III вариант

I. Прочитайте текст и переведите его письменно.

Law is necessary in the interests of everyone. If it were not for the law, we could not go out in broad daylight without the fear of being kidnapped, robbed or murdered.

Governments have many ways of making sure that citizens obey the law. They make the public aware of what the law is and try to encourage social support for law and order. They use police forces to investigate crimes and catch criminals. They authorize courts to complete the investigation of criminal and civil offences and to pass sentences to punish the guilty and deter others. And they make efforts to re-educate and reform people who have broken the law.

A just legal system needs an independent, honest police force. In countries where the public trusts the police force, they are more likely to report crimes, and it seems that they are also more likely to be law-abiding.

The police have many functions in the legal process. Though they are mainly concerned with criminal law, they may also be used to enforce judgements made in civil courts. As well as gathering information for offences to be prosecuted in the courts, the police have wide powers to arrest, search and question people suspected of crimes and to control the actions of members of the public during public demonstrations and assemblies. In some countries, the police have judicial functions; for example, they may make a decision as to guilt in a driving offense and impose a fine, without the involvement of a court.

So, law protects us while it restricts us.

Слова и словосочетания

in broad daylight – средь бела дня

obey the law – подчиняться закону

social support – общественная поддержка

investigate crimes – расследовать преступления

authorize – уполномочивать

deter – приостановить

pass sentences – выносить приговоры

break the law – нарушить закон

judgement – приговор, решение суда

law-abiding – законопослушный

judicial functions – судебные функции

impose a fine – налагать штраф.

II. Найдите и выпишите из текста английские эквиваленты следующих словосочетаний:

выйти на улицу средь бела дня;

без страха быть похищенными, ограбленными или убитыми;

подчиняться закону;

использовать полицейские силы;

уполномочивать суды;

наказать виновного;

перевоспитывать и исправлять людей, нарушивших закон;

справедливая правовая система;

быть законопослушным;

заставить платить штраф;

принять решение;

преследовать судебным порядком;

контролировать действия членов общества во время общественных демонстраций и собраний.

III. Дайте ответы на следующие вопросы по содержанию текста:

1. How could we live if it were not for the law?

2. Who investigates crimes and catches criminals?

3. What are the main police powers?

4. What is done by Governments to make sure that citizens obey the law?

5. A just legal system needs an independent, honest police force, doesn’t it? Why?

6. Are the police forces mainly concerned with criminal law or civil law?

7. Do the police have any judicial functions?