Lesson 3. Crime and Punishment. Text 1. A letter from Alex

I. Read the letter and do the task following it.

Hi, Steve,

It’s nice to be writing to you again. Thanks a lot for your help and concern. I am glad to say I see eye to eye with you on all matters mentioned by you in your last letter: ecological problems, healthy life style and preservation of nature. I wonder if we have the same or different tastes and preferences in music, art and favourite occupations. I am fond of music. I play the guitar and like to listen to concerts of well-known guitarists. I also enjoy listening to modern rock music, especially “Muse”, and “Radiohead”. Last summer I went to Moscow to a “Park Life” international music festival. Wasn’t it great! We listened to music from morning till night.

I am keen on reading. I prefer reading to watching TV or playing computer games. I like classical literature and fantasy, but now I am reading for the exams which we are to take in summer.

The academic year is nearing its end. We are arranging an English quiz game on the knowledge of crimes, their definitions and classifications, punishments, the rights of the defendant, investigation, trial and pre-trial procedures, the work of the police, in a word, on a wide range of questions connected with the themes of our course of legal English as a whole. What would you advise me to pay special attention to?

I am looking forward to your answer.

All the best,

Alex.

II. Find in the text of the letter equivalents to the following.

1. забота

2. одинаково смотреть на многие вещи

3. интересно

4. предпочтения

5. любимое занятие

6. Это было замечательно!

7. сохранение природы

8. викторина

9. одним словом

10. широкий круг вопросов

11. советовать

12. обратить особое внимание

Text 2. A letter from Steve

I. Read the letter and do the task following it.

Hi, Alex,

Thanks for your letter. It was great to hear from you. You know what surprised me most about it? We are both crazy about the guitar! I have been playing it since I was 10, and I think we have a lot of impressions to share. I also like “Radiohead“ and "Muse", but my favourites are "Joy Division" and “The Cure”.

I prefer reading to watching a film, but I like watching a good film, too, especially if it is a screen version of a book, like “Hobbit” or “The Lord of the Rings” by Tolkien. I am fond of the genre of fantasy, too, because it is not only entertaining, but also gives food for thought.

I can’t say I don’t watch TV at all, but I am a selective viewer, and most of all I like documentary, historical films and psychological films, educational and wildlife programmes. I am also fond of programmes about the work of the court, investigators and the police. I hate violence and too much shooting on the screen.

As for the quiz, I am sure you’ll do well in it. Anyway, I am sending you quite a number of texts to look through and see if they contain anything of interest for you. I wish you and your team good luck.

Well, I didn’t mention the main thing – I am going to Russia in summer with a delegation of British students! We are going to a youth conference on international law problems. I hope we’ll be able to meet and spend some time together.

Write soon,

Steve.

II. Find in the text of the letter equivalents to the following.

1. очень любить что-л. (гитару)

2. с 10 лет

3. обмениваться впечатлениями

4. любимая вещь

5. экранизация

6. давать повод к размышлению

7. разборчивый зритель

8. образовательная программа

9. программа о животных

10. насилие на экране

11. что-либо интересное

12. желать удачи