Section III. Why do people break the law?

A. Прослушайте произношение новых слов и повторите их за преподавателем:

1. to present (to represent)– представлять

2. presentation – представление (презентация)

3. a representative – представитель

4. criminologist department – кафедра криминологии

5. to cause – вызывать, быть причиной

6. a cause – причина

7. causes of crime – причина преступности

8. common cause – распространенная причина

9. poverty – бедность

10. property – собственность

11. type – вид, тип

12. typical – типичный

13. individual – индивидуальный, отдельный

14. an individual – индивидуум; физическое лицо

15. to commit a crime – совершать преступление

16. to turn to crime – встать на преступный путь

17. mental illness – психическое заболевание

18. to take the law in one's own hands – расправиться с кем-либо без суда

B. Прослушайте доклад американского криминолога Пола Фишера на тему «Почему люди нарушают закон?» и пронумеруйте причины преступности в том порядке, в котором их перечисляет автор доклада:

According to Professor Fisher, people break the law …

… because they are mentally ill.

… because they can’t control their emotions.

… because they’re bored and have nothing to do.

… because they are poor.

… for money.

… because they take the law into their own hands.

С. Прочитайте доклад про себя, а затем вслух:

Why do people break the law?

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for coming to my presentation. My name is Paul Fisher. I’m head of the criminologist department at the University of Chicago.

I’m going to talk to you today about the causes of crime. Why do people break the law? What are the most common causes of crimes? The research shows that most people break the law for money. They steal, rob and kill because they want to get other people’s money or property. These offenders are not always poor. They just want to be rich and live a better life.

The second most typical cause is poverty. Poor people often turn to crime to get money for themselves and their families.

A lot of people become offenders because they can’t control their emotions. Some individuals become irritable, angry, selfish or jealous. Unfortunately, this often happens to those who try to settle disputes after they’ve drunk too much alcohol.

Fourth, young people often break the law because they are bored and have nothing to do. They think that breaking the law is cool.

The next cause is mental illness. Sometimes mentally ill people commit the most horrible and violent crimes and police have difficulty in finding and catching maniacs and serial killers.

Finally, there are people who take the law into their own hands. These people are usually law-abiding citizens who in extreme situations punish the offenders in their own way without the police and courts.

Well. Thanks very much for listening to my talk. Are there any questions?

D. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Can you imagine a society without criminals? Why? Why not?

2. Would you like to live in the society where all people obey (подчиняются) the law?

3. What is the best way to fight crimes?

4. What is Paul Fisher?

5. What is he talking about?

6. What is the first cause he thinks? What are its reasons?

7. What is the second cause to turn to crime?

8. What happens when people can’t control their emotions?

9. Who commits the most horrible and violent crimes?

10. Can you approve (одобрять) people who take the law into their own hands?

11. What are the most common causes of crimes by Paul Fisher?

12. Do you agree with him?

E. Переведите предложения на английский язык:

1. Пол Фишер – профессор кафедры криминологии в университете Чикаго.

2. Он часто читает доклады на правовые темы (legal topics).

3. Мистер Фишер указывает (points) на шесть наиболее распространенных причин преступлений.

4. Исследования показывают, что большинство людей, которые нарушают закон (чаще крадут или убивают) не бедствуют. Они просто хотят жить еще богаче.

5. Бедность – вторая типичная причина совершения преступлений.

6. Часто люди не могут совладать с эмоциями.

7. Молодые люди совершают преступления, когда им скучно или нечего делать.

8. Психически нездоровые люди совершают самые жестокие преступления.

9. Полиции бывает трудно найти и поймать серийных убийц и маньяков.

10. В чрезвычайных ситуациях некоторые люди расправляются с нарушителями (offenders) без суда.

F. Прочитайте текст «Ты и закон». В правой колонке напишите возраст, когда аналогичные права возникают у молодых людей в России:

You and the law

Britain		Russia
Age 10	If you kill someone, you go to prison.
Age 12	Buy a pet
Age 13	Get a part-time job but not for more than two hours on a school day or a Sunday.
Age 14	Go into a pub but not buy or drink alcohol there. Own an air gun.
Age 15	Open a bank account with a guarantor.
Age 16	Work full time. Marry with a parental consent. Join the armed forces with parental consent (boys).
Age 17	Drive most vehicles. Buy any firearm. Join the armed forces with parental consent (girls).
Age 18	Vote. Make a will. Own a house, apply for a mortgage. Join the forces without parental consent.
Age 21	Be a member of Parliament.