UNIT 34

► Ex. I. Scan through the text. Work in pairs to question the text and to give answers.

Capital punishment and its abolition. The operation of the system of capital murder created great dissatisfaction, as it led to some executions that the public viewed as unjustified, while other types of murderers escaped the death penalty. In particular, deliberate poisoners were not subject to the death penalty, but the emotional murderer who had happened to seize a gun was liable to execution. In 1965 the Murder Act abolished the death penalty for all murders and replaced it with a life sentence in all cases. The judge was given the power to recommend that the offender sentenced to life imprisonment should not be released before he had served a certain minimum period. The abolition of capital punishment in England in November 1965 was welcomed by most people with humane and progressive ideas. To them the abolition of death penalty seemed a departure from feudalism, from the cruel pre-Christian spirit of revenge: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Today public opinion in Britain has changed. People who before stated that capital punishment was not a deterrent to murder - for there have always been murders in all countries with or without the law of execution -now feel that killing the assassin is the lesser of two evils. Capital punishment, they think, may not be the ideal answer, but it is better than nothing, especially when, as in England, a life sentence only lasts eight or nine years.

Abolition - отмена; capital murder - убийство, караемое смертной казнью; dissatisfaction - недовольство; execution -приведение в исполнение приговора к смертной казни; view - рассматривать; unjustified - необоснованный; escape the death penalty - избежать смертной казни; deliberate poisoner - умышленный отравитель; subject / liable -подлежащий; emotional crime - преступление под влиянием аффекта; seize a gun - схватить огнестрельное оружие; abolish the death penalty - отменять смертную казнь; replace - заменять; life sentence - приговор к пожизненному тюремному заключению; release - освобождать; serve a sentence - отбывать наказание.

► Ex. II. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1) The operation of the system of capital murder created great satisfaction. 2) The operation of the system of capital murder led to some executions that the public viewed as well-thought-out. 3) No types of murderers escaped the death penalty. 4) Deliberate poisoners were subject to the death penalty. 5) The emotional murderer was not liable to execution. 6) Capital punishment was abolished for felony crimes. 7) Life sentence was replaced with a death penalty in all cases. 8) The offender sentenced to life imprisonment should be released before he had served a certain period. 9) Murderers and rapists welcomed the abolition of capital punishment. 10) The abolition of death penalty seemed to people a great catastrophe. 11) People stated that capital punishment was a deterrent to murder.

► Ex. III. Restore the word order in the following statements.

1) The created operation of the system of capital murder great dissatisfaction. 2) The operation of the system of capital murder to some executions that the public viewed as led unjustified. 3) Some escaped types of murderers the death penalty. 4) Deliberate poisoners subject to the death penalty were not. 5) The emotional murderer liable to execution was. 6) Capital punishment was for all murders abolished. 7) Death penalty was with a life sentence in all cases replaced. 8) The offender sentenced to life imprisonment should not be minimum period released be-. fore he had served a certain. 9) Most people with humane and progressive ideas the abolition of capital punishment welcomed. 10) The abolition of death penalty to people a departure from feudalism seemed. 11) The abolition of seemed capital punishment to people a departure from the pre-Christian spirit of revenge. 12) People that capital punishment was not a deterrent to murder stated. 13) People that killing the assassin is the lesser of two evils feel. 14) Capital punishment better than nothing is.

► Ex. IV. Translate the following words and phrases from Russian into English.

Отмена смертной казни; утверждать; дохристианский; расставание; изменяться; мщение; высшая мера наказания; казаться; тяжкое убийство, караемое смертной казнью; общественное мнение; умышленный; средство устрашения; феодализм; приветствовать; гуманный; жестокий; око за око и зуб за зуб; убийца; длиться; пожизненное тюремное заключение; недовольство; приведение в исполнение приговора к смертной казни; рассматривать; необоснованный; избежать смертной казни; умышленный отравитель; преступление под влиянием аффекта; схватить огнестрельное оружие; отменять смертную казнь; заменять; освобождать; отбывать наказание; обоснованный.

► Ex. V. Complete the following statements.

1) The operation of the system of capital murder created... 2) The operation of the system of capital murder led to... 3) Some types of murderers escaped... 4) Deliberate poisoners were not subject to... 5) The emotional murderer was liable to... 6) Capital punishment was abolished for... 7) Death penalty was replaced with... 8) The offender sentenced to life imprisonment should not be... 9) Most people with humane and progressive ideas welcomed... 10) The abolition of death penalty seemed to people a departure from... 11) People stated that... 12) People feel that... 13) Capital punishment is better than...

► Ex. VI. Choose one topic to speak about

a) pro capital punishment;

b) con capital punishment

Retell the text “Capital punishment and its abolition”.