Read the text and do the tasks after it. Laws fall into two major groups: criminal and civil

Laws fall into two major groups: criminal and civil. Criminal laws regulate public conduct and set out duties owed to society. A criminal case is a legal action brought by the government against a person charged with committing a crime. Criminal laws presuppose penalties, so offenders can be sent to prison, fined, placed under supervision, or punished in some other way. There are two major types of crime: felonies and misdemeanors. The difference between these two types is defined by the potential punishment for committing them. The penalty for a felony is a term of more than one year in prison. For a misdemeanor, the penalty is a prison term of one year or less. Felonies are more serious crimes such as murder, robbery, treason, rape and kidnapping. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes such as simple assault, driving under influence or minor theft.

Civil laws resolve disputes between individuals or groups of individuals. A civil action (lawsuit) can be brought by a person who feels wronged or injured by another person. Courts may award the injured person money for the loss, or they may order the person who committed the wrong to make amends in some other way. An example of a civil action is a lawsuit for recovery of damages suffered in an automobile accident. Civil laws regulate such disagreements as contracts, marriage, child custody, divorce, private property, insurance, consumer protection and negligence.

                           (Abridged from the original texts provided by http: //www.wisegeek.com)

Find the equivalents for the following verbs and expressions:

1) регулировать общественное поведение ________________________

2) определять обязанности _____________________________________

3) обвинять в чем-либо ________________________________________

4) совершать преступление _____________________________________

5) штрафовать _______________________________________________

6) поместить в тюрьму ________________________________________

7) разрешать споры ___________________________________________

Find the equivalents for the following nouns and expressions:

1) судебный иск (2) ___________________________________________

2) грабеж ___________________________________________________

3) воровство _________________________________________________

4) нападение _________________________________________________

5) предательство _____________________________________________

6) потерпевший ______________________________________________

7) взыскание ущерба __________________________________________

8) страхование _______________________________________________

9) защита прав потребителя ____________________________________

4. Match the words on the left with their definition on the right:

1 lawsuit	a law dealing with private rights of citizens, not with crime
2 murder	b accuse
3 civil law	c law dealing with crimes and their punishment
4 assault	d major serious crime, e.g. murder, armed robbery, treason
5 misdemeanor	e legal offence less serious than a felony
6 criminal law	f violent and sudden attack
7 felony	g duty
8 responsibility	h prosecution of a claim in a law court
9 charge	i unlawful killing of a human being on purpose

5. Answer the following questions:

1) What two groups of law do you know?

2) What is a criminal case?

3) How are criminal offenses divided?

4) What crimes are known as serious felonies?

5) What is the penalty for a felony? For a misdemeanor?

6) What do civil laws regulate?

7) Make a list of all the crimes mentioned in the text.

 

II. VOCABULARY FOCUS: LAW BREAKERS

Law breaker is a person who violates the law.

Match each person in the box with the description given. In each table one word is odd.

Part I.

traitor forger murderer arsonist  shoplifter hijacker kidnapper smuggler witness

1) This person takes control of a plane or boat by force. __________________

2) This person sees what happens during a crime or accident. ______________

3) This person brings goods into the country illegally. ___________________

4) This person steals food from a super market. _________________________

5) This person betrays country to another state. _________________________

6) This person kills someone on purpose. ______________________________

7) This person takes people and demands money for their return. ___________

8) This person makes illegal copies of paintings, documents etc. ___________

Part II.

blackmailer hooligan vandal spy burglar pickpocket accomplice assassin robber

 

1) This person damages other people’s property. ________________________

2) This person steals your wallet in a crowd. ___________________________

3) This person steals from houses. ___________________________________

4) This person gets money from others by threatening to tell secrets.________

5) This person causes trouble at football matches. _______________________

6) This person helps a criminal in a criminal act.________________________

7) This person murders for political reasons or a reward. _________________

8) This person gets secret information from another country._______________

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