Extension Name: .................................................

1 The words below appear in the text in Exercise 2. Write the words in your own language. You can use a dictionary.
1. evidence ............................................... 4. spreads ...............................................
2. seed ............................................... 5. ink ...............................................
3. pollen ...............................................

2 Read the text about forensic scientists.

FORENSIC EVIDENCE
For decades, TV crime series have been very popular Forensic botanists are not only experts in plants and their
and forensic scientists and crime scene investigators, habitats, but they also know how to connect a person or
or CSIs, have been a major part of these series. Both an object to a plant they touched or even accidentally
on screen and in real life, CSIs arrive at a crime scene stepped on, therefore placing them at the crime scene.
looking for any clues to help solve a case. And it’s not For example, forensic botanists often study pollen. Pollen
just fingerprints or DNA samples they are looking for. spreads easily onto people’s clothing, skin and hair,
They have to collect everything they can use as sometimes linking a suspect to a crime scene. Forensic
evidence, often looking through the rubbish bins ecologists do the same thing with sand or dirt that they find
around the scene of the crime. They must also be on a suspect’s shoe or on a car tyre.
very careful not to contaminate the evidence because Some forensic scientists are experts in tattoos. A tattoo can
they need to send it to the forensic scientists. be helpful in identifying a victim or a suspect. For example,
So who are forensic scientists? They come from a tattoo can reveal information about an individual’s
different scientific backgrounds, but they all use their background or his or her gang affiliation. The ink in tattoos
specific knowledge and skills to help the police find or could also be very helpful for forensic tattoo scientists. A
eliminate suspects. And what they often use as specific type of ink can lead investigators to the actual
evidence is surprising. tattoo studio, and they will possibly find the name of the
A plant seed in a victim’s hand or some pollen on victim.
a suspect’s shoe can prove whether someone is So, whether it’s sand on a shoe, a flower in a car or
guilty or innocent, and it’s a forensic botanist’s job to a tattoo, forensic scientists are there at the lab, helping
determine that. the CSIs uncover the truth and fight crime.

3 Complete the sentences with a suitable modal according to the information in the text. There may be more than
one possible answer.
1. CSIs .............................................. collect evidence at a crime scene and send it to forensic experts.
2. CSIs .............................................. contaminate the evidence.
3. A plant seed .............................................. determine someone’s innocence or guilt.
4. A forensic tattoo expert .............................................. ignore the ink of a tattoo.

4 Answer the questions.

1. What do CSIs do at a crime scene?
........................................................................................................................................................................
2. What do forensic scientists do?
........................................................................................................................................................................
3. What kind of clues should CSIs send to a forensic botanist?
........................................................................................................................................................................
4. How can a forensic ecologist determine where a suspect had been before the crime took place?
........................................................................................................................................................................
5. Why should a forensic tattoo expert look at the ink on a tattoo?
........................................................................................................................................................................

1
 Extension

5 Write a review of a film or TV series that used forensic science to solve a crime. Include the following
information:
• the type of crime
• the type of evidence
• the main suspect