matrix intermediate
UNIT 2

Crime and Punishment

rob and steal

We use rob and steal to talk about taking things illegally from people. We use steal with things, and rob with people and institutions.

Someone stole her bag in town yesterday.

Oh no! We've been robbed!

The criminals robbed the bank, and then escaped.

1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of rob or steal.

1 Jill was mugged on her way home from

work. The thieves ____________ her handbag and her Rolex watch.

2 After months of careful planning, the gang

____________ the jewellery shop.

3 Someone's broken into the house. It looks as

if they've ____________ the video!

4 Last Christmas our neighbours were ____________ . Someone broke into their house and took all their presents.

5 Over �100,000 was ____________ from the bank last night.

____
/ 5

2 Complete the sentences. Use on, in, by, under and against. If necessary, use a dictionary to help you.

1 Writing graffiti on public buildings is

____________ the law.

2 Mark was ____________ trouble with the police for stealing cars. He'd been joyriding with his friends.

3 An innocent man was sent to prison

____________ mistake.

4 Simon didn't break the window

____________ purpose.

5 The burglar was caught and put

____________ arrest.

____
/ 5

3 Match the verbs and phrases. If necessary use a dictionary to help you.

• commit __ a into trouble

• break __ b a crime to the police

• get __ c time in prison

• serve __ d someone of a crime

• find __ e a crime

• suspect __ f someone guilty

• report __ g the law

____
/ 7

4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in Exercise 1.

Matthew was a burglar, but not a good one. He

was always ¹____________ into trouble with the

police. In fact he ²____________ the law so

many times, that whenever someone

³____________ a crime, the police always

⁴____________ him. Whenever he appeared in

court, Matthew was always ⁵____________

guilty. Over the years he ⁶____________ three

years in prison. Then one day his own house

was burgled. The thief stole everything.

Matthew found himself at the police station

once more, but this time to ⁷____________

a crime. The police were very amused.

____
/ 7

5 Complete the sentences with some of these words. Do not use any world more than once.

JUDGE - VERDICT - PRISONER - JURY - FINED - PRISON - SENTENCED - GUILTY - INNOCENT - WITNESSES - EVIDENCE - TIRAL - COURT

The newspapers were full of reports of the murder 1)__________________, which had lasted three weeks.

The court had heard all the 2)__________________ given by the four 3)____________________.

Now, at last, after staying out for several hours, twelve men and women of the 4)_______________ came back into 5)________________ and sat down. Tension was high in the public gallery and the 6) ________________ looked very pale. The 7)________________ asked the jury for their 8)________________ . After a moment's silence their reply was 9) `________________'! The judge therefore 10) ________________ the man to fifteen years in 11) ________________.

____
/11

6 Use the names of criminals to complete the definitions.

PICKPOCKET - HIJACKER - BLACKMAILER - BURGLAR - SHOPLIFTER - ARSONIST - KIDNAPPER

• A(n) _________________ takes over a plane or vehicle and forces the pilot or driver to go where he/she wants.

• A(n) _________________ takes away another person by force, usually to demand money.

• A(n) _________________ steals from people's pockets or bags, often in crowds.

• A(n) _________________ sets fire to buildings or cars on purpose.

• A(n) _________________ steals from a shop while pretending to be a customer.

• A(n) _________________ steals from a house or office, usually by breaking in.

____
/ 6

7 Complete the sentences with the following words:

burglaries - witnesses - crimes - law - criminal

• The police are investigating a number of _________________ in the area.

• Several _________________ are being interviewed.

• 30% more _________________ have been committed this year.

• You are breaking the _________________ if you take photos there.

• A well-known _________________ has recently been released from prison

____
/ 5

8 Choose the correct word from the pair in bracket to complete the sentences.

• The lawyer who helps you to buy or sell your house, or to make will, is a _______________ (barrister / solicitor).

• If you are suspected of _______________ a crime, you will probably be arrested. (committing / doing)

• If the police arrested you, they must _______________ you with a crime. (charge / accuse)

• A person who breaks into your house, usually at night, to steal valuables is a _______________ (robber / burglar)

• If something is stolen from your flat, you should report the _______________ to your insurance company. (thief / theft).

____
/ 5

9 Answer these questions as fully as you can, in conversation or in writing.

• Do you think there is more crime now than there used to be?

• What reasons do people have for committing crimes?

• Is capital punishment suitable for certain crimes? If so, which ones?

• How can crime be prevented or controlled?

• Is prison a good punishment for criminals?

matrix intermediate
UNIT 2

Crime and Punishment

rob and steal

We use rob and steal to talk about taking things illegally from people. We use steal with things, and rob with people and institutions.

Someone stole her bag in town yesterday.

Oh no! We've been robbed!

The criminals robbed the bank, and then escaped.

1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of rob or steal.

1 Jill was mugged on her way home from

work. The thieves STOLE her handbag and her Rolex watch.

2 After months of careful planning, the gang

ROBBED the jewellery shop.

3 Someone's broken into the house. It looks as

if they've STOLEN the video!

4 Last Christmas our neighbours were ROBBED. Someone broke into their house and took all their presents.

5 Over �100,000 was STOLEN from the bank last night.

____
/ 5

2 Complete the sentences. Use on, in, by, under and against. If necessary, use a dictionary to help you.

1 Writing graffiti on public buildings is

AGAINST the law.

2 Mark was IN trouble with the police for stealing cars. He'd been joyriding with his friends.

3 An innocent man was sent to prison

BY mistake.

4 Simon didn't break the window

ON purpose.

5 The burglar was caught and put

UNDER arrest.

____
/ 5

3 Match the verbs and phrases. If necessary use a dictionary to help you.

• commit e a into trouble

• break g b a crime to the police

• get a c time in prison

• serve c d someone of a crime

• find f e a crime

• suspect d f someone guilty

• report b g the law

____
/ 7

4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in Exercise 1.

Matthew was a burglar, but not a good one. He

was always ¹getting into trouble with the

police. In fact he ²broke the law so

many times, that whenever someone

³COMMITED a crime, the police always

⁴suspected him. Whenever he appeared in

court, Matthew was always ⁵ found

guilty. Over the years he ⁶served three

years in prison. Then one day his own house

was burgled. The thief stole everything.

Matthew found himself at the police station

once more, but this time to ⁷report

a crime. The police were very amused.

____
/ 7

5 Complete the sentences with some of these words. Do not use any world more than once.

JUDGE - VERDICT - PRISONER - JURY - FINED - PRISON - SENTENCED - GUILTY - INNOCENT - WITNESSES - EVIDENCE - TIRAL - COURT

The newspapers were full of reports of the murder 1) TIRAL, which had lasted three weeks.

The court had heard all the 2)EVIDENCE given by the four 3) WITNESSES.

Now, at last, after staying out for several hours, twelve men and women of the 4) JURY came back into 5) COURT and sat down. Tension was high in the public gallery and the 6) PRISONER looked very pale. The 7) JUDGE asked the jury for their 8) VERDICT. After a moment's silence their reply was 9) `GUILTY'! The judge therefore 10) SENTENCED the man to fifteen years in 11) PRISON.

____
/11

6 Use the names of criminals to complete the definitions.

PICKPOCKET - HIJACKER - BLACKMAILER - BURGLAR - SHOPLIFTER - ARSONIST - KIDNAPPER

• A(n) HIJACKER takes over a plane or vehicle and forces the pilot or driver to go where he/she wants.

• A(n) KIDNAPPER takes away another person by force, usually to demand money.

• A(n) PICKPOCKET steals from people's pockets or bags, often in crowds.

• A(n) ARSONIST sets fire to buildings or cars on purpose.

• A(n) SHOPLIFTER steals from a shop while pretending to be a customer.

• A(n) BURGLAR steals from a house or office, usually by breaking in.

____
/ 6

7 Complete the sentences with the following words:

burglaries - witnesses - crimes - law - criminal

• The police are investigating a number of burglaries in the area.

• Several witnesses are being interviewed.

• 30% more crimes have been committed this year.

• You are breaking the law if you take photos there.

• A well-known criminal has recently been released from prison

____
/ 5

8 Choose the correct word from the pair in bracket to complete the sentences.

• The lawyer who helps you to buy or sell your house, or to make will, is a solicitor (barrister / solicitor).

• If you are suspected of committing a crime, you will probably be arrested. (committing / doing)

• If the police arrested you, they must accuse you with a crime. (charge / accuse)

• A person who breaks into your house, usually at night, to steal valuables is a burglar (robber / burglar)

• If something is stolen from your flat, you should report the theft to your insurance company. (thief / theft).

____
/ 5

9 Answer these questions as fully as you can, in conversation or in writing.

• Do you think there is more crime now than there used to be?

• What reasons do people have for committing crimes?

• Is capital punishment suitable for certain crimes? If so, which ones?

• How can crime be prevented or controlled?

• Is prison a good punishment for criminals?

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