Reading and Speaking

Task I. Read the following text and provide the title for it.Use the suggested titles in the box.

Murder Assassination Manslaughter

In 1981 Marianne Bahmeir, from Lubeck, West Germany, was in court watching the trial of Klaus Grabowski, who had murdered her 7 year-old daughter. Grabowski had a history of attacking children. During the trial, Frau Bachmeir pulled a Beretta 22 pistol from her handbag and fired eight bullets, six of which hit Grabowski, killing him. The defence said she had bought the pistol with the intention of committing suicide, but when she saw Grabowski in court she drew the pistol and pulled the trigger. She was found not guilty of murder, but was given six years imprisonment for manslaughter. West German newspapers reflected the opinion of millions of Germans that she should have been freed, calling her “the avenging mother” [3].

Task II. Find English equivalents of the following Russia word-combinations:

1. во время судебного заседания;

2. с целью совершения самоубийства;

3. спустила курок;

4. была признана невиновной в убийстве;

5. была приговорена к тюремному заключению;

6. 6 лет тюремного заключения.

Task III. Answer the following questions on the text.

1. What type of crime is described in the article?

2. What country did the story happen in?

3. Who was under trial?

4. What crime was he charged with?

5. What happened during the trial?

6. How did Marianna happen to have a pistol in her bag?

7. Was Marianna found guilty of murder?

8. What was the punishment for her offence?

9. What do you think of the punishment?

10. Would you have given the same punishment if you had been the judge in that trial?

Task IV. Read the following text and provide the title for it. Use the suggested titles in the box.

Murder Suicide Homicide

Bernard Lewis, a thirty-six-old man, while preparing dinner became involved in an argument with his drunken wife. In a fit of a rage Lewis, using the kitchen knife with which he had been preparing the meal, stabbed and killed his wife. He immediately called for assistance, and readily confessed when the first patrolman appeared on the scene with the ambulance attendant. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The probation department’s investigation indicated that Lewis was a rigid individual who never drank, worked regularly, and had no previous criminal record. His thirty-year-old wife, and mother of three children, was a “fine girl” when sober but was frequently drunk and on a number of occasions when intoxicated had left their small children unattended. After due consideration of the background of the offence and especially of the plight of the three motherless youngsters, the judge placed Lewis on probation so that he could work, support, and take care of the children. On probation Lewis adjusted well, worked regularly, appeared to be devoted to the children, and a few years later was discharged as “improved” from probation [3].

Task V. Find English equivalents of the following Russian word-combinations:

1. позвал на помощь;

2. с готовностью признался;

3. признал себя виновным в непредумышленном убийстве;

4. не имел судимости;

5. истоки преступления;

6. направлять на испытание;

7. во время испытательного срока;

8. был освобожден от наказания.

Task VI. Answer the following questions on the text.

1. What type of crime is described in the article?

2. Who is the offender?

3. How did the crime happen?

4. Mr. Lewis ran away after committing a crime, didn’t he?

5. How did he behave when the police arrived?

6. How is Mr. Lewis characterized?

7. What can you say about his wife?

8. What was the court sentence for this crime?

9. How did Mr. Lewis serve his sentence?

10. What do you think of the punishment?

11. Would you have given the same sentence if you had been the judge of that trial?