Індивідуальне завдання № 12

TASK 1. Read and translate the following text.

“Capital punishment”

In legal terms, putting a convicted, or guilty, criminal to death is known as capital punishment. Throughout history, many nations have sanctioned the use of capital punishment. It was once given out for a large number of crimes. In 18th century England, for example, death was the punishment for hundreds of crimes. However, it was during the same period that several people argued the case for reform. There also arose several humanitarian movements for the same cause. The number and type of crimes for which criminals were put to death began to be limited.

By the early 21st century 75 countries had abolished the death sentence, imposing life sentences instead. The death penalty is imposed in 38 states in the United States and in 23 other countries around the world. China carries out by far the greatest number of executions: Amnesty International has confirmed at least 470 during 2007, but the true figure has been estimated at up to 6,000. Outside China, at least 800 people were put to death in 23 countries during 2007, with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq and the USA the main contributors. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen executed people for crimes committed when they were juveniles, in contravention of international law.

Several countries around the world execute offenders for drugrelated crimes. Human rights activists have heavily criticized this. Many consider executions for drug offenses a gross violation of Human Rights. Several countries retain the death penalty for murder, but not for drugs offences. Methods of execution include electrocution, the firing squad or other sorts of shooting, stoning in Islamic countries, the gas chamber, hanging, and lethal injection.

Capital punishment is often the subject of controversy. Opponents of

the death penalty argue that errors of justice sometimes lead to the killing of

innocent people, that life imprisonment is an effective and less expensive substitute. They say that it discriminates against minorities and the poor, who

cannot afford lawyers or appeals.

People who support capital punishment say that the fear of this severe punishment discourages persons from committing crime. Supporters believe that the penalty is justified for murderers by the principle of retribution, that life imprisonment is not an equally effective deterrent, and that the death penalty affirms the right to life by punishing those who violate it. Life imprisonment also puts the prison staff and fellow prisoners at the risk of living with dangerous criminals. This risk later extends to the public, as such people may escape or be allowed to leave.

TASK 2. Write down the Ukrainian equivalents for the words and expressions in bold type and memorize them.

TASK 3. Search the Web to find information about the infamous American criminal Al Capone. Write a paragraph or essay describing one of his crimes. Include as many interesting details as possible.