Reading

Task I. Read and translate the following text. Consult vocabulary notes after the text.

What is a Crime?

There are many definitions of a crime. This is because it is difficult to attach an exact definition to something which has many aspects; from motoring offences to murder; from theft to treason; from bigamy to blackmail and so on. From these examples it is possible to see the great variety and difference in gravity of the offences, although they are all crimes.

Criminal law is classified as public law – the law regulating the relations between citizens and the state. Crimes are acts, which the state considers to be wrong and which can be punished by the state. A definition of a crime must show that an offence is against the public, although it might affect only one person, and, secondly, that the person who committed an offence will be punished in some manner prescribed by the State. A definition, which contains these points, is “A crime is an unlawful act or default, which is an offence against the public and renders the person guilty of the act or default liable to legal punishment”. A good working definition of a crime is: “A crime is an offence against the state punishable by fine, imprisonment, or death”.

There are some acts, which are crimes in one country but not in another. For example, it is a crime to drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia, but not in Egypt. It is a crime to smoke marijuana in England, but not (in prescribed places) in the Netherlands. It is a crime to have more than one wife at the same time in France, but not in Indonesia. It is a crime to have an abortion in Ireland, but not in Spain. It is a crime not to flush a public toilet after use in Singapore, but not in Malaysia.

In general, however, there is quite a lot of agreement among states as to which acts are criminal. A visitor to a foreign country can be sure that stealing, physically attacking someone or damaging his or her property will be unlawful. But the way of dealing with people suspected of crime may be different from his own country [2].

Vocabulary notes on the text

The gravity of the offence Public law An offence against the state An offence against the public To be punished by the state To commit an offence An unlawful act To render the person guilty Liable to legal punishment To be suspected of crime

тяжесть преступления публичное право преступление против государства преступление против общества наказываться государством совершать преступление противоправное деяние признать человека виновным подлежать наказанию законом подозреваться в совершении преступления

Comprehension

Task I. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. It is difficult to give an exact definition to a crime because there is a great variety and difference in the offences.

2. Public law is the law regulating relations between different countries.

3. A crime is an offence against only one person.

4. Crimes are unlawful acts, which can not be punished by the state.

5. A person who committed an offence must be punished by the state.

6. Crime is punishable by fine, imprisonment, but not death.

7. The way of punishing people guilty of crime varies from country to country.

8. Bigamy is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

9. It is a crime to smoke marijuana in England.

10. It is not a crime to drink alcohol in Egypt.

11. Theft and assault are considered to be crimes all over the world.

12. A crime is an offence against the state punishable by fine, imprisonment, or death.

Task II. Translate the words in brackets to complete the following sentences.

1. It is very difficult (дать точное определение преступления).

2. There is a great variety of crimes different in (тяжесть преступления).

3. Any offence is (против общества и государства) although it might affect only one person.

4. The person who (совершил преступление) will be punished by the state.

5. A crime is an (противоправное деяние) which is an offence against the public.

6. A crime is an offence against the state (наказуемое штрафом, тюремным заключением или смертной казнью).

7. Such crimes as (воровство, убийство, ограбление) are liable to legal punishment in all the countries.

8. The way of punishing people (подозреваемых в совершении преступления) is different from country to country.

Task III. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Непросто дать точное определение преступления.

2. Существует огромное количество преступлений, отличающихся степенью тяжести.

3. Любое преступление направлено против общества и государства, даже если оно совершено против одного человека.

4. Человек, совершивший преступление, понесет наказание в установленном государством порядке.

5. Преступление – это противоправное деяние, наказуемое штрафом, тюремным заключением или смертной казнью.

6. Деяния, являющиеся преступлениями в одной стране, не являются преступлениями в другой.

7. Тем не менее, такие преступления, как воровство, убийство, изнасилование являются уголовно наказуемыми во всех странах.

8. Мера наказания за одно и то же преступление может быть разной в различных странах.

Task IV. Answer the following questions on the text.

1. Why is it difficult to give an exact definition of a crime?

2. What type of law deals with crime?

3. Why is criminal law classified as public law?

4. Is crime an offence against only one person?

5. A person who committed an offence must be necessarily punished by the victim, mustn’t he?

6. How can a crime be punished?

7. Is there any crimeless country in the world?

8. Is there a universal way of punishing criminals?

9. What is a definition of a crime in the English criminal law?

Task V. Give a summary of the text “What is a Crime?”