LANGUAGE II

FURTHER PRACTICE MATERIAL (II)

Prof. Vernica Furlani

2013

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

CRIME AND THE LAW

1- Choose the most suitable word or phrase underlined in each sentence.
a- Sally didnt realize that she had broken/countered/denied the law.
b- The police have banned/cancelled/refused parking in this street.
c- I must remember to get a/an agreement/license/permission for my television.
d- Jims parents wouldnt agree/allow/let him go to the demonstration.
e- Carlos was arrested because he had entered the country falsely/illegally/wrongly.
f-

Talking to other students is against the law/orders/rules of the examination.

g- The two men were arrested before they could commit/make/perform any more crimes.
h- I had to take the company to court/justice/law to get the money they owed me.
i-

Smoking is compulsory/prohibited/refused near the petrol tanks.

j-

Dont leave your briefcase inside your car - it might get robbed /taken / stolen.

k- John was accused of passing false/fake/counterfeit money.

l-

In order to get some money the young man copied/forged/imitated his fathers signature on
the cheque.

2- Find the criminal for each type of crime.

a- This person takes control of a plane or boat by force. _________________
b- This person sees what happens during a crime or accident. _________________
c- This person brings goods into the country illegally. _________________
d- This person might steal food from the supermarket. _________________
e- This person kills anyone on purpose. _________________
f-

This person takes people and demands money for their return. _________________

g- This person makes illegal copies of paintings, documents, etc.

h- This person damages other peoples property. _________________
i-

This person might steal your wallet in a crowd. _________________

j-

This person steals from houses. _________________

k- This person gets money from others by threatening to tell their secrets.
l-

This person causes trouble at football matches.. _________________

3 A- Complete each part of the sentences a-j with one of the endings 1-10. Use each ending
only once.
a- I decided to buy a burglar alarm after someone broke
b- When Alan was arrested he ended in the . .
c- As it was Sheilas first offence she was let
d- After climbing over the prison wall, Peter managed to get .
e- The old couple who live opposite were taken ..
Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

f-

At the end of the trial Hilary was found ..

g- My neighbours admitted denting my car by got away

h- The bank at the end of the street was held ..
i-

Nobody saw Jack cheating and he got away with

j-

The hijackers took fifteen people ..

1) ..in by a salesman who cheated them out of their money.

2) .. away by stealing a car parked nearby.
3) .station and charged with shoplifting.
4) it, although everyone suspected what had happened.
5) into my house and stole my stereo.
6) off with only a warning.
7) ..with paying only $50 damages.
8) hostage and demanded 1,000,000 from the authorities.
9) guilty and sentenced to six months in prison.
10) . up by two masked men last week.

3 B Fill in the gaps with the missing words. Then match the halves
posed - disguised
betraying

forged

deceive

suspected

cheats tricked impersonating

misled

1- The person . of the theft

a- in order to be allowed into the house

2- The politician revealed that he had been

b- as a woman.

3- The thief as an electrician

c- the young man the signature on

the cheque.

4- The soldier got across the border

d- she had managed to . everybody.

5- The businessman was

e- was the woman who cleaned the

office.

6- People who reveal secrets are

f- . the trust placed in them.

7- I never play cards with Rachel

g- because she always .

8- No-one believed that she was a spy -

h- into signing the cheque.

9- The woman was found guilty of

i- . a police officer.

10- In order to get some money,

j- . by reports in the newspaper.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

4- Complete each sentence with a word from the list. Use each word only once. Some words
are not used
jury

convicted

prosecution

accused

guilty suspect

evident

fine

imprisonment

parole

charged

statement

sentence

pleaded

defence

penalty
a- The customs officers arrested Bob and .. him with smuggling.
b- The police spent all morning searching the house for ..
c- Jean left her car in a no-parking area and had to pay a/an ..
d- Unfortunately, at the end of the trial my brother was found
e- The trial took a long time as the couldnt reach a verdict.
f-

George won his case because he had a very good . lawyer

g- The police visited Dawn and asked her to make a/an ..

h- Because of his past criminal record, Brian was the main
i-

Pauline decided to sue the police because she had been wrongly .

j-

The murderer of the children received a life

5- Sentence transformation

1- They said that John had stolen the money. accused

2- Ian said that he hadnt punched anybody. punching
3-OK, Andy, you can go now, said the detective. permission
4- James Frogget, you will go to prison for ten years, said the judge. sentenced
5- I forged the signature, said Mary. admitted
6- Harry stole $30,000 and was arrested. stealing
7- We saw the accused break into the car, said the witness. stated
8- Graham said that he wouldnt go to the police station. refused
9- Its true, said Alan, I murdered Norman. confessed
10- Can you come with me, please, the detective said to Helen. required
11- Ill do everything to help you, Tom told us. to
12- The disappearance of the files is not my fault. to blame
13- Two men robbed John of his briefcase. stolen
14- The pilot accepted that he was to blame for the accident. fault
15- Thieves stole the old ladys life savings. robbed
16- Why dont we visit the exhibition? asked Charles visiting
17- Im sorry Im late, said Norman to me . for
18- Believe me, I saw a ghost last night, Sarah said. claimed
19- You shouldnt get married yet, Janes father told her. advised
Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

20- Ill carry the bag for you, Marta said to her mother. offered
21- I dont care what you say; Im cooking dinner tonight, Paul said. insisted
22- I saw two masked men running out of the building, the witness said. reported
23- Its advisable to use suntan lotion in summer. the doctor told us. recommend
24- Lets go out for a meal. John said. persuaded
25- Do you want to buy my car or not? Alan asked. whether

6- WORD FORMATION
a- The bank robbers were sentenced to ten years

PRISON

b- We believe that severe .. is not the answer.

PUNISH

c- Nobody reported the . of the Chinese vase.

THIEF

d- Stuart was charged with three motoring .

OFFEND

e- The value of the . goods was over $10,000.

STEAL

f- The judge told Arthur he was a hardened

CRIME

g- Susan could say nothing in her own ..

DEFEND

h- Everyone at the trial believed in Bills

INNOCENT

i- Joan said she had . destroyed her passport.

ACCIDENT

j- The painting I stole turned out to be .

WORTH

k- That mans a ..; he got money from those people by telling them

SWINDLE

deliberate lies.
7 A - Choose the most suitable word in each sentence.
a- Harry was told that fishing in the lake was against/by/over the law.
b- Catherine lead a secret life for/in/of crime before she was caught.
c- Having trouble with your phone? Send at/for/to Fix-a-phone!
d- I regret to tell you that you are for/in/under arrest.
e- I only attacked the young man from/in/with self-defence.
f-

David was often at/in/with trouble with the police.

g- The robbers car was hidden below/by/from sight behind the bank.
h- The kidnappers have been caught, and the child is no longer at/in/on danger.
i-

Tony was caught by a policeman who was off/out/away duty and cycling to work.

j-

The thieves took the wrong painting by/in/under mistake.

k- The suspicious manager left the safe unlocked from/on/with purpose.

l-

The robbers met to plan the bank raid from/in/with secret.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

7 B - Provide the missing preposition.

1- When Marys father was sent . prison her relatives tried to keep the truth .. her.
2- Philip lied .. me .. his age.
3- Anthony told such convincing stories that everyone was completely taken .. by them.
4- Its best to be honest . your past.
5- My boyfriend was with me all evening, and Ill swear .. it in court, the young woman told
the police.
6- We know this man was responsible .. the disappearance the money, but he
refuses to confess .. it.
7- The schoolboy was tricked . helping the gang.
8- What you are saying is far the truth . the matter.
9- The heiress was cheated .. of her inheritance.
10- The thrill . being an archaeologist is finding objects that have lain buried . the
earth for centuries.
11- John was arrested receiving stolen property.
12- He was charged two murders.
13- The robbers were armed . a shotgun and two revolvers.
14- Mr Jones was admitted . hospital for an operation.
15- Sally was suspected .stealing the money.
16- The accused was not aware the seriousness of the charge.
17- The police inspector insisted .. punctuality at meetings.
18- The inspector was unsure .. the accuracy of the reports.
19- The teacher puts a lot of emphasis not making grammatical mistakes.
20- The historian pointed . that the film was not based ... what had actually happened.
8- Fill in the missing words.
A Joke
A man (1) had been arrested (2) embezzlement told his lawyer, The evidence (3) me is
pretty strong, (4) I have half a million in cash in my safe-(5) box. Do you think you can win my (6)?
Ill guarantee you one thing, answered (7) attorney. Youll never go (8) prison (9) all that money.
And he was right. The man went (10) prison flat broke.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

9- Complete the paragraphs with verbs from the list in the correct form (active or passive)
be find infuriate - order - sentence - plead - ask - commit- suspend - cost
Boston.
When Chris Chaney, 19, (1) guilty to robbery, autotheft and two counts of receiving stolen motor
vehicles, prosecutors (2) for a 20-year sentence in the state reformatory. After all, Chany (3) the
felonies over a four-month period while on probation for an earlier conviction of receiving a stolen
motor vehicle. It (4) the crime of the month a different one each time, the district attorney told
the Superior Court Judge.
Unmoved, Judge Mather (5) prosecutors, police and crime-weary residents by (6) any jail time for
Chaney. Instead he (7) him to finish high school and two years of junior college.
It (8) the state $80,000 to lock up this kid for two years, said Mathers in defending the sentence.
But despite Matherss money-saving approach, attending high school will have to wait. After his
release Chany (9) to be in violation of his prior probation and (10) to 2 years in jail.
10- Active or passive? Fill in the gaps with a verb in the right form. One verb is not used
a- The bank twice this year. Each time over $100,000 . ROB /
STEAL / TAKE /
b- More and more people their cars with anti-theft alarms in an attempt to stop
them . STEAL/ FIT / PROVIDE
c- Oh, no! I .! They everything. My credit cards, cash, the lot!
ROB / TAKE / BREAK
d- The thieves of . paintings worth over $ 2 million. STEAL /
CHARGE / ACCUSE
e- When you travel, you to take travellers cheques in case you ..
SUGGEST / ROB / ADVISE
f-

Peter . at the police but . without ........... .

RELEASE / CHARGE / QUESTION / ASK

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

EDITING
Read the following article about famous crimes. In the first part, put the words in bold in
the right form (9 p)
The GOOD and BAD Criminals in the World
STEAL money from old people who are ABILITY to defend themselves has always been a
PARTICULAR PLEASANT crime. But one case that got a lot of PUBLIC in the press RECENT
was about an amateur THEFT called Peter Raymond.
In this part, prepositions and adverbial particles are missing. Which ones? Where?
He was going a walk when he saw an old lady getting her car. He walked to her, a- (4)
pulled a knife and demanded money. The woman, Betty Hopper, 74, got her gun, b- (2)
locked the thief the back her car and drove the police station.
c- (3)
A group thieves Colombia were involved a very curious robbery two years ago.
d- (3)
The middle the night, they broke a shoe shop and stole 756 shoes. So far, so good, e- (3)
but if the thieves had looked more closely the shoes, they would have realized
f- (1)
that they were all the right foot. The left shoes had been locked another room
g- (2)
as a security measure.
In this part, fill in the gaps with one suitable word.
(1) burglar in Antwerp, Belgium, had a great shock (2). a robbery that went (3).. . He was
searching (4) valuables in the house when he was apparently disturbed (5). a noise. He ran
(6). into the garden at the back of the house, but (7) of escaping through the next door
neighbours garden, he (8). to climb over the three-metre high back wall. He jumped down the
(9) side and found himself in the local prison.
Mr Boyd, from Bridlington in England, was banned (10) . driving in a very strange case. The
police (11). that the tax disc on his car was (12) of date. When they stopped him, Mr Boyd put
the disc into his mouth and ate it. Theres no (13)., so yu cant arrest me, he told the police.
(14).., the judge disagreed and Mr Boyd was found (15). .
In this part, EIGHT of the underlined verbs need conjugating.
One day after a mans car was stolen, the owner of the car found his car in the street just outside
his house, looked newly cleaned and polished. When he was opening the car he found a note
from someone apologized for taken the car. The note was explaining that the car thiefs mother
had been ill and that he had had to take her to hospital. The envelope also contained two tickets
for the opera. On return from the opera, the man found that his house had burgled. When he
called the police he learnt that his car had involved in a major bank robbery during the day of its
disappearance.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

THE HANGMANS ROPE

In the first part, some words are missing. Which ones?

Capital punishment has (1) used throughout history, (2) its methods and the crimes (3) which it is
used (4) changed over the centuries.
Nowadays, not (5) are the methods different but more importantly not everyone (6) that
capital punishment should (7) used. People are divided into two distinct groups; those for and
those (8) . This is because this issue is black and white; there is (9) grey area. In the USA, 85 % of
the population over the (10) of 21 approve (11) the death penalty. In the (12) states which still
have the death penalty, some use the electric chair, which can (13) up to 20 minutes to kill, while
(14) use gas or lethal injections.
In the next part, prepositions and adverbial particles are missing. Which ones? Where?
Contrast, Britain, public opinion started to turn the use capital punishment

(4)

after the Second World War. A number well-publicized cases the fifties, two particular, (3)
helped to bring this swing. The first these was the case Ruth Ellis, who was hanged

(4)

shooting her lover what was generally regarded a crime passion. The second was the

(3)

posthumous pardon Timothy Evans, hanged murders which, it was later proved, had

(2)

been committed someone else.

(1)

In the last part, most of the underlined verbs need conjugating. Which ones?
However, despite this change of opinion, the death penalty did not actually abolish in Britain
until 1965. And even now, there are many people both inside and outside Parliament who would
like it be reintroduced. There were 14 attempts to bring back hanging since its abolition. The prohanging lobby uses four main arguments support its call for the reintroduction of capital
punishment. First there is the deterrence theory, which argue that potential murderers think twice
before commit the act if they knew that they might die if they are caught. The armed bank robber
might, likewise, go back to be unarmed.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

 DRESSING TO KILL LEADS TO MURDER IN CHICAGO

In the first part, some of the underlined verbs need conjugating. Which ones?
Be dressed to kill is rapidly acquiring a macabre connotation in the streets of downtown Chicago,
Detroit and Los Angeles. With disturbing frequency, young people, usually teenagers, murder for
the shirt or jacket on their back or the shoes on their feet. The phenomenon calls clothing-related
violence, or killing to be cool, and the fatal fashion appears to be catching on. The most recent
recorded incident has occurred in Chicago and involved a 19-year-old man, Calvin Wash. Mr
Walsh walked on the citys West Side on Saturday wear a brightly-coloured Cincinnati Bengals
bomber jacket. Such jackets, and others feature football team logos like those of the Washington
Redskins and Chicago Bears, costing up to $200, are all the rage. And thats the problem Mr
Walshs offence was not that he wore the wrong team colours. It was merely that the stranger
who accosted him wanted his jacket. When Mr Walsh tried to make a run for it he shot in the back
and killed.
In the next part, put the verbs in bold in the right form.
The trend first spot last autumn after the murder of a 24-year-old Chicago man by four youths who
like his jacket. In November and December, Hawks jackets were the cause of two more killings. In
Detroit last November, a school pupil find dead and shoeless: his attacker take his $70 Nike
sneakers. Police in Los Angeles and New York reported similar robberies. One mother whose son
survive the theft of the $175 gym shoes he wear told a Chicago newspaper: These children are
out there steal from one another be cool. Its a sad situation. Their parents cant afford buy the
stuff, so they do whatever they can get it. A Los Angeles policeman put it another way: The
individual want hang on to the jacket because he paid so much for it, so they just blow him away.
In some cases, the murders do appear to be related to gang or team loyalties. Wear the wrong
colour shoes, or even shoelaces, is enough to get you kill in some Los Angeles neighbourhoods.
But the clothes-related violence phenomenon also reflect the cheapness of human life in some of
Americas inner city ghettos, the ready availability of guns to young people, and the poverty in
which many of them live.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

10

 IM SERVING A SENTENCE, TOO

In the first part, prepositions and adverbial particles are missing. Which ones? Where?
While Sakina Fitzpatrick knows her husband deserves to pay his crime, shes

(1)

also suffering. So often, its prisoners families who become innocent victims.

(0)

She thought hed gone to borrow some money a friend. The hours went and

(2)

he didnt come. Then the police knocked the door. She stood there while they

(2)

said her husband, Patrick, had been arrested and would be charged armed

(1)

robbery. Its hard to explain what goes your head a time that. I knew my husband

(3)

had been trouble the past, before I met him, but hed been so good me and he

(3)

loved our children. But he was work and I think he just got desperate.

(2)

Patrick was sentenced eight years and nine months. Sakina has remained loyal him,

(2)

visiting him regularly with their three children, Gemma, James and Paul. many prisoners (2)
wives, Sakina is a typical loving, law-abiding mother and housewife. Far moaning

(1)

the sentence, she says: A way, Patrick was lucky not to get longer. He did wrong

(2)

and hes paying it .

(1)

In the next part, some words are missing. Which ones?

Sakina is now 26 and her life revolves (1) her family. Money is very short and her council flat is tidy
(2) threadbare. She has a dog for protection but says: I (3) feel defenceless sometimes, especially
in the (4) of the night, but I must be strong and cope (5) of the kids. Gemmas always been a
daddys girl. Patrick watched her (6) born and theyve got this very close bond. Now Gemma only
sees her dad twice a month, (7) jail. I always take the kids. Sakina can spend (8) to 90 minutes
with Patrick in a large visiting room. Theyre allowed to (9) hands during the visit and the children
can sit on his lap. We are all excited when we go and miserable when we (10), she says.
One of Sakinas biggest (11) problems is money. She admits: Im in a lot of debt because I put bills
(12) in order to feed the children properly. Patricks always saying I should go out more but you get
(13) to being alone and I dont want to mix. I cant afford to go out (14). I cant really afford to live.
Being a prisoners wife is (15) than being a widow because then you have to accept your husband
has gone and (16) on with your life. Of course, people ask why she says with Patrick. They dont
usually come straight out with it. (17) people say they dont know how I cope after all hes (18).
Youve got to have a very strong relationship to carry on, but Ive told him I wont put (19) with it or
put the children (20) it again.
SELF-CORRECTION KEYS
Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

11

1- a) broken b) banned c) licence d) let e) illegally f) rules g) commit h) court i) prohibited j)

stolen k) counterfeit l) forged
2- a) hijacker b) witness c) smuggler d) shoplifter e) murderer f) kidnapper g) forger h) vandal
i) pickpocket j) burglar k) blackmailer

l) hooligan

3 A a-5 b-3 c- 6 d-2 e-1 f- 9 g- 7 h-10 i-4 j-8

3 B 1 , e, suspected 2- j, misled 3 a, posed 4 b disguised
7 g cheats

8 d deceive

9- i, impersonating

5 h tricked

6 f betraying

10 c forged

4- a) charged b) evidence c)fine d) guilty e) jury f) defence g) statement h) suspect

i)accused j) sentence
51) They accused John of stealing / having stolen the money .
2) Ian denied punching /having punched anybody.
3) The detective gave Andy permission to go/leave.
4) The judge sentenced James F. to ten years in prison / imprisonment.
5) Mary admitted forging / having forged the signature.
6) Harry was arrested for stealing $30,000 / after stealing $30,000.
7) The witness stated that he had seen the accused break into a car.
8) Graham refused to go to the police station.
9) Alana confessed

to having murdered/murdering / that he had murdered Norman.

10) The detective required Helen to go with him.

11) Tom promised to do everything to help us.
12) Im not to blame for the disappearance of the files.
13) Johns briefcase was stolen.
14) The pilot accepted that the accident was his fault.
15) The old lady was robbed of her life savings.
16) Charles suggested visiting the exhibition.
17) Norman apologized for being late.
18) Sarah claimed seeing/having seen a ghost the night before.
19) Janes father advised her not to get married yet.
20 ) Marta offered to carry the bag for her mother.
21) Paul insisted on cooking dinner that night.
22) The witness reported seeing /having seen two masked men running out of the building.
23) The doctor recommended using suntan lotion in summer.
Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

12

24) John persuaded me to go out for a meal.

25) Alan asked me whether I wanted to buy his car or not.
6- a- imprisonment b- punishment c- offences d- stolen e- criminal f- defence g- innocence
h- accidentally j- worthless k- swindler
7A- a- against b- of c- for d- under e- in f- in

g- from h- in i- off j- by k- on l-in

7B- MISSING PREPOSITIONS

1- to/ from 2-to/about 3- in 4- about 5- to 6-for / of /to 7- into 8- from /of 9- out 10- of / in
11- for 12- with 13- with

14- to 15- of 16- of 17- on 18- of 19 on 20 out/ on

8 - 1- who 2- for 3- against 4-but 5- deposit 6- case 7- the 8- to 9- with 10- to

9- 1- pleaded 2- asked 3- had committed 4- was 5- infuriated 6- suspending 7- ordered

8-

would cost 9- was found 10 was sentenced

10a- has been robbed / was stolen
d- were accused / stealing

b- are fitting / being stolen

c- have been robbed / have taken

e- are advised / are robbed f- was questioned / (was) released /

being charged.

EDITING
The BEST and WORST Criminals in the World
STEALING money from old people who are UNABLE to defend themselves has always been a
PARTICULARLY UNPLEASANT crime. But one case that got a lot of PUBLICITY in the press
RECENTLY was about an amateur THIEF called Peter Raymond.
In this part, prepositions and adverbial particles are missing. Which ones? Where?
He was going FOR a walk when he saw an old lady getting OUT OF her car. He walked UP to her,
a- (4)
pulled OUT a knife and demanded money. The woman, Betty Hopper, 74, got OUT her gun, b(2)
locked the thief IN the back OF her car and drove TO the police station.
c- (3)
A group OF thieves IN Colombia were involved IN a very curious robbery two years ago.
d- (3)
IN The middle OF the night, they broke INTO a shoe shop and stole 756 shoes. So far, so good,
e- (3)
but if the thieves had looked more closely AT the shoes, they would have realized
f- (1)
that they were all FOR the right foot. The left shoes had been locked IN another room
g- (2)
as a security measure.
Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

13

In this part, fill in the gaps with one suitable word.

A burglar in Antwerp, Belgium, had a great shock DURING a robbery that went WRONG. . He was
searching FOR valuables in the house when he was apparently disturbed BY a noise. He ran
AWAY into the garden at the back of the house, but INSTEAD of escaping through the next door
neighbours garden, he DECIDED to climb over the three-metre high back wall. He jumped down
the OTHER side and found himself in the local prison.
Mr Boyd, from Bridlington in England, was banned FROM driving in a very strange case. The
police NOTICE that the tax disc on his car was OUT of date. When they stopped him, Mr Boyd put
the disc into his mouth and ate it. Theres no EVIDENCE, so you cant arrest me, he told the
police. FORTUNATELY, the judge disagreed and Mr Boyd was found GUILTY.
In this part, EIGHT of the underlined verbs need conjugating.
One day after a mans car was stolen, the owner of the car found his car in the street just outside
his house, LOOKING newly cleaned and polished. When he OPENED the car he found a note
from someone APOLOGIZING for TAKING /HAVING TAKEN the car. The note EXPLAINED that
the car thiefs mother had been ill and that he had had to take her to hospital. The envelope also
contained two tickets for the opera. On RETURING from the opera, the man found that his house
HAD BEEN BURGLED When he called the police he learnt that his car HAD BEEN INVOLVED
in a major bank robbery during the day of its disappearance.
THE HANGMANS ROPE
In the first part, some words are missing. Which ones?
Capital punishment has (1) been used throughout history, (2) although /though / but its methods
and the crimes (3)for which it is used (4) have changed over the centuries.
Nowadays, not (5) only are the methods different but more importantly not everyone (6)
agrees that capital punishment should (7) be used. People are divided into two distinct groups;
those for and those (8) against . This is because this issue is black and white; there is (9) no grey
area. In the USA, 85 % of the population over the (10) age of 21 approve (11) of the death
penalty. In the (12) many states which still have the death penalty, some use the electric chair,
which can (13) take up to 20 minutes to kill, while (14) others use gas or lethal injections.
.
In the next part, prepositions and adverbial particles are missing. Which ones? Where?
By contrast, in Britain, public opinion started to turn against the use of capital punishment
after the Second World War. A number of well-publicized cases in the fifties, two in particular,
helped to bring about this swing. The first of these was the case of Ruth Ellis, who was hanged
for
shooting her lover in what was generally regarded as a crime of passion. The second was the
posthumous pardon of Timothy Evans, hanged for murders which, it was later proved, had
been committed by someone else.
Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

14

However, despite this change of opinion, the death penalty was not actually abolished in
Britain until 1965. And even now, there are many people both inside and outside Parliament who
would like it to be reintroduced. There have been 14 attempts to bring back hanging since its
abolition. The pro-hanging lobby uses four main arguments to support its call for the
reintroduction of capital punishment. First there is the deterrence theory, which argues that
potential murderers would think twice before committing the act if they knew that they might die
if they were caught. The armed bank robber might, likewise, go back to being unarmed.

DRESSING TO KILL LEADS TO MURDER IN CHICAGO

Being dressed to kill is rapidly acquiring a macabre connotation in the streets of downtown
Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. With disturbing frequency, young people, usually teenagers, are
being murdered for the shirt or jacket on their back or the shoes on their feet. The phenomenon is
calledclothing-related violence, or killing to be cool, and the fatal fashion appears to be catching
on. The most recent recorded incident occurred in Chicago and involved a 19-year-old man, Calvin
Wash. Mr Walsh was walking on the citys West Side on Saturday wearing a brightly-coloured
Cincinnati Bengals bomber jacket. Such jackets, and others featuring football team logos like those
of the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears, costing up to $200, are all the rage. And thats the
problem Mr Walshs offence was not that he was wearing the wrong team colours. It was merely
that the stranger who accosted him wanted his jacket. When Mr Walsh tried to make a run for it he
was shot in the back and killed.
The trend was first spotted last autumn after the murder of a 24-year-old Chicago man by four
youths who liked his jacket. In November and December, Hawks jackets were the cause of two
more killings. In Detroit last November, a school pupil was found dead and shoeless: his attacker
had taken his $70 Nike sneakers. Police in Los Angeles and New York reported similar robberies.
One mother whose son survived the theft of the $175 gym shoes he was wearing told a Chicago
newspaper: These children are out there stealing from one another to be cool. Its a sad
situation. Their parents cant afford to buy the stuff, so they do whatever they can to get it. A Los
Angeles policeman put it another way: The individual wants to hang on to the jacket because he
paid so much for it, so they just blow him away. In some cases, the murders do appear to have
been related to gang or team loyalties. Wearing the wrong colour shoes, or even shoelaces, is
enough to get you killed in some Los Angeles neighbourhoods. But the clothes-related violence
phenomenon also reflects the cheapness of human life in some of Americas inner city ghettos,
the ready availability of guns to young people, and the poverty in which many of them live/are
living.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

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IM SERVING A SENTENCE, TOO

While Sakina Fitzpatrick knows her husband deserves to pay for his crime, shes
also suffering. So often, its prisoners families who become innocent victims.
She thought hed gone to borrow some money from a friend. The hours went by and
he didnt come back. Then the police knocked at the door. She stood there while
they said her husband, Patrick, had been arrested and would be charged with armed
robbery. Its hard to explain what goes through your head at a time like that. I knew
my husband had been in trouble in the past, before I met him, but hed been so good with
me and he loved our children. But he was out of work and I think he just got desperate .
Patrick was sentenced to eight years and nine months. Sakina has remained loyal to him,
visiting him regularly with their three children, Gemma, James and Paul . Like many prisoners
wives, Sakina is a typical loving, law-abiding mother and housewife. Far from moaning
about the sentence, she says: In a way, Patrick was lucky not to get longer. He did wrong
and hes paying for it
Sakina is now 26 and her life revolves (1) around her family. Money is very short and her council
flat is tidy (2) but threadbare. She has a dog for protection but says: I (3) do feel defenceless
sometimes, especially in the (4) middle of the night, but I must be strong and cope (5) because of
the kids. Gemmas always been a daddys girl. Patrick watched her (6) being born and theyve got
this very close bond. Now Gemma only sees her dad twice a month, (7) in jail. I always take the
kids. Sakina can spend (8) up to 90 minutes with Patrick in a large visiting room. Theyre allowed
to (9) hold hands during the visit and the children can sit on his lap. We are all excited when we
go and miserable when we (10) leave, she says.
One of Sakinas biggest (11) problems is money. She admits: Im in a lot of debt because I put
bills (12) off in order to feed the children properly. Patricks always saying I should go out more but
you get (13) used to being alone and I dont want to mix. I cant afford to go out (14) anyway. I
cant really afford to live.
Being a prisoners wife is (15) worse than being a widow because then you have to accept your
husband has gone and (16) get on with your life. Of course, people ask why she says with Patrick.
They dont usually come straight out with it. (17) Most people say they dont know how I cope
after all hes (18) done. Youve got to have a very strong relationship to carry on, but Ive told him I
wont put (19) up with it or put the children (20) through it again.

Language II Additional Practice Prof. V. Furlani - 2013

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