Exercises

1. Study the text carefully and answer these questions.

1. Why did Mr Mayherne advise his client to turn to Sir Wilfred?

2. Whose case was reported in the press?

3. In what way was Leonard Vole involved in the case?

4. What impression did Leonard Vole produce on Sir Wilfred? Could you say that Sir Wilfred took to him at once?

5. Why were the police anxious to interview Vole?

6. How was Vole treated by the police? Did they caution him?

7. Why did Mr Mayherne think that Vole would be regarded as the principal and logical suspect in the case?

8. What made Sir Wilfred refuse to take the case? Would he have taken it if it had not been for his poor health?

9. Who did Sir Wilfred recommend him to go to?

10. How did Christine take the news of her husband's arrest?

11. Why did Christine's answers puzzle and irritate the barristers?

12. Who could furnish an alibi for Leonard Vole?

13. Why might the jury be sceptical of the evidence furnished by the accused's wife?

14. What was Christine's impression of her visit to the police?

15. What did Christine say that shocked the barristers?

16. Why wasn't Brogan-Moore very enthusiastic about the case?

17. What did Sir Wilfred mean by saying "I'll take it from here"?

2. Mark the statements T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the text.

a). Mr Wilfred urges Sir Vole to take the case of Leonard Mayherne who may be arrested any minute on the charge of murdering Mrs Emily French.

b). Mayherne didn’t know exactly whether Leonard Vole had had any previous convictions.

c). Miss Plimsoll was a trained nurse who saw to it that Sir Wilfred followed the doctors’ instructions.

d). The doctors haven’t forbidden Sir Wilfred to take up civil cases. e). Only a barrister can actually plead a case in court.

f). Christine worships the ground Leonard walks on.

g). Christine’s husband, Leonard, came from East Germany.

h). Brogan-Moore, a solicitor, recommended to Leonard Vole, was to plead the case in court.

i). On having heard the bad news, Mrs Vole remained self-possessed and very quiet.

j). Brogan-Moore wasn’t absolutely sure in Leonard’s innocence, that’s why he couldn’t promise to do his best.

3. Find equivalents in the text for these word combinations and sentences.

1. Вполне естественно, что у него не было судимостей. 2. Я могу быть замешан в этом деле. 3. Только адвокат может вести дело в суде. 4. Сделать заявление. 5. Ничего не поделаешь. 6. Давайте уточним (поговорим начистоту). 7. Леонард Воул арестован и заключен в тюрьму. 8. Сэр Уилфрид чувствует, что он столкнулся с чем-то, чего он не понимает. 9. скептически отнесутся к словам человека, обвиняемого в убийстве. 10. под присягой; 11. Мы имеем дело с уголовным преступлением. 12. Я обеспечу ему алиби. 13. Вы верите, что Воул невиновен?

4. Give a summary of Scenes 1-2.

5. Make up conversations

a). between Sir Wilfred and Brogan-Moore (they discuss their talk with Mrs Vole);

b). between Mayherne and his assistant (they discuss the case).

6. Complete the chart (where possible):

verb	person	thing
prosecute	prosecutor
	accused
		murder
witness
		charge
	convict
	criminal
testify
	suspect

7. Give synonyms for the following words:

a) accused

b) prison

c) to hear a case

d) to regard

e) to charge smb. with smth.

f) accusation of murder

g) to take to jail

h) evidence

8. Choose the antonyms from the box:

guilty to violate the oath Counsel for the Defence corroborative evidence to appear for the Prosecution to refuse victim witness for the Defence

a) to appear for the Defence

b) circumstantial evidence

c) Counsel for the Prosecution

d) innocent

e) murderer

f) witness for the Prosecution

g) to second

h) to take the oath

9. Match the beginnings with the endings:

1) It’s quite obvious that Mr Brown is regarded….	a) previous convictions?
2) Under British Law a wife cannot be called…	b) on his word
3) Do you have any…	c) on the charge of murdering his wealthy cousin.
4) Unfortunately his entire defence rested…	d) as the principal and logical suspect in that criminal case.
5) He must have been arrested …	e) to give testimony damaging to her husband.