Comprehension

Task I. Answer the following questions on the text.

1. What is a jury?

2. How many people does a jury consist of?

3. Is the trial by jury common for civil cases?

4. How is the jury selected?

5. What requirements must a potential juror meet?

6. Who is not eligible for jury service?

7. Who is disqualified from jury service?

8. What classes of persons may be excused from duty?

9. Do the jurors have any special legal training?

10. What is the duty of the jury during the trial?

11. What is the job of the judge?

12. What is the job of the jury?

13. What does the judge do before letting the jury retire?

14. What kinds of verdicts may the jury return?

15. Who announces the verdict?

16. What does the judge do after the verdict has been announced?

Task II. Complete the following sentences translating the components in brackets.

1. A jury is a panel of twelve people legally chosen to hear a case and decide the facts (на основании представленных доказательств).

2. (Рассмотрение дела с участием присяжных) in civil cases is not common.

3. Jurors are elected (произвольно из списка избирателей).

4. People who have at any time been sentenced to imprisonment (лишаются права работать в составе суда присяжных).

5. People with a poor command of the English language (могут быть освобождены) from jury service on request.

6. Most people aged 18 to 70 (имеют право исполнять обязанности присяжного).

7. There are people who (не имеют права исполнять обязанности присяжного): lawyers, judges, clergymen and the mentally ill.

8. (Для того, чтобы исполнять свои обязанности), jurors do not need any special knowledge or ability.

9. It is important for jurors to listen attentively to (разъяснения судьи) before leaving the courtroom.

10. After they reach the verdict, the jurors (избирают одного из присяжных старшиной суда присяжных).

11. Once the verdict has been arrived at, the jury (возвращается в зал судебных заседаний и оглашает вердикт).

Task III. Complete the following sentences.

1. A jury is a panel of twelve people, legally chosen to _____________.

2. Trial by jury is not common for civil cases, but it is mostly common for __________.

3. Jurors are selected at random from ______________.

4. To be eligible for jury service you must be __________.

5. Most people aged 18 to 70 are eligible _____________.

6. People with a criminal record ____________________.

7. Lawyers, judges and mentally ill people are ___________.

8. People with a poor grasp of the English language _________.

9. The main duty of the jury is to ______________.

10. It is the task of the judge to decide all ___________while the task of the jury is to _________________.

11. Before leaving the courtroom the jurors are _____________.

12. Once the judge's instructions have been given, the jury _________.

13. They elect one of the members as a _______________.

14. Once the verdict has been arrived at, the jury ___________.

15. The jury can return one of two possible verdicts, either _________ or ________________.

16. If the jury returns the verdict of acquittal the defendant __________, if the jury returns the verdict of conviction the judge will ___________.

17. The jury system has been regarded as extremely important for the English ________________.