Ejercicio B · Inglés PAU Madrid Ordinaria (2ª lengua) 2020

TEXTO B

The Origins of Friday 13 th

Friday the 13 th always seems to spook many of us slightly, even if we claim not to be superstitious. But why does this day have such a supernatural vibe and why is there so much superstition around it?

References to Friday the 13 th date back to medieval times but some believe that it was inspired by the Bible. At the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot, who went on to betray Jesus to the Romans, was the 13 th person at the table, potentially inspiring fear of the number 13. Jesus was also said to have died on a Friday – also known as Good Friday – which has potentially resulted in Christians carrying the superstition from there.

Moving through to the Middle Ages, references to Friday being an unlucky day in general appear as early as the 14 th century. The Canterbury Tales writer, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote: “On a Friday fell all this mischance”. Then there are the Knights Templar. The Catholic military order was arrested on Friday the 13 th in October 1307 by order of King Philip IV. The Grand Master Jacques de Molay and scores of other French Templars were charged with numerous offenses such as financial corruption, fraud and secrecy, and were also accused of idolatry. These prisoners were tortured and burned at the stake later on.

Rossini, the Italian composer, died on Friday 13 th according to Henry Sutherland Edwards’ 1869 biography. So it’s not surprising that some link bad luck to Friday the 13 th. However, today Italians actually consider 13 to be a lucky number and Friday 17 th to be an unlucky day.

Also known as triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13 has also created traditions such as builders skipping the 13 th floor when designing buildings, in an effort to avoid bad luck.

Adapted from “Friday the 13 th: superstition origins and why the day is considered unlucky,” Newsweek, 13 September 2019. <https://bit.ly/2Sj4X8r>

QUESTIONS

B.1 (2 puntos) Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE ? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.

a)

Some people think that fear of Friday the 13th was motivated by biblical accounts.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

All Europeans consider 13 to be a lucky number.

TRUE

FALSE

B.2 (2 puntos) In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text.

a)

What is the relationship between the Knights Templar and Friday the 13th?

b)

What superstition is described in the text in relation to building design?