They are superstitions attached to numbers; even those ancient Greeks
believed that all numbers and their multiple have some mystical significance. 【M1】______
Those numbers between 1 and 13 were on particular to have a powerful 【M2】______
influence over the affairs of men.
For example, it is commonly said that luck, good or bad, comes in threes;
if an accident happens, two more of the same kind may be expected soon
shortly afterwards. The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others 【M3】______
within a certain period.
Another belief involving the number three has that it is unlucky to light 【M4】______
three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes
with the deed falls upon the person which cigarette was the last to be lit. 【M5】______
the ill-omen linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle
goes to at least the 17(上标)century and probably earlier It was believed that 【M6】______
three candles alight at the same time would be sum to bring good luck; 【M7】______
one, two, or four, were permissible, and never just three. 【M8】______
Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a
bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe
was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that
life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to
a house will protect it away all evils. Nine is usually thought of as 【M9】______
a lucky number because it is the product of three time three. It was 【M10】______
much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing.
【M1】