2.6. Controlling crime

You will hear two interviews on controlling crime.

Task 1. Before you listen, make sure you know the following words and expressions. Match the words and expressions with their definitions.

to exacerbate to lash out a kingpin disdainful stigma

the person or thing in a group that is the most important or that has the most power - used especially in news reports; a strong feeling in society that being in a particular situation or having a particular illness is something to be ashamed of; to make a bad situation worse; showing that you do not respect someone or something, because you think that they are not important or good enough; to suddenly speak angrily to someone or criticize someone angrily or to try to hit someone, with a series of violent, uncontrolled movements.

Part 1. Controlling juvenile crime

Task 2. Listen to the interview and answer the questions. Remember to take notes.

1. How do the media and the school system affect juvenile crime?

2. What can be done to tackle juvenile crime?

3. What do the Big Brother/ Big Sister programs do?

4. How would harsher punishments influence crime rates, in David’s opinion?

Task 3. Give English equivalents to the following:

причинно-следственная связь

обучать индивидуально

Part 2. Crime control: first-time offenders

Task 4. Listen to the interview once and enumerate the ways to combat crime that are discussed:

1. ____________________________;

2. ____________________________;

   1. … ;

   2. … ;

   3. … .

Task 5. Listen to the interview again and decide whether the statements are True or False.

1. Deterring crime involves the economy and the social structure. T / F

2. Recently there have appeared quite a number of rehabilitation programmes. T / F

3. Rehabilitation covers an educational as well as a legal aspect. T / F

4. Some imprisoned criminals earn money for their families. T / F

5. Bridge programmes help prisoners to be tolerant to each other. T / F

Task 6. Give English equivalents to the following:

рецидивист (3)

программа социального восстановления личности

вернуться к преступной жизни

суровый закон

Task 7. Discuss with the group:

• What is done to control crime in your area?

• Do you agree that only the environment is to blame for a large number of juvenile crimes? Elaborate.

• Is it fair to punish young and first-time offenders less severely than repeat offenders? They are still criminals, aren’t they?

• How are criminals who come out of prison treated in your country?

  READING&SPEAKING