Crime and the Law

Legal Systems · Offenses · Punishments · Deterrence

💡 Pro Tip: "Crime and Law" là một chủ đề rất phổ biến trong IELTS Writing Task 2. Việc nắm vững các thuật ngữ pháp lý và từ vựng chỉ tội phạm (offenses) thay vì dùng từ vựng chung chung sẽ giúp bạn ăn điểm Lexical Resource. Di chuột vào các từ in đậm màu cam để xem định nghĩa tiếng Anh.

A. The Legal System

Society functions through rules. The system of rules recognized by a country or community is known as the law. People who make these laws are politicians or the government, but the system that enforces them is the legal system.

If someone breaks the law, they commit a crime. (Note: We commit a crime, we do not 'make' a crime).
An illegal act is officially called an offense. A person who commits it is an offender.
When the police catch a suspect, they will charge them with the crime.
The suspect then goes to court for a trial. The jury listens to the evidence and decides if the person is guilty or innocent.
Finally, the judge decides the punishment.

B. Types of Crimes

Instead of just saying "bad things", use specific nouns for different illegal activities.

💸 Fraud: Deceiving people to get money (e.g., credit card fraud, tax fraud).
🔥 Arson: Deliberately setting fire to a building or property.
🧍‍♂️ Kidnapping: Taking someone away by force and demanding money (a ransom) for their return.
💻 Piracy: Illegally copying and selling software, music, or movies.
🛍️ Shoplifting: Stealing items from a store while pretending to be a customer.
🔪 Murder: The intentional killing of another person.

C. Punishments and Prevention

If an offender is found guilty, they face consequences designed to punish them and prevent future crimes.

Fine: A monetary penalty (paying money to the court).
Prison sentence: Being sent to jail for a specified amount of time.
Capital punishment (Death penalty): The ultimate punishment for the most severe crimes.
Community service: Doing unpaid work for the community instead of going to prison (often for minor offenses).
To act as a deterrent: A punishment that is so severe it stops other people from wanting to commit the same crime.

✍️ Comprehensive Practice

Hệ thống bài tập tự động chấm điểm. Vui lòng hoàn thành toàn bộ các ô trống trước khi nộp bài.

Exercise 11.1: Name the Crime

Vocabulary Knowledge

Identify the specific type of crime based on the description provided.

1. Deliberately setting fire to a warehouse to claim insurance money:

2. Secretly slipping an expensive watch into your pocket in a jewelry store:

3. Tricking elderly people into giving you their bank details over the phone:

4. Downloading and sharing the latest blockbuster movie for free:

5. Forcing a wealthy businessman into a van and demanding a $1 million ransom:

Exercise 11.2: The Legal Process

Contextual Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks with the correct legal terminology from Section A.

1. When people break the rules of society, they a crime.

2. After gathering enough evidence, the police will formally the suspect with robbery.

3. In the courtroom, it is the job of the (the group of 12 people) to listen to both sides.

4. At the end of the trial, they must decide if the defendant is innocent or .

5. If convicted, the (the official in charge of the court) will hand down the sentence.

Exercise 11.3: Punishments

Sentence Matching

Choose the correct type of punishment for each situation based on Section C.

a. He was caught speeding and had to pay a $500 .

b. For the minor offense of vandalism, the teenagers were ordered to do 100 hours of community .

c. The serial killer received a life in a maximum-security prison.

d. Some argue that severe punishments act as a strong , stopping others from breaking the law.

Exercise 11.4: Word Families

Grammar Syntax

Provide the noun form for the person who commits the following crimes.

1. Crime: Offense ➔ Person:

2. Crime: Murder ➔ Person:

3. Crime: Kidnapping ➔ Person:

4. Crime: Shoplifting ➔ Person:

5. Crime: Piracy ➔ Person:

Exercise 11.5: IELTS Writing Task 2 Integration

Reading & Vocabulary

Read the essay paragraph and fill in the blanks using words from the theory sections.

There is an ongoing debate regarding the most effective way to deal with (1) (people who commit illegal acts). Many people argue that strict (2) sentences are necessary, especially for severe crimes like (3) (intentional killing). They believe that locking criminals away serves as a powerful (4) (discouragement) to the rest of society. However, others suggest that for minor, non-violent crimes, such as petty theft or online (5) (illegal downloading), sending people to jail is ineffective. Instead, imposing heavy financial (6) (monetary penalties) or making them perform community service would be more beneficial for rehabilitation.