English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 56: Crime

Word List
  • arrest
  • attack v
  • break in(to sth)
  • burglar
  • burglary
  • catch (a criminal)
  • commit a crime
  • court (of law)
  • crime
  • criminal
  • detective
  • escape
  • fine n
  • get away [escape]
  • guilty
  • hit
  • innocent
  • jail
  • judge
  • jury
  • minor (offence)
  • murder n, v
  • murderer
  • offence
  • prison
  • punish
  • punishment
  • rob
  • robber
  • robbery
  • steal
  • take [steal]
  • theft
  • thief
  • under arrest
  • worth [value]
Exercises

56.1 ‣ Test your knowledge. Can you complete this table without looking at the opposite page?

nounpersonverb
crime_____
murder__________
theft__________
robbery__________
burglary__________

56.2 ‣ Complete the dialogues.

  1. A: Is it being decided by a judge?
    B: No, there will be a .
  2. A: Have the police caught the man?
    B: Yes, he’s under _____.
  3. A: Is she guilty?
    B: No, the jury found her _____.
  4. A: He killed his wife?
    B: Yes, he’s under arrest for _____.
  5. A: Was it a serious crime?
    B: No, just a minor _____.
  6. A: Will she go to prison? B: No, she just has to pay a _____.
  7. A: Have you ever broken the law?
    B: Yes, but I’ve never committed a serious _____.
  8. A: How do you think he will be _____?
    B: Well, it wasn’t a very serious crime, so it’ll probably be a fine.

56.3 ‣ Complete the news report.

TODAY

BRISTOL FASHION THEFT

Two men are 1 arrest for 2_____ clothes from a warehouse* in Bristol. The two men 3_____ into the warehouse late yesterday evening, 4_____ the guard and tied him up, then 5_____ a collection of expensive designer outfits 6_____ over £40,000. A passer-by saw lights on in the warehouse and rang the police, but the two men managed to 7_____ through a back door and then drove off with the stolen clothes. However, one of the men was later caught and 8_____ at his home, and 9_____ caught the second man just hours later hiding at a friend’s house. Both men have now been charged with 10_____ and will appear before a judge in 11_____ on Monday. If they are found 12_____, the two men will go to 13_____ for a number of years. The guard who was attacked has now been released from hospital.

* A warehouse is a large building for storing goods that are going to be sold.
Answer Key
A ‣ Different crimes

A crime is an activity that is wrong and not allowed by law. A person who commits a crime is a criminal.

crimepersonverb
theft [stealing something, e.g. a car]thiefsteal/take (something)
robbery [stealing from a person or place, e.g. a bank]robberrob (someone, a place)
burglary [getting into a building, usually someone’s home, and stealing something]burglarsteal something burgle (a place)
murder [killing someone]murderermurder

Someone’s stolen/taken my handbag.
There’s been another burglary in the area.
I don’t know who robbed me.
Did you hear about the bank robbery yesterday?
Our flat was burgled, but they only took money.
Do they know who murdered the boy?

B ‣ Reporting crimes in the media

Two women robbed a jeweller’s shop in West London early this morning. They broke in1 around 7 o’clock and stole jewellery worth2 over £10,000.

The two men attacked3 Mr Crawford while he was walking home yesterday afternoon. Police say the two men hit him in the face several times, then took his money and escaped4 through Bushy Park.

BREAKING NEWS
Detectives5 arrested6 a man this morning in connection with the murder of shop assistant, Tracey Miles.

1 entered the building using force, e.g. broke a window
2 with a value of
3 used physical violence to hurt him
4 left the place to avoid danger; syn got away
5 police officers who try to find information to solve crimes
6 If you arrest someone, you take them to the police station because you believe they committed a crime. That person is then under arrest.

C ‣ Punishment*

If you commit a crime and the police catch you [find you and arrest you], you will be punished. For minor offences [crimes that are not very important; opp serious], the punishment may only be a fine [money you have to pay], but for serious crimes, you will have to go to court. If you are found guilty [the judge, or a jury of 12 people, decides you committed the crime; opp innocent], you may be sent to prison (syn jail).


  1. court

  2. prison

* what a person must suffer if they do something wrong

Favorite Books
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for Upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
Table of Contents