他那位能干的秘书，把所有工作都丢给她干，自己却什么也不干。
长难句：
Variations of this amulet can be found throughout different cultures, but what's interesting is that each culture changes the design slightly, modeling the amulet after local fish species.
世界各地都能找到这种护符的变种，但有趣的是他们是以当地的鱼种为模版塑造护符，在设计上只做稍加变化。
It took the so-called lucky likeness of the fish for his plan to work — (递进)and to improve the health of the local people.
Took the likeness of ….借….的型/采取与相似的样子。
正式因为借用了这种鱼护符的形状才促使了他的计划得以成功，进而改善了当地居民的健康状况。
[9] Believe it or not, the severed and preserved heads of vultures are widely recognized as good luck charms in some parts of the world, leading some luck-seekers to pay hundreds of dollars or more to obtain one of these gruesome objects. Because they feed on dead flesh, vultures have long been seen as bringers of death, but many believe they can also foretell it.
[10]This sense of clairvoyance has spelled doom for many vultures, as poachers target them in order to sell their heads. Despite the birds' endangered status, eager buyers in Africa and other parts of the world line up to score these good luck charms. They are particularly valued for their supposed ability to predict the future, making them highly desired by gamblers and lottery players.
[11] Of course, even if you can come up with the cash to score one of these valuable lucky charms, there's no guarantee that any reputable casino is going to let you hang out at the poker table cradling a dried-up bird head — buyer beware, indeed.
Believe it or not口语中常用：
---Believe it or not, the power of love conquers everything!
Be widely recognized as/be well known as/ have long been seen as被广泛认为是
---The Mona Lisa is widely recognized as the most famous painting in the history of art.
spell doom： 招致灭顶之灾
---The poor economy spelled doom for many small businesses.
sever ['sevә]vt. 切断, 脱离, 分开, 使分离, 断绝, 中断vi. 断, 裂开
severed adj. cut off; divided, separated; terminated
vulture ['vʌltʃә] n. 秃鹫, 贪婪的人
gruesome ['gru:sәm]a. 可怕的, 令人毛骨悚然的, 阴森的
---Police described it as a particularly gruesome attack.
clairvoyance [klєә'vɒiәns]n. 神视, 超人的视力, 洞察力
poacher ['pәutʃә] n. 偷猎者, 侵入者, 炖蛋锅
supposed [sup'posed || sə'pəʊzd] adj. 假定的; 假像的
reputable ['repjutәbl]a. 受好评的, 有声望的, 规范的Despite the birds' endangered status, eager buyers急切的买家 in Africa and other parts of the world line up to score these good luck charms.
Despite=in spite of
---Despite all our efforts to save the school, the authorities decided to close it.
despite the fact (that)
---She went to Spain despite the fact that her doctor had told her to rest.
Score : obtain, gain
---Maybe I can score some new CDs at the radio station.
长难句：
Of course, even if you can come up with the cash to score one of these valuable lucky charms, there's no guarantee that any reputable casino is going to let you hang out at the poker table cradling a dried-up bird head — buyer beware, indeed.
Cradle :To hold or support protectively
当然，即使你花大价钱买到了一个幸运符，也不能确保你就能用的上，因为任何一个规范的赌场都不会让一个捧着风干的秃鹫脑袋的客人在赌桌旁转悠！买家注意哟！
[12] You may be familiar with the bezoar thanks to "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." In the book, Harry famously feeds Ron one of these stonelike charms to save him from some poisoned mead. While author J.K. Rowling borrowed the bezoar throughout the Harry Potter series, this charm — actually a mass that forms in the stomach of goats, deer and other animals — has long been seen as a token of luck. Many cultures believe that crushing the bezoar into powder could save a poison victim, while others dropped the bezoar into a glass to check for poison before drinking.
[13] Simply carrying the stone is thought to offer protection against illness and bad fortune, while some still use the bezoar as a remedy for hangovers and other maladies. In China, people crush bezoars to use as medicine, especially for mouth ailments.
[14] Want to get your hands on one of these stones? They come from any cud-chewing animal — think cows, sheep and deer — and it's sometimes possible to find a bezoar that an animal has vomited up. In rare cases, people have also performed surgery on an animal to remove a bezoar without harming the creature. Though it may seem slightly unsettling, humans can also produce bezoars, though they are rare in people with normal digestive tracts.
be familiar with：if you are familiar with something, you know about it because you have learned about it or experienced it before
---Are you familiar with lucky charms?
thanks to：because of/ with the help of
---Thanks to the storm, we have no electricity.
As a token of..：作为。。的象征
--Please accept this ring as a token of my love. Appreciation 感激之情
by the same token 1. In the same way, for the same reason.
--- He has a good ear for music, and by the same token he findsit easy to pronounce foreign words .
长难句
While author J.K. Rowling borrowed the bezoar throughout the Harry Potter series, this charm — actually a mass that forms in the stomach of goats, deer and other animals — has long been seen as a token of luck.
while 引导的让步状语，虽然尽管，比although语气轻。双破折号插入成分，直接扔掉。
bezoar ['bi:zɒ:]n. 粪石, 牛黄
mead [mi:d]n. 蜂蜜酒, 草地
ailment ['eilmәnt] n. 病痛, 疾病
cud-chewing animal 反刍动物
unsettling a. 扰乱的, 使人不安的
digestive tract [医] 消化道 a group of organs and tubes that work together in your body
hangover ['hæŋәuvә]n. 宿醉, 残留物, 遗物
[15] The baculum, or penis bone, of the raccoon is another lucky charm that seems to have been awfully unlucky for the animal itself, though it's said to bring good luck to people who own one. Also known as a Texas toothpick, the baculum is removed from the raccoon and boiled clean. Some users drill a hole in one end and wear it around the neck or wrist, while others simply slip it into a pocket. The lucky raccoon baculum tradition likely comes from the American South, where it's popular in hoodoo — American folk magic.
[16] Carrying the baculum is said to bring luck, especially for gamblers, while some use it as an aphrodisiac or fertility charm. Artifacts found near former slave residences suggest these charms were popular among early African-Americans, who some sources suggest picked up the practice from Native Americans. While purists will want to stick with the real thing, more casual believers may be satisfied with the large array of synthetic (mostly plastic) alternatives available in modern shops — much to the relief of raccoons everywhere.
Slip: to put something somewhere quietly or smoothly= slide
---Ann slipped the book into her bag.
slip your mind/memory if something slips your mind, you forget it
---I meant to buy some milk, but it completely slipped my mind.
slip of the tongue/pen
---It was just a slip of the tongue.
baculum ['bækjʊləm] n. [脊椎] 阴茎骨
hoodoo ['hu:du:]n. 巫术，不祥之物
aphrodisiac [æfrəʊ'dɪzɪæk]n. 春药; 壮阳剂 adj. 激发性欲的, 催欲的
fertility [fә'tiliti]n. 肥沃, 丰饶, 生产力[医] 生育力
artifact ['ɑːtɪfækt]n. 人工制品; 加工品; 手工艺品
purist ['pjuәrist]n. 纯粹主义者
array [ә'rei]n. 排列, 衣服, 大批, 军队 vt. 布署, 打扮, 排列
synthetic [sin'θetik]n. 合成物质a. 综合(性)的, 人造的, 合成的长难句
Artifacts found near former slave residences suggest these charms were popular among early African-Americans, who some sources suggest picked up the practice from Native Americans.
“从在前奴隶的住所附近所找到的手工艺品中发现，这些护符在早期美国非洲后裔中是非常流行的。也有资料显示，他们是从美国土著那里学到了这种习俗。”
来源:
[1] It's easy to dismiss many common good luck charms as purely wishful thinking — after all, how can any inanimate object determine whether you'll have a good day or one plagued by bad luck? Well, it turns out that so-called good luck charms may actually help you succeed in life, whether that means performing better on a test or making it through a tough day of work.
[2] What matters is that you believe in the charm. It's the belief that gives the talisman its power by boosting your self-confidence and allowing you to perform at your peak. Think of it as a placebo effect of sorts. Even if there's absolutely no evidence or any good reason that a charm should turn the odds in your favor, your belief in the charm might just influence your actions enough to actually boost your chance of success — or leave you feeling more positive about your results, whatever they may be. The best part is, any charm will do, because the power comes from inside your mind, not from the object itself. Need some ideas? Check out these bizarre good luck charms for a bit of inspiration!
[3] Ladybugs are seen as universally lucky among a variety of cultures and regions, but the origins of this luck are unclear. Some believe it was inspired by the Virgin Mary, or "Lady Bird," but the ladybug is lucky even in areas where Christianity isn't the dominant religion, such as Asia.
[4] No matter its origins, it's said that simply having a ladybug land on you will bring you luck as long as you let it leave on its own accord — no brushing it away. If you must send the ladybug flying, preserve your luck by gently blowing it away and reciting the poem, "Ladybug Ladybug." A ladybug landing not only brings luck, but also allows the bug to carry your problems away with it when it goes.
[5] Beyond basic luck, ladybugs are also said to predict the future. Some say that counting the spots on a ladybug will tell you how many kids you'll have. Others believe that the number of spots reveals the number of happy months ahead. While it's difficult to carry a ladybug in your pocket for luck, the ladybug's lucky reputation makes it a popular choice for clothing and décor, particularly in Asian cultures.
[6] Amulets, or small charms made from metal, bone, stone or gems, have long served as protective charms throughout many parts of the world. The ancient Egyptians gave young girls a fish amulet called a nekhau, which they wore around their necks or tied to a lock of hair to help prevent drowning. Variations of this amulet can be found throughout different cultures, but what's interesting is that each culture changes the design slightly, modeling the amulet after local fish species.
[7] One modern researcher, epidemiologist Christopher Charles, has taken advantage of these charms' power to benefit one Cambodian village's population. In 2008, Charles handed out tiny iron fish amulets — made in the likeness of a popular local fish species — to the village's residents. By urging the residents to cook with the lucky fish in the pot, the researcher virtually eliminated anemia, which had once plagued a large percentage of villagers.
[8] It was the fish design itself that spurred his success: When he'd handed out shapeless lumps of iron for the same purpose, villagers declined to throw them in the pot. It took the so-called lucky likeness of the fish for his plan to work — and to improve the health of the local people.
[9] Believe it or not, the severed and preserved heads of vultures are widely recognized as good luck charms in some parts of the world, leading some luck-seekers to pay hundreds of dollars or more to obtain one of these gruesome objects. Because they feed on dead flesh, vultures have long been seen as bringers of death, but many believe they can also foretell it.
[10]This sense of clairvoyance has spelled doom for many vultures, as poachers target them in order to sell their heads. Despite the birds' endangered status, eager buyers in Africa and other parts of the world line up to score these good luck charms. They are particularly valued for their supposed ability to predict the future, making them highly desired by gamblers and lottery players.
[11] Of course, even if you can come up with the cash to score one of these valuable lucky charms, there's no guarantee that any reputable casino is going to let you hang out at the poker table cradling a dried-up bird head — buyer beware, indeed.
[12] You may be familiar with the bezoar thanks to "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." In the book, Harry famously feeds Ron one of these stonelike charms to save him from some poisoned mead. While author J.K. Rowling borrowed the bezoar throughout the Harry Potter series, this charm — actually a mass that forms in the stomach of goats, deer and other animals — has long been seen as a token of luck. Many cultures believe that crushing the bezoar into powder could save a poison victim, while others dropped the bezoar into a glass to check for poison before drinking.
[13] Simply carrying the stone is thought to offer protection against illness and bad fortune, while some still use the bezoar as a remedy for hangovers and other maladies. In China, people crush bezoars to use as medicine, especially for mouth ailments.
[14] Want to get your hands on one of these stones? They come from any cud-chewing animal — think cows, sheep and deer — and it's sometimes possible to find a bezoar that an animal has vomited up. In rare cases, people have also performed surgery on an animal to remove a bezoar without harming the creature. Though it may seem slightly unsettling, humans can also produce bezoars, though they are rare in people with normal digestive tracts.
[15] The baculum, or penis bone, of the raccoon is another lucky charm that seems to have been awfully unlucky for the animal itself, though it's said to bring good luck to people who own one. Also known as a Texas toothpick, the baculum is removed from the raccoon and boiled clean. Some users drill a hole in one end and wear it around the neck or wrist, while others simply slip it into a pocket. The lucky raccoon baculum tradition likely comes from the American South, where it's popular in hoodoo — American folk magic.
[16] Carrying the baculum is said to bring luck, especially for gamblers, while some use it as an aphrodisiac or fertility charm. Artifacts found near former slave residences suggest these charms were popular among early African-Americans, who some sources suggest picked up the practice from Native Americans. While purists will want to stick with the real thing, more casual believers may be satisfied with the large array of synthetic (mostly plastic) alternatives available in modern shops — much to the relief of raccoons everywhere.