Reading Comprehension Practice

Read the texts below and do the exercises that follow.

Text 1

Domestic violence in the time of Covid-19

In response to the violence and turbulence of daily life, the family unit can be a safe haven for
family members, offering a loving and supportive environment, whilst also ensuring the
emotional development of its members. When crisis is triggered, it causes a blow to the family
institution and often gives rise to violence and disruption of the harmonious conditions of
fundamental family values.
The phenomenon of violence has always been present, in every society and social class around
the world. Domestic violence is arguably one of the most heinous crimes in the world. It has a
harsh definition, as it refers to any form of physical, mental, psychological, emotional, moral,
sexual and material force, in order to constrain the victims, within their “familiar” environment.
Domestic violence seems to be on the rise in recent years, with women and children being the
main victims.
With the outbreak of the pandemic Covid-19 and the compulsory home confinement, the
phenomenon of domestic violence has dramatically increased on a worldwide scale.
Unfortunately, nowadays many women and children are not only called to face the invisible
enemy, Covid-19, but also another familiar enemy.
In Cyprus, about ten (10) cases of domestic violence have been recorded only in the last month,
according to the call registration system of 1140, the helpline of the Association for the
Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO). An increase in domestic violence
cases was also noted in many countries around the world.
Undoubtedly, there are many factors that lead to violence. Some of them are the hereditary
characteristics of the perpetrator, or whether the perpetrator had experienced some form of
violence in his childhood years. In addition, depression, personality disorder, beliefs of gender
inequality, the expression of the perpetrator’s need for power and control, as well conflicts
between partners/spouses are crucial contributing factors in hateful behaviours.
 Reading Comprehension Practice

As important as the causes which trigger domestic violence are, so are the effects it has on its
victims, which can be devastating to their psychological and physical health. Both physical
trauma, as well as mental disorders, post-traumatic stress and suicidal tendencies, are
considered to be some of its most serious consequences.
As a matter of record, victims of domestic violence often do not file any complaints. This is due
to many factors, such as the feeling of fear, the existence of traditional social perceptions about
the family, as well as beliefs about the role of both sexes. The scale of domestic violence would
be significantly greater if all cases were reported to the competent authorities.
The media can play a key role in preventing levels of domestic violence from escalating within
the community by acting as a beacon of hope and an outlet for domestic violence campaigners
to speak up and create awareness. Further to this, messages voiced through media channels,
can help empower victims to take action and report domestic and family violence to the local
authorities.
[…] 

Comprehension questions
A. Read the questions and decide if the statements are True (T), False (F) or No
Information is given (NG).

1) It is mostly the rich family members that experience domestic violence.

2) Victims of domestic violence may suffer from among others, physical, emotional, and
sexual abuse.
3) Male individuals are never victims of domestic violence.
4) During the pandemic, domestic violence has reached extremely high levels.
5) If the attacker experienced violence when he/she was a child, then he will definitely
abuse a family member.
6) If all the cases of domestic violence were reported to the competent authorities (e.g.
the police), then the numbers of such cases would be much lower.

B. Answer the questions.

1) How many incidents of domestic violence have been reported the past month?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2) What are some of the consequences of domestic violence?

 Reading Comprehension Practice

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3) How can social media help lessen the rates of domestic abuse?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

C. Match the words from column A (underlined in the text) to their synonyms from
column B. There is ONE extra word you do not need to use.

Column A Column B Answers

1) disruption a) required
2) heinous b) increasing
3) compulsory c) horrible
4) perpetrator d) victim
5) escalating e) offender
f) disturbance

Text 2

Coronavirus lockdown: How has it affected crime?

The onset of Covid-19 has changed the lives of people in the US and other countries in a dramatic
fashion, shaping the behaviour of law-abiding citizens and criminals alike.
Hoodlums are now assaulting fewer people, according to police officers, and some are even
following government safety guidelines. In El Salvador, gang members are practising social
distancing and forcing others to do the same.
"It's really about opportunity," says Scott Decker, a professor at Arizona State University and the
author of Burglars on the Job. "When we reduce opportunities for crime to take place, crime goes
down."
People are no longer out and about in the same way. Instead they are at home, following the
recommendations of health experts. The "new normal", says Timothy Akers, a Morgan State
University vice-president who focuses on epidemiological criminology, makes it harder for crooks to
find people to beat and rob.
 Reading Comprehension Practice

The result of less people in public is less crime. In St Louis, Missouri, the city where criminologist
Scott Decker lives, a stay-at-home order was imposed in March and violence has fallen dramatically.
"People are choosing not to shoot each other in the numbers that they were before Covid," he says.
Last year, there were 194 murders in the city; so far this year, there have been 45.
Crime has also dipped in Atlanta, where police usually have processed 100 to 150 crime reports at
this point in April, according to news reports. This year, they have filed only 47. In other places, the
dynamic has shifted. There were between 491 to 510 murders in Chicago in 2019 (the police and the
county medical examiner's office have different ongoing tallies).
That is roughly the same number of people - or less - who have died from Covid-19. In some places
outside the US too, violence has gone down. Police in South Africa say that, comparing this time
period to last year, the number of murders has dropped from 326 to 94.

Comprehension questions
A. Read the questions and decide if the statements are True (T), False (F) or No Information is
given (NG).

1. The safety measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic have helped reduce the number of
crimes such as mugging, burglary, etc.
2. All hoodlums follow the safety guidelines announced and imposed by the government.
3. According to professor Decker, there are less crimes occurring if there are also less
opportunities to commit crime.
4. Domestic violence has fallen dramatically in the area of Missouri.
5. The number of crimes committed in Missouri this year has quadrupled.
6. The number of crimes outside the US have also gone down in continents like Europe and
Africa.

B. Answer the question below.

According to the passage and based on your own knowledge, how do you think have the safety
guidelines during the Corona virus pandemic contributed in crime occurrences?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 Reading Comprehension Practice

C. Find words or phrases in the text that are used instead of the following:
1) criminals (paragraphs 2 and 4) 
2) lawful (paragraph 1) 
3) suggestions (paragraph 4) 
4) introduced / forced (paragraph 5)
5) decreased (paragraph 9 = last paragraph) 