CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

What is the importance of the law in our lives?

Under what conditions is it possible to break the law?
Who should create laws in the country?
How to ensure that the law is followed?
Should countries modernize their legal systems?
What is the difference between major crime and petty crime?
Do you think all criminals should go to prison?
Do you think the law is applied equally to all people, no matter what social class they belong to?
Who are more popular in your society, the lawyers or the police?
What personal qualities (& skills) does a person need to be a police officer?
Should people follow the rules strictly?
What can be done to motivate people so that they abide by the rules and law?
What international law should be applied all over the world?
Who should reinforce the laws?
Under what circumstances can a person who has committed a crime escape punishment?
Are some parts of this city considered more dangerous than others? Which parts?
Are there any places you are afraid to visit because of the high crime rate? If so, where?
Are there problems with drugs where you live?
Are you apprehensive about walking outside after dark?
Do you always lock your house? How about your car?
Do you believe that public executions would deter crime? If so, how?
Do you drink and drive?
Do you know anyone who has been mugged?
Do you think gun control is a good idea? Explain.
Do you think people who use illegal drugs should be put in jail?
Do you think police TV dramas are realistic?
Do you think policeman should be allowed to carry guns?
Do you think that capital punishment is a good idea? Why or why not?
Do you think that punishment for violent crimes should be the same for juveniles and adults? Why/why not?
Do you think that the death penalty would prevent crime in your country? Why or why not?
Do you think that the legalization of narcotics would decrease the crime rate?
Do you think there are any legal drugs that should be illegal?
Do you think there is a link between drugs and crime?
Do you think there will be more or less crime in the future?
Do you think your country is a safe place to live? Why or why not?
Do you walk alone at night in your home city?
Does prison help rehabilitate criminals? Should it?
Have you ever been the victim of a crime? How about others in your family?
Have you ever done anything illegal? If so, what did you do?
Have you ever had anything stolen?
Have you ever seen a crime?
Have you ever witnessed a crime?
How can you prevent things from being stolen?
How can you avoid having things stolen from you?
If a person steals a loaf of bread because he needs to feed his starving family, should he be punished?
Is drunk driving a crime where you live? If so, what is the punishment?
Is it ever O.K. to break the law? If so, when?
Is prison an effective punishment? Why or why not?
Is there a problem with organized crime and/or gangs where you live?
What are some things people can do to protect themselves from crime?
What are some things that are legal that you personally think should be illegal?
What crimes do you think will decrease in the future?
What crimes do you think will increase in the future?
What crimes have you heard about recently in the news?
What do you think is the worst crime a person could commit? Why?
What kinds of crime are most common in your country? What are the penalties for these crimes?
What kinds of crimes are increasing?
What kinds of crimes do you think can be prevented? How?
What makes some people become criminals? Is it poverty, upbringing, lack of education, unemployment or something
else?
What weapons do police carry in this country? How about your home country?
What would you do if you heard a burglar in your house?
Why do you think crime is more prevalent in some societies than in others?
Why is there more crime in some countries?
Why do you think people steal things?
Do you think corporal punishment is necessary?
Who decides what is and isn't a crime?
Do you think that "corporate criminals" are sufficiently punished for their crimes?
Do you think that police dramas can teach people how serious certain actions can be?
Is a person born as a blank page or does he have some things predetermined like vulnerability to crime?
Should adultery be considered a crime?
Why do people commit crimes?
What can be done about gun/knife violence?
Do you think your city is a dangerous place to live in?
Do you see a lot of crime happening around you?
Do you think graffiti is vandalism or art?
Do you agree that terrorism is the evil of the 21st century?
What are the roots of terrorism?
What act of terrorism terrifies you most of all?
Is bribery a crime?
What spheres are corrupted most of all in your country? Police? Education? Medicine?
What is the best way to fight corruption?
If you think it should exist, what kind of criminals should be sentenced to death?
Which punishment is more severe, the death penalty or life imprisonment?
Is piracy a great problem in your country?
Do you consider piracy to be a crime?
Is it possible to get rid of piracy?
What is intellectual property?
Can you think of some examples of stealing intellectual property.
Do you think it is a serious crime?
If your friend has committed a serious crime, how would you act?
Do you agree that everything that is not prohibited by law is allowed?
Is downloading music or videos a crime?
What's the difference between copyright infringement and theft?
What is the difference between crime and sin?
Talk about a new law you would implement where you live to make it a better place.
• What law would it be?
• Will it be easy to introduce such a new law?
• Will it be popular?
and what the benefits of such a new law would be.
Model Answer:
The place I currently live in is a big city called (...say the name of the city or are you live in…) and it has got lots of problems
and issues which need to be addressed. We have lots of laws and rules and many of them need amendment and better
implementation. If I am in a position to impose a new law to make my city a better place to live in, I would make a new
law that would make it mandatory for every house owner to plant at least 10 trees in their area and would prohibit cutting
any tree unless permitted by the law enforcing authority.

A country should have at least 33% trees and forest of the total area for a natural balance in the country and the existing
percentage of trees and forest in our country are alarmingly lower than that. Particularly in our city, this rate is almost less
than 5% which makes it an imbalanced city to live in. It is not easy to enhance the forests in this city as it is a populated
city and has very minimum open space. So making this rule a mandatory one would help us make the city greener and
better.

Currently, most of the house owners do not have trees in their premises and there are places where this can be done. So if
every landlord of the city plants some trees and takes care to grow those properly, that would improve the environment of
the city. Moreover, the house owners should not be free to cut any tree whenever they want. They need to take permission
and give proper reasons if they really need to cut any tree.

This would not be an easy law to implement. Lots of house-owners would not be interested in following this newly
implemented law and would complain that there is no spare space for doing it. However, if the law is implemented and
imposed, over time that would be achievable. Once the consciousness and necessity are understood and we start feeling our
obligation towards the Mother Nature and our society, many people would feel the importance of it.

This new law would have a great number of benefits. There is no alternative than to plant trees and keep the environment
healthy and this law would make our city a better place to live in.

CAR THEFT
Car theft is a constant problem, but if you own a newer model of car, there is less likelihood of it being stolen. Newer
models incorporate security systems that help prevent theft. However, thieves often steal car keys to access newer vehicles
so it is a good policy to know where your keys are at all times. Never leave them in your car, even if it is parked in your
garage at home. You make life easy for the burglar if you leave keys in a receptacle just inside the door or hanging from a
hook. Think of a less obvious place, hidden from view. Once a thief has access to your keys, everything you own is at risk,
including your personal safety.
While older cars are a potential target, there are some simple precautions you should take. Definitely, lock your car before
you leave it, even for the shortest time, even in the driveway of your house. Think of installing an alarm or a steering lock
or consider a mechanical immobilizer that fits across the steering wheel. This is a relatively inexpensive item but it is a
good deterrent for thieves. They generally go for the easiest and fastest option.
Obviously, it is in your own interest to make your vehicle as difficult to steal as possible – not only to avoid stress and
inconvenience, but also because your insurance premiums will soar if you make a claim. If you are unfortunate enough to
have your vehicle stolen, phone the police immediately. You will need to provide information relating to your vehicle
including make, model, year, colour, registration number and VIN (vehicle identification number). You need all of this
when you file a stolen vehicle report. Police will also log any personal items that were in the vehicle. If these items include
identifying documents such as a registration certificate, this will make the illegal resale of the vehicle simpler for the thieves,
so keep these documents in a separate place.
Next, contact your insurance company. If your wallet was in the car and it contained credit cards, you will need to notify
your bank. If your house keys were in the car, call a locksmith and have your locks changed, and if you are still making
payments on the car, you will need to inform the finance company. Both your insurance company and the finance company
will ask you for copies of the police report so it is best to obtain one in the first instance.
Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8–14 on your answer sheet.
Car theft
• modern cars are more difficult to steal because of their 8 ……………….
• If they have your keys, burglars could steal your car or even threaten your 9 ……………….
• older models are easier to steal, so get an alarm or steering lock or use an immobilizer (cheap but effective 10
……………….)
• the loss of your car is stressful and also makes your 11 ………………. more expensive
• if your car is taken:
- call the police
- supply all identifying information for vehicle – fill out a 12 ……………….
- NB: the 13 ………………. of the vehicle will be easier for the thieves if you leave official papers inside
- call the insurance company, bank (if necessary), and the 14 ………………. if you owe money on the car