Capital punishment is the only way to deter criminals

Perhaps all criminals should be required to carry cards which read: Fragile: Handle With Care. It will never do, these days, to go around referring to criminals as violent thugs. You must refer to them politely as “social misfits”. The professional killer who wouldn’t think twice about using his cosh or crowbar to batter some harmless old lady to death in order to rob her of her meager life-savings must never be given a dose of his own medicine. He is in need of “hospital treatment”. According to his misguided defenders, society is to blame. A wicked society breeds evil – or so the argument goes. When you listen to this kind of talk, it makes you wonder why we aren’t all criminals. We have done away with the absurdly harsh laws of the nineteenth century and this is only right. But surely enough is enough. The most senseless piece of criminal legislation in Britain and a number of other countries has been the suspension of capital punishment.

The violent criminal has become a kind of hero-figure in our time. He is glorified on the screen; he is pursued by the press and paid vast sums of money for his “memoirs”. Newspapers which specialize in crime-reporting enjoy enormous circulations and the publishers of trashy cops and robbers stories or “murder mysteries” have never had it so good. When you read about the achievements of the great train robbers, it makes you wonder whether you are reading about some glorious resistance movement. The hardened criminal is cuddled and cosseted by the sociologists on the one hand and adored as a hero by the masses on the other. It’s no wonder he is a privileged person who expects and receives VIP treatment wherever he goes.

Capital punishment used to be a major deterrent. It made the violent robber think twice before pulling the trigger. It gave the cold-blooded poisoner something to ponder about while he was shaking up or serving his arsenic cocktail. It prevented unarmed policemen from being mowed down while pursuing their duty by killers armed with automatic weapons. Above all, it protected the most vulnerable members of society, young children, from brutal sex-maniacs. It is horrifying to think that the criminal can literally get away with murder. We all know that “life sentence” does not mean what it says. After ten years or so of “good conduct”, the most desperate villain is free to return to society where he will live very comfortably, thank you, on the proceeds of his crime, or he will go on committing offences until he is caught again. People are always willing to hold liberal views at the expense of others. It’s always fashionable to pose as the defender of the under-dog, so long as you, personally, remain unaffected. Did the defenders of crime, one wonders, in their desire for fair-play, consult the victims before they suspended capital punishment? Hardly. You see, they couldn’t, because all the victims were dead.

5.1.26 Переведите слова и словосочетания на русский язык:

Capital punishment, handle with care, violent thug, “social misfit”, to use cosh or crowbar, harmless old lady, meager life-savings, wicked society, absurdly harsh laws, suspension, to be pursued by the press, to specialize in crime-reporting, trashy cops and robbers stories, the hardened criminal, to be major deterrent, cold-blooded poisoner, arsenic cocktail, life sentence, the most desperate villain, fair-play.

5.1.27 Переведите словосочетания на английский язык:

Социально-неприспособленный человек, беззащитная старушка, следует винить общество, суровые законы, приостановка смертной казни, мемуары, огромные тиражи, обожать как героя, привилегированный человек, нажать на курок, хладнокровный убийца, вернуться в общество, жертва преступления.

5.1.28 Прочитайте текст еще раз и найдите в тексте предложения с данными словосочетаниями:

Social misfits, meager life-savings, a wicked society, the absurdly harsh

laws, suspension of capital punishment, on the screen, to specialize in crime-reporting, a privileged person, to be a major deterrent, to live on the proceeds of his crime.

5.1.29 Объясните по-английски значение данных слов и выражений:

Criminal, meager life-savings, absurdly harsh laws, trashy cops and robbers stories, a privileged person, the most vulnerable members of society, life-sentence.

5.1.30 Заполните пропуски соответствующими предлогами:

1. According … misguided defenders, society is to blame.

2. The most senseless piece … criminal legislation in Britain has been the suspension … capital punishment.

3. The violent criminal has become a kind … hero-figure … our time.

4. Newspapers specialize … crime-reporting.

5. The hardened criminal is cuddled and cosseted … the sociologists.

6. Capital punishment made the violent robber think twice … pulling the trigger.

7. Above all, it protected the most vulnerable members of society, young children, … brutal sex-maniacs.

8. People are always willing to hold liberal views … expense … others.

9. It prevented unarmed policemen … being mowed down.

10. Did the defenders … crime consult the victims?

5.1.31 Задайте вопросы к выделенным словам:

1. All criminals should be punished.

2. You must refer them as “social misfits”.

3. He is in need of “ hospital treatment ”.

4. According to misguided defenders, society is to blame.

5. The violent criminal has become a kind of hero-figure in our time.

6. Newspapers specialize in crime-reporting nowadays.

7. Capital punishment used to be a major deterrent.

8. Capital punishment made the violent robber think twice before pulling the trigger.

9. It protected the most vulnerable members of society.

10. He will go on committing offences until he is caught again.

5.1.32 Задайте альтернативный и разделительный вопросы к следующим предложениям:

1. The professional killer wouldn’t think twice about using his cosh or crowbar to batter somebody to death.

2. He is in need in putting into prison.

3. A wicked society breeds evil.

4. The most senseless piece of criminal legislation has been the suspension of capital punishment.

5. The violent criminal is glorified on the screen.

6. He is paid vast money for his “memoirs”.

7. The most vulnerable members of the society are children.

8. He is adored as a hero by the masses.

9. It gave the cold-blooded poisoner something to ponder about while he was shaking up his arsenic cocktail.

10. It’s always fashionable to pose as the defender of the under-dog, as long as you, personally, remain unaffected.

5.1.33 Прочитайте данные высказывания и укажите, какие из них не соответствуют содержанию текста и исправьте их:

1. You must refer to criminals as “social treasure”.

2. The professional killer would always think about using his cosh or crowbar to batter somebody to death.

3. Government is to blame.

4. A good society breeds evil.

5. A harmless old lady is glorified on the screen.

6. The publishers of love and romantic stories have never had it so good.

7. When you read about achievements of ordinary people it makes you feel proud.

8. It’s cool to think that the criminal can literally get away with murder.

9. After ten years or so of “good conduct” the most desperate villain dies.

10. People never want to hold liberal views at the expense of others.

5.1.34 Закончите предложения в соответствие с содержанием текста:

1. You must refer to them politely as ….

2. According to his misguided defenders, society is ….

3. When you listen to this kind of talk, it makes you wonder ….

4. The most violent criminal has become ….

5. Newspapers which specialize in crime-reporting stories enjoy ….

6. The hardened criminal is cuddled and cosseted by sociologists on the one hand and ….

7. Capital punishment used to be ….

8. It prevented unarmed policemen from ….

9. We all know that “life sentence” ….

10. It’s always fashionable to pose as the defender ….

5.1.35 Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What is the only way to deter criminals?

2. What is the absurdly harsh law of the nineteenth century?

3. Do you think that suspension of capital punishment is a useful measure?

4. Does the suspension of capital punishment really lessen crime?

5. Who is to blame for the increase of crime?

6. Why do you think that society is to blame?

7. What social factors lead to crime?

8. Why are criminals treated as hero-figures?

9. Which is more useful: capital punishment or “life sentence”?

10. Which would you choose?

5.1.36 Переведите предложения на английский язык:

1. Мы должны относиться к преступникам, как к людям непригодным для жизни в обществе.

2. Безнравственное общество порождает зло.

3. Самым бессмысленным в законодательстве стало отмена смертной казни.

4. В наши дни преступник становится героем.

5. Его прославляют в фильмах, за ним охотится пресса, о нем пишут книги.

6. Раньше смертная казнь была сдерживающим фактором.

7. Она защищала самую уязвимую часть общества – детей.

8. Мы все знаем, что «пожизненный срок» не означает то, для чего он предназначен.

9. После 10 лет «хорошего поведения» преступники возвращаются в общество.

10. Они продолжают совершать преступления, пока их не поймают снова.