7.5 Reading and Speaking. Work in groups

a) Group A. Discuss the advantages of employing university and college

students with as full-time customs-officers.

b) Group B. Discuss the disadvantages of employing university and college

students with no experience at all as full-time customs-officers.

7.6 Translation. Render the following text into English

По причине попытки терракта, когда злоумышленник (criminal) пронес

пластиковую взрывчатку (explosive) на борт самолета в кроссовках и пытался

ее привести в действие, в аэропортах Европы и Америки отныне

производится выборочная (selective) проверка обуви при личном досмотре

(personal examination). Она также будет просвечена рентгеном (to x-ray) и

обнюхана (to sniff) собаками.

8 Unit 8 Customs Procedures and Regulations Development

8.1 Pre-Text Assignments

8.1.1 Practice the reading of the following words and guess their meaning:

responsible

circulation

adoption

uniformity

identify

amendment

application

antiquity

guideline

traffic

ensure

competence

intergovernmental

seize

attain

draft

8.1.2 Check up the meaning of the following verbs:

prepare propose secure establish recommend Interprete address emphasize

8.1.3 Read the following words and their translation:

secure – обеспечить

attain – достигать

draft – черновик, проект

amendment – поправка

interpretation – толкование

application – практическое применение

intergovernmental – межправительственный

as regards – что касается

fraud – мошенничество

theft – кража

illicit – незаконный

mutual – двусторонний, обоюдный

combat – бороться

8.2 Read the text and translate it using the dictionary

Text A

World Customs Organization

Customs officers are responsible for ensuring that imported and exported

goods are properly identified, and seized if stolen or smuggled. The functions and

legal powers of customs agencies vary from country to country. In 1950 the

Customs Cooperation Council (now the World Customs Organization, or WCO)

was established to secure "the highest degree of harmony and uniformity in

customs systems."

The functions of the WCO include:

1) proposing practical means of attaining this goal; preparing draft

conventions and amendments to conventions and recommending their

adoption by interested governments;

2) making recommendations to ensure the uniform interpretation and

application of conventions;

3) ensuring the circulation of information regarding customs regulations

and procedures;

4) providing information or advice on customs matters to interested

governments;

5) cooperating with other intergovernmental organizations as regards

matters within its competence.

The illicit traffic in cultural objects was one of the issues addressed by the

Nairobi Convention of 1977 on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the

Prevention, Investigation, and Repression of Customs Offences. The growth in

cases of smuggling, fraud and theft involving works of art and antiquities invited

members of the organization "to develop mutual administrative assistance in

combating smuggling and other fraud involving works of art and antiquities," and

emphasized the importance of "cooperation with the International Criminal Police

organization (INTERPOL) and with the other authorities and organizations

concerned."

The State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation also welcomed the

initiative, and saw it as important for preventing the illegal import and export of

cultural objects. The development of international guidelines, which will deal with

the protection of cultural heritage of each nation, will improve the quality of

cooperation among Customs Administrations in the field of combating illegal

cross-border trade with these cultural objects.

(1700 symbols)

8.2.1 Answer the following questions:

1) What are customs officers responsible for?

2) What is the World Customs Organization?

3) When was it founded?

4) What are its main functions?

5) Is the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation the member of

the WCO? If it is so, then prove it by the facts from the text.

6) Why are the illicit traffic of cultural objects are so important for the

members of the WCO?

8.2.2 Give English equivalents of the following collocations:

культурное наследие, незаконная торговля, приветствовать инициативу,

предотвратить нелегальный ввоз, важность сотрудничества, достижение цели

8.2.3 Match the words and their explanation (one item has been done for

you):

illicit(adj)

heritage (n)

draft (n)

guideline (n)

fraud(n)

theft(n)

mutual(adj)

a. an act of deceitful behavior for

the purpose of gain, which may be

punishable by law

b. the main points about

something which is to be dealt

with

c. the act of stealing

d. something which is passed

down over many years within a

family or nation

e. against a law or a rule

f. a rough plan

g. equally shared by each one