Shoplifting

Task1. Before you read this text about shoplifting, make some predictions about these points:

1) Why did Cheryl start shoplifting?

2) How was she caught?

3) What was her punishment?

Task 2. Now read the text and check whether your ideas are correct.

Shops seem to put temptation in the way

“I began shoplifting when I was 13”

Says Cheryl, a student from Ipswich. “I used to do it in my school lunch breaks because I didn’t have any money. The more I got away with, the more I stole. I did it because it meant I had more things than I had before, and it gave me access to things I couldn’t usually afford. It became a habit and I used to dislike paying for anything. Some shops seem to put temptation in the way, and I used to feel they deserved to lose stock. My shoplifting never worried me, until I got caught. That was really frightening – such a shock, because it just seemed like a game before. The store detective blocked the exit and took me to the manager’s office. Then the police came. That was the worst bit, being marched through the shopping centre in the middle of town. It’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me. The police gave me a big lecture and kept saying things like, “Shoplifting is wrong, you shouldn’t do it. What will your parents think? You’ll grow up into an awful person.” I was a bag of nerves, really shaking and scared. My dad was really cool about it when he came down to witness my statement, but my mum was really disappointed. I had to return the goods – some bottles of perfume – and got a verbal caution. If it happens again, I’ll get fined, but I haven’t stolen since. It totally put me off and I’m so worried I couldn’t shoplift anything now.”

Task 3. Find irregular verbs in the Past Simple. Write them out and give their infinitive. Check if you know the forms by heart.

Task 4. Search the text and make lists of words and phrases which describe:

1) how Cheryl’s father and mother behaved when she was caught;

2) how Cheryl felt about the shops she stole from;

3) how she felt when the police took her to the police station;

4) how she felt in the police station;

5) how she feels now.

Task 5. Underline the parts of the text which mean the same as the sentences below.

1. My shoplifting increased because I didn’t get caught.

2. I could buy things which usually were too expensive for me.

3. Some shops made it really easy for people to steal.

4. They made me give back all the things I had stolen.

5. Being caught and warned made me too afraid to shoplift again.

Task 6. Put questions to the following answers.

1. ……………? - Cheryl is a student.

2. ……………? - When she was 13.

3. ……………? - Yes, she used to do it in her school lunch breaks.

4. ……………? - Because it gave her access to the things she couldn’t afford.

5. ……………? - No, shoplifting became her habit.

6. ……………? - She used to feel shops deserved to lose stock.

7. ……………? - Until she got caught.

8. ……………? - Shoplifting is wrong, you shouldn’t do it.

9. ……………? - She was a bag of nerves, shaking and scared.

10. ……………? - No, she had to return the stolen goods and got a verbal caution.

Task 7. Are the sentences below true or false? Correct the false ones.

1. Cheryl is a schoolgirl from Ipswich.

2. She began shoplifting just for fun.

3. She was 13 when she started shoplifting.

4. The more she got away with, the less interest she had in stealing.

5. She used to do it in her school lunch breaks.

6. She disliked paying for goods in the shops.

7. Cheryl thought the shops themselves were to blame for shoplifting.

8. She understood the police could catch and punish her.

9. Her habit didn’t worry her until she got caught.

10. The store detective took her to the police station.

11. Her parents weren’t much disappointed about that.

12. Cheryl was very embarrassed and scared when she got caught.

13. She was fined and sent to prison.

14. Cheryl goes on with shoplifting from time to time.

Task 8. Translate the sentences into English:

1. Многие молодые люди не осознают, что воровство из магазинов – не игра, а преступление.

2. Мальчик обычно воровал после школы.

3. Она воровала духи, потому что не могла себе позволить купить их.

4. Полицейские провели ее через весь торговый комплекс в центре города, это было очень стыдно.

5. Вора поймали и заставили вернуть украденные вещи.

6. Некоторые магазины как будто сами искушают воров.

7. Двенадцатилетний правонарушитель получил словесное предупреждение.

8. Родители пришли, чтобы засвидетельствовать показания своей дочери.

9. Ему пришлось заплатить штраф, и он чувствовал, что заслужил этого.

PART 3