The Umbrella man. Dip in the pool. The Butler. The Hitchhiker. My Lady Love, My Dove, страница 13

10. What happened in Cornwall in the late March?

11. What guesses did all the guests have about the reasons of the murder?

12. What was Miss Marple’s guess? Was it true to life?

13. What did Dr. Lloyd do when he found out everything?

Discussion:

1. Can we call Amy’s crime “crime for good”? Can it be justified?

2. Do you like to read detective stories? In your opinion what makes detective stories so thrilling?

3. Do you think Dr. Lloyd was right not to inform the police about Amy Durrant’s crime, or should she have been punished by the court?

The Case for the Defence

Pre-reading Task:

Before reading the story try to predict what it might be about. Discuss with your partner what associations the title of the story can bring forth.

Reading:

Read the following story carefully and try to understand it in detail.

Vocabulary Focus:

1. Look up and learn the following words:

anxiety                            witness                            dazed           

dome                               laurel                               defence

mute                                to expose                         to plead

to mute                            whip                                 malice

stout                                verdict                              eyesight

alibi                                 acquitted                           skull

to smash                          beforehand                        to swear

2. Find the English equivalents of the words in the story.

Косвенные улики; избивать до смерти; стоять на скамье подсудимых; на выкате налитые кровью глаза; роковой инстинкт; удача его покинула; совершать преступление; ошибочное опознание; опрашивать; недостаточность улик; божественная месть; уцепиться за слова.

3. Insert the necessary prepositions.

1. An ugly customer, one you wouldn’t forget … a hurry.

2. Before he moved …, he had looked … at her window.

3. Henry MacDougall had been driving home from Benfleet late and nearly ran Adam … at the corner … Northwood Street.

4. The counsel for the Crown brought the story gently … .

5. There was no malice … her, and no sense … importance at standing there … the Central Court … a judge … scarlet hanging … her words and the reporters writing them … .

6. I couldn’t make … what he was … .

7. The man was acquitted … lack … evidence.

8. I followed Mrs. Salmon … … court and we got wedged … the crowd who were waiting … the twins.

9. The police tried to drive the crowd … .

4. There are a lot of words in the story associated with lawcourts and justice. Do one more exercise and check whether you know all the words listed below.

accused                               guilty                            put on probation

acquitted                             imprisonment               sentence

barristers                             judge                            testimony

Crown Court                       jury                              trial

defence                               Justice of the Peace      verdict

dock                                    Magistrates Court         witness box

evidence                              oath                               witnesses

fine                                      prosecution                   

There are two main courts of law in Britain – the 1______ for minor offences, such as speeding, shoplifting etc. and the 2______ Crown Court for more serious offences such as fraud and murder. The Magistrate or 3______ who tries cases in the lower court does not have special education or training in law and does not get a salary. (The job is voluntary and part-time).

At a 4______ at a Crown Court, the 5______ or defendant stands in the 6______ while lawyers question 7_______ who have to say what they have seen or known and who stand in the 8______. They have to swear an 9______ to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. What they say is known as their 10______ .