- •Высшая школа экономики
- •I. Company law
- •1 Read through the text quickly and decide which of these phrases (a–f) best expresses the topic of each paragraph (1–6).
- •2 Some of the important roles in company management are discussed in Reading 1 above. Which roles are mentioned?
- •3 Here is a more comprehensive list of roles in company management.
- •5 Below is an extract from the articles of incorporation of a us company. Read through the text quickly and tick the issues it addresses.
- •6 Read the text again and decide whether these statements are true or false.
- •7 For each of these words or phrases, find the italicised word(s) in the text on
- •8 Read through the text again, noting how shall and may are used.
- •10 Read the first paragraph of the article. What situation is the bill trying to improve?
- •11 Read through the entire article and decide which of the following headings (a–f) would be most appropriate for each paragraph (1–6).
- •12 Decide whether these statements are true or false.
- •13 Do you agree that the llp is long overdue? In your view, is there also a need for such an institution in your jurisdiction?
- •14 Read the first three paragraphs. What does the dispute specifically involve?
- •15 Read the whole text and choose the best answer to each of these questions.
- •16 Choose the best explanation for each of these words or phrases from the text.
- •17 Answer these questions.
- •18 What is your opinion of the case? Do you think the shareholders’ claim is justified?
- •21 In Reading 4, which deals with a dispute concerning a company’s bylaws,
- •Vocabulary: distinguishing meaning. Which word in each group is the odd one out?
- •Vocabulary: prepositional phrases. Complete these sentences using the prepositional phrase from Exercise 4 that best fits in each. For some of the sentences, there is more than one correct answer.
- •Verb–noun collocations.
- •Increase the pay to staff above a certain percentage?
- •II Contract Law
- •1 Read the text and think of a suitable title for each of the two parts. Compare them with the titles given by your group mates.
- •2 Give Russian equivalents to the following words:
- •3 Complete the sentences (try not to look at the text):
- •4 Speak on the following:
- •5 Read the text about elements that are necessary for a valid contract. The parts of the text are mixed up. Put them in the correct order from 1 - 5.
- •6 Discuss with the partner
- •7 Read the text “Contract Law and Business”
- •8 Comment upon the diagram below.
- •2 Vocabulary. Give synonyms to the following words.
- •3 Match the words with their definitions.
- •Illegal obligation oral performance property signed terms
- •Newspapers write Newspapers write Newspapers write Friendly environment
- •The g8 countries agree on climate change, and more besides
- •Vocabulary
- •Financial times
- •Vocabulary
- •III . Family Law
- •1 Read the texts about different traditions to get married and compare the traditional wedding in Britain and the us with that in Russia.
- •2 Give Russian equivalents of the italicized words and expressions
- •3 Make up a summary of the text above by answering these questions:
- •4 Read through the entire text and decide which of the following headings (a–f) would be most appropriate for each paragraph (1–6).
- •5 Discuss the following questions:
- •6 Choose a topic for a short composition (write 180 – 200 words):
- •7 Before you read the text look up the meaning of the following:
- •8 Read through the entire text and decide which of the following titles (a - g) would be most appropriate for each part (1 - 7 ):
- •9 Discuss the following topics:
- •10 Write your own opinion on the following:
- •11 Vocabulary: Find a match
- •I. Before you read discuss these questions.
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Write what you think of the problem of dividing the assets of spouses.
- •2. Read another article from the Economist. It is about autistic children.
- •Vocabulary
- •Попова Татьяна Петровна Legal Reading Учебно-методическое пособие по чтению для студентов 3-го курса факультета права
- •Часть 1
Financial times
World business newspaper.
1 an abbreviation for versus, meaning against
2 very bad indeed, disgraceful (widely used in legal terminology in American English)
Legal brief
Discrimination is unfair treatment or denial of normal privileges to people because of their race, age, sex, nationality or religion. In this case, the US appeal judges were asked to decide if the unfair treatment had been so bad as to warrant an extremely stiff penalty (punitive damages), which should deter others from similar behaviour. Note that each US state administers its own justice system but the system of appeal is from trial court to Appeals Court and then the Supreme Court, which is the highest appeal court in the US.
Vocabulary
A Complete the sentence
Use an appropriate word or phrase from the box to complete each sentence.
limit punitive damages egregious circuit judge Act settlement jury lawsuit brief cap appeal federal rights
1 The amount of money awarded to a victim has a ..... limit.........
2 The courts are in session at different times during the year in different places, so that the ................... can work in a variety of places.
3 When Parliament votes to pass a Bill it becomes an ....................
4 There is no ................... on the liability of owners in a private partnership.
5 Many people think there should be a specialist................... for complex fraud cases.
6 American citizens should study their................... so that they know what laws protect them
from abuse.
7 Damages set very high in order to deter others are called ....................
8 A special term for very bad behaviour in the US is ................... behaviour.
9 Every court decision may be sent for................... if circumstances justify it.
10 An out-of-court................... is desirable if possible.
11 Anyone can bring a ................... against someone else if they feel they have suffered a wrong that cannot be settled easily.
12 A barrister cannot work in a court without a ................... from a solicitor.
-
B Opposites
Match the opposites.
1lawful
2 clarify
3 legal
4 malice
5 preselection
6 male
7 punitive
8 knock-on effect
9 discriminate against
10 denial
a) illegal
b) female
c) unlawful
d) one-off
e) confession
f) confuse
g) token
h) kind intentions
i) fair job promotion procedures
j) act fairly
C Prepositions
Complete these sentences with a preposition from the box.
up under against on to at
1) If she wins this case, awards and settlements could shoot ......UP...........
2) The suits are brought................... Title VII of the 1991 Civil Rights Act.
3) There maybe a knock-................... effect: other types of discrimination suits will be affected.
4) The decision will have a major impact................... employers nation-wide.
5) Some companies may be subject................... enormous claims.
6) The law caps damages ................... a certain sum of money, depending......:............ the size
of the company.
7) According ................... the researchers, juries often award punitive damages in cases where
there has been discrimination ................... women in the workplace.
8) What kind of conduct could give rise ................... punitive damages?
D Different outcomes
Use an appropriate word or phrase from the box to complete each sentence.
however on the other hand if whereas
should conversely might
The court could decide to award punitive damages for any justified complaint. ....However...., If that happened, companies would soon go bankrupt.
On the one hand, the lower court may decide in favour of the plaintiff;.................... the appeal court may decide differently.
The verdict may be to limit all types of damages..................... the verdict may be to award the
maximum possible to deter others.
................... they had not complained about the award, there would not have been an appeal.
A successful outcome for the company involved would be a limitation on the damages, ................... a worst-case scenario would be that they have to pay punitive damages.
................... the worst come to the worst, the ADA................... find themselves paying Ms Kolstad punitive damages - and others too. if they file suit!
On your own
Check what the law in your country says about employment and equal opportunities. How do these affect disabled people? Write a brief report.
Research some advertisements on TV or in magazines. Can you find any which use thought-provoking or socially challenging images? List the kinds of discrimination the advertisements try to make the public aware of.