Practice English Vocabulary B2 Exercises – The law and crime

A. Each of the words in bold is in the wrong sentence. Write the correct word on the line.

1   All twelve members of the witness were convinced of Davidson’s guilt. ………………

2   I don’t think I’d ever break a serious crime. ………………

3   If the school laws aren’t written down anywhere, how are we supposed to know what they are? ………………

4   A psychiatrist was called as an expert judge during the trial. ………………

5   If a parent smacks a child, that’s an example of commit punishment. ………………

6   Everyone should have the jury to a fair trial. ………………

7   If you sentenced the law, you deserve to be punished! ………………

8   Governments must be allowed to introduce, change and scrap bystanders. ………………

9   Can you imagine what it’s like being justice for years in a cell? ………………

10   It’s very important that capital is seen to be done. ………………

11   Another phrase for ‘right punishment’ is ‘the death sentence’. ………………

12   The spy was imprisoned to life imprisonment. ………………

13   A number of rules watched the robbers speed off in a getaway car. ………………

14   ‘Silence in court!’ shouted the corporal angrily. ………………

B. Complete using the correct form of the phrasal verbs in the box.

1   So many witnesses have …………………… that it will take days to interview them all.

2   The two robbers …………………… on a motorbike.

3   Police are …………………… allegations of corruption in the mayor’s office.

4   The government is thinking of …………………… a law to allow on-the-spot fines for hooligans.

5   A robber has …………………… three banks in town in the last week.

6   They spent two years planning their escape before they finally …………………… of prison.

7   The policewoman …………………… the pickpocket, brought him to the ground and finally arrested him.

8   Luckily, the bomb disposal squad defused the bomb before it …………………… .

C. Write one word in each gap.

You’ve been framed!

The most incredible thing happened to me yesterday. I was walking home from school when I saw a wallet on the ground full of money. I picked it up, and was just about to take it to the police station to (1) …………………… it in, when a police officer jumped out and told me I was under arrest for stealing. I tried to explain the situation but he wouldn’t (2) …………………… down. ‘I won’t let you get (3) …………………… with this,’ he said. ‘You’re a thief, and thieves have to be punished.’ He handcuffed me and drove me to the police station, where he took (4) …………………… my name and address. I started crying, and begged him to (5) …………………… me off, again trying to explain that I wasn’t going to keep the money. Suddenly, my best friend Adrian and a TV presenter came in and the police officer started laughing. It was a practical joke for a TV show, and I’d been completely (6) …………………… in!

D. Circle the correct word.

1   I don’t know why you’re putting / taking the blame on me.

2   Shelley has no intention / purpose of admitting she lied.

3   It doesn’t / isn’t necessary to set the burglar alarm.

4   The judge made / gave us permission to call a surprise witness.

5   We don’t know who was at fault / damage yet, but we’ll find out.

6   Sorry, I mistook you for / with someone else.

7   Should judges take children into reason / account when sentencing their parents?

8   The plan went / had wrong, didn’t it?

9   We need prisons in solution / order to keep society safe from dangerous criminals.

10   Many people are making / taking advantage of the change in the tax law.

E. Match to make sentences.

A   for shoplifting.

B   she’s guilty.

C   someone to steal something from a shop.

D   of someone shoplifting.

E   stealing the clothes.

F   to steal something from the shop.

G   steal something from the shop.

H   with theft.

I    of shoplifting.

F. Write one word in each gap.

Newton Archer

The Voice of Sanity

You’ve let us down, Owen!

Owen Davis used to be my hero. One of the greatest athletes of his generation, Owen made us think that everything was possible. I had so much respect (1) …………………… him, particularly in terms of his ‘no drugs in sport’ campaign. And now there’s no doubt that all the time Davis was claiming (2) …………………… drugs were damaging sport, he himself was taking them. Last week, the International Athletics Association found Davis guilty (3) …………………… taking banned body-enhancing substances. Davis has been banned from taking part in national and international events for the next five years, and the IAA are threatening (4) …………………… ban future drug-takers for life. I hope they do. I refuse (5) …………………… accept that we should show sympathy towards Davis at a time like this. We should never forgive people like Owen Davis (6) …………………… bringing sport into disrepute.

G. Each of the words in bold is in the wrong form. Write the correct form on the line.

1   I’m not sure that sending young offence to prison is such a good idea. …………………

2   There’s absolutely no solid prove that he was anywhere near the scene of the crime. …………………

3   I’m not saying another word until I’ve spoken to my law. …………………

4   You shouldn’t make accuse like that without evidence. …………………

5   When she left the police force, she worked as a private investigate for a while. …………………

6   ‘I hope that your prison has shown you the error of your ways,’ said the prison governor. …………………

7   He was initially sent to a maximum secure prison. …………………

8   Lying and stealing are both forms of honest. …………………

9   Police are looking carefully at the forensic evident. …………………

10   There’s no doubt this painting is a forge. …………………

11   Drug addict is no excuse – no one should hold up a petrol station! …………………

12   The rob took place at half past ten in the morning. …………………

13   No one is born a theft, and no one has to remain one their whole life. …………………

14   The convict of a number of senior executives has left the whole business community in shock. …………………

15   The problem with prisons is that they’re full of crime who can teach new inmates all their tricks and skills! …………………

16   Should a murder be given the death penalty? …………………