Precis writing

Ex. 28. a) Read the passage, b) Write 3-5 questions covering the basic points of the passage, c) Give a title to the passage and write a precis.

The abolition of capital punishment in England in November 1965 was welcomed by most people with progressive ideas. Still the problem remains — the problem of how to prevent murders. The important thing in the prevention of murder is to eliminate as far as possible the weap­ons and instruments, the guns and knives, with which these crimes are committed and to stop the dangerous influence of violence in books, films and television.

We have plenty of examples from real life, in every country, to prove that few criminals are born: they are made by our standards of so-called entertainment; Cowboys and Indians, Wild West films which are only exciting when guns are shooting and bad men are being killed, spy sto­ries of the James Bond type with death in every form, bank robberies and "perfect murder" stories with killings on every few pages or in every few minutes of film. Anybody who wants to commit a murder has no difficulty in buying a knife, a gun, or some "interesting" poison. Life is cheap in fiction; no matter how many people are killed — the more the merrier — the main thing is that the hero and the heroine remain alive to enjoy the happy end.

So the practical way of reducing the number of capital crimes is to close the gunshops and to make it a criminal offence for the man in the street to possess a lethal weapon.

Speech exercises

Ex. 29. Retell in narrative form.

"We want evidence," the Chief Constable was saying. "Have you got evidence, M. Poirot?"

"You want evidence... definite evidence ... such as Lady Stubbs' pearls?"

Now it was the Chief Constable who stared.

"You have found Lady Stubbs' pearls?"

"Not actually found them... but I know where they are hidden. You shall go to the spot, and when you have found them, then... then you

will have evidence... All the evidence you need! For only one person could have hidden them there."

"And who's that?"

"The person it so often is," Poirot said softly, "the husband Sir George Stubbs stole the pearls."

"But he can't have done that, M. Poirot! We know it's impossible."

"Oh, no," said Poirot, "it is not impossible at all! Listen and I will tell you."

(after "Dead Man's Folly", by A. Christie)

Ex. 30. Answer the following questions using the vocabulary of the text. Sum up your answers.

1. In the Witness Box

1. What is a witness? 2. What part does a witness play at a trial? 3. What is a witness for the defence? for the prosecution? 4. How is a witness sworn in? 5. Who examines (cross-examines) a witness for the defence? for the prosecution? 6. What happens if a witness is partial or lies when giving an account of the events? 7. In what case will a witness be reminded that the life of the accused depends on his evidence?

2. A Detective Story

1. What are the most famous detective-story writers? 2. Who is usu­ally the main character in a detective story? Give the names of some detectives in fiction. 3. Why must a detective be observant, intelli­gent? What makes a good detective? 4. How does the author make things difficult for the detective? 5. What makes a detective story thrilling to read?

Ex. 31. Read the passage, answer the questions, using the vocabulary of the lesson and retell it.

It was very hot in the small court-room and everybody was feeling sleepy. After a tiring morning, the clerks were anxious to get off to lunch and even the judge must have felt happy when the last case came up before the court. A short, middle-aged man with grey hair and small blue eyes was now standing before him. The man had a dazed expression on his face and he kept looking around as if he was trying hard to make out what was going on.

The man was charged with breaking into a house and stealing a cheap watch. The witness who was called did not give a very clear account of what had happened. He insisted on having seen a man outside the house one night, but on being questioned further, he admitted that he was not sure whether this was the man. The judge thought over the matter for a short time and then he said that as there was no real proof, the man could not be found guilty of any crime. He said that the case was dismissed for lack of evidence and then rose to go. The prisoner looked very puzzled. It was clear that he had not understood a thing. Noticing this, the judge paused for a moment and then the man said suddenly, 'Excuse me, sir, but do I have to give the watch back or not?'