Свойства существительного, присущие герундию

Death was formerly the penalty for all felonies in English law. In practice the death penalty was never applied as widely as the law provided. Many offenders who committed capital crimes were allowed what was known as benefit of clergy. The origin of benefit of clergy was that offenders who were ordained priests were subject to trial by the church courts rather than the secular courts. If the offender convicted of a felony could show that he had been ordained, he was allowed to go free, subject to the possibility of being pun­ished by the ecclesiastical courts. In medieval times the only proof of ordination was literacy and it became the custom by the 17th century to allow anyone convicted of a felony to es­cape the death sentence by giving proof of literacy. All that was required was the ability to read or recite one particular verse from Psalm 51 of the Bible, known as the " neck verse" for its ability to save one's neck; most offenders learned the words by heart. The application of the death penalty was extremely er­ratic, as in any capital case the judge was entitled to reprieve the offender so that he could petition for mercy; but the judge was not obliged to do this, and if he decided to " leave the offender for execution, " the death sentence was normally carried out immediately, without appeal. In practice, many offenders who were convicted of capital crimes escaped the gallows as a result of reprieves and royal pardons. Until the mid-19th century exe­cutions in England were public, and throughout the 18th century great crowds attended the regular executions in London and other cities. Often an execution was followed by scenes of vio­lence and disorder in the crowd, and it was commonly believed that pickpockets were busy among the spectators at executions. Public opinion eventually turned against the idea of executions as spectacles, and after 1868 executions were carried out in pri­vate in prisons. Parliament (in 1957) restricted the death penalty to certain types of murder, known as " capital murders" — murder in the course of theft, murder of a police or prison offi­cer in the execution of his duty, murder by shooting or causing an explosion, and murder on a second occasion. All other mur­ders were to be punished by a life sentence (life imprisonment).

Упр. 3. Согласитесь или не согласитесь со следующими высказываниями:

1) Death was the penalty for all misdemeanours. 2) Death pen­alty was applied as widely as the law provided. 3) Many of­fenders who committed capital murders were allowed what was known as benefit of clergy. 4) Many offenders who were or­dained priests were subject to trial by the secular courts rather than the church courts. 5) If the offender convicted of a felony could show that he had been ordained, he was allowed to repair a damage. 6) Anyone convicted of a felony was allowed to es­cape the death sentence by giving proof of morality. 7) The ap­plication of the death penalty was well-ordered. 8) The judge was entitled to reprieve the offender so that he could repent of his sins. 9) The judge was obliged to reprieve the offender. 10) If the judge decided to leave the offender for execution, the death sentence was carried out momentarily. 11) Many offend­ers who were convicted of misdemeanours didn't escape the gallows. 12) Executions in England were carried out in private in prisons. 13) Few people attended the regular executions in London. 14) Scenes of pacification in the crowd followed an execution. 15) It was believed that robbers were busy among the spectators at executions. 16) Public opinion supported the idea of executions as spectacles.

Упр. 4. Восстановите порядок слов в следующих предложениях:

1) Death the penalty for all felonies was. 2) Death penalty was never as widely as the law applied provided. 3) Many offenders were what was known as benefit of clergy allowed. 4) Many offenders who were were ordained priests subject to trial by the church courts. 5) If the offender allowed convicted of a felony could show that he had been ordained, he was to go free. 6) Anyone convicted of a felony to escape the death sentence by giving proof of literacy was allowed. 7) The application of the death penalty erratic was. 8) The judge was to reprieve the of­fender entitled. 9) The judge not obliged to reprieve the offender was. 10) If the judge decided to leave, the death sentence was car­ried out immediately the offender for execution. 11) Many of­fenders who were convicted of capital crimes the gallows as a result of royal pardons escaped. 12) Great crowds the regular executions in London attended. 13) Scenes of violence in the crowd an execution followed. 14) Pickpockets busy among the spectators at executions were.

Упр. 5. Переведите следующие слова и выражения с русского языка на английский:

Возместить ущерб; нравственное поведение; упорядочен­ный; раскаиваться; умиротворение; фелония; преступление, караемое смертной казнью; неподсудность духовенства светскому суду; посвящать в духовный сан; признать ви­новным; казнить; давать право; отсрочить исполнение при­говора осужденному; подавать ходатайство о помиловании; приведение в исполнение приговора к смертной казни; ви­селица; королевское помилование; повторный случай.

Упр. 6. Закончите следующие предложения:

1) Death was... 2) Death penalty was never applied as... 3) Many offenders who committed capital crimes were allowed... 4) Many offenders who were ordained priests were subject to... 5) If the offender convicted of a felony could show... he was allowed... or was subject to... 6) Anyone convicted of a felony was allowed... 7) The application of the death penalty was, v. 8) The judge was entitled... 9) The judge was not obliged... 10) If the judge decided... the death sentence was... 11) Many offenders who were convicted of capital crimes escaped... as a result of... 12) Executions in England were... 13) Great crowds attended... 14) Scenes of... followed... 15) It was believed that pickpockets... 16) Public opinion turned... 17) After 1868 executions were carried out in... 18) Capital murders are...