Unit 16 broadcast media: revision

Task 1. Read the following material and study the names of the most widespread crimes in Britain. Translate the italicised words into Russian.

Murder rate at lowest for 20 years

• Overall rate in England and Wales remains stable

• Burglary, fraud and shoplifting all rise

Alan Travis

The murder rate in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, with 648 homicides recorded in 2008-09 – 136 fewer than the year before. Home Office statisticians said the drop was “not a blip”. Annual crime figures published yesterday show the number of murders and manslaughters and infanticides fell to a level not seen since 1989. Attempted murders also fell by 7 % last year.

The crime figures also show that the recession has so far had a less than expected impact on the underlying crime rate, although domestic burglary has risen by 1 % in the past year, fraud has risen by 5 % and shoplifting has increased by 10 %.

But the overall crime rate in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2009 is officially declared to have remained stable with an estimated 10.7m offences as measured by the British Crime Survey (BCS). Crime in England and Wales actually fell by 5 % according to the less reliable police-recorded crime figures.

Some individual categories of crime, such as credit card and online fraud are showing increases. But an apparent 25 % surge in personal thefts, including pickpocketing and “stealth” theft.

Overall violent crime was reported to have remained stable by the BCS. Violence against the person involving injury fell by 7 %.

There was a significant further fall in gun crime with the number of incidents involving a firearm down by 17 % . The number of fatal shootings also fell.

The Home Office chief statistician, David Blunt, said there was little change, however recorded, in overall levels of knife crime. This is despite recent government claims to have made progress in the most-affected areas. The number of fatal stabbings has fallen in the past but attempted murders involving a knife were up. Robberies involving knives were down 2 %.

Credit card fraud, particularly involving online shopping transactions, continues to rise. The annual crime figures also show sex offences fell, but within that figure rapes of women increased.

Public confidence in the police and local councils to tackle antisocial behaviour appears to have increased.

This is the last annual set of crime figures to be published before the general election.

The Guardian, July 16, 2009

Task 2. Find infinitive constructions in the article, write them down. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Task 3. Listen to Audio Tracks 18 and 19 and transcribe them. What genre are they?

Task 4. What offences, mentioned in Tracks 18 and 19, are not listed in the article above?

What are the realia in Audio Tracks 18 and 19?

Task 5. Watch Video 54 and get its idea.

What is a rogue trader and a hedge fund?

Write down the legal terms that you came across in the material.

Task 6. Watch Video 54 again, restore its transcript. Below goes its grid.

The lead:

1. He’s been … of collapse.

2. A court in Paris … be punished.

3. He’s always … was doing.

4. Prosecutors are …

The report:

1. Four … of the rules.

2. Accused of … faked hedge transactions.

3. But his … was not unusual.

4. According to the … madder bets.

5. As long as … cared.

6. For some, … modern banking.

7. Jérôme Kerviel …

Task 7. What grammatical construction did you came across while working with the material? What financial terms are there in the piece?

Task 8. Study the italicised terms, read the article below and get its essence.

What new information does the article carry compared with Video 54?