Exercise 12.
read and translate the text. while reading the text try to find answers to these questions:
-what are the main types of police agencies operating in the usa?
- what are the other police forces functioning there too?
the police in the usa
the usa inherited england’s common law and its system of policing. the colonists had the night watch under constables, with all able-bodied men over 16 serving without pay.
there are five main types of police agencies operating in the usa: police agencies of the federal government, state police forces, sheriffs in counties, the police forces of cities and towns, and the police of villages.
besides there are such special police forces as parks police, bridge and tunnel administration police forces, and police organizations for special tasks. there are about 40,000 separate police agencies in the united states of america.
the federal police agencies are financed from the federal fund. other police forces are financed from the respective authorities’ funds. policemen have weapons, such as revolvers, clubs and gas pistols.
investigations of crimes are conducted by detectives, who are sometimes called plain-clothes officers, because they do not wear uniforms. there is the vice squad in some police departments. they investigate cases that involve gambling, prostitution and other immoral illegal activities.
detectives work in various specialized fields that deal with such crimes as murder, burglary, drug-trafficking and others. in a murder case, detectives may start their investigation by searching for bloodstains, fingerprints and weapon. they question any witnesses, suspects or others who may have information about the crime.
various technical units assist the police in an investigation. the photography unit takes pictures of the crime scene and the evidence. the crime laboratory collects and examines clues: bloodstains, bullets, fingerprints, hair samples. later the reports of the detectives and technical workers are used in court.
patrol operations are foundation of police work. patrol officers are assigned beats to cover on foot, in squad cars, or in motorcycles. in some cities, they patrol parks on horseback.
patrol officers inspect their beats repeatedly. they are often assigned to control crowds at parades, fairs and other public events. police officers may arrest a person they see committing a crime.
traffic officers maintain public safety on streets and highways. they direct traffic, protect pedestrians, help drivers and settle parking, speed and other traffic laws. traffic officers also investigate traffic accidents, enforce safety and license regulations for motor vehicles. some police departments use helicopters to inspect traffic.
vocabulary notes:
1. to inherit – наследовать
2. night watch – ночной дозор
3. county – округ
4. respective – соответствующий
5. club –дубинка
6. plain-clothes officers – офицеры в штатском
7. vice squad – полиция нравов
8. gambling – азартные игры
9. burglary – кража со взломом
10. to search – искать, исследовать
11. bloodstain – пятно крови
12. clue – улика, доказательство
13. bullet – пуля
14. to assign – назначать, определять
15. beat – участок, контролируемый полицейским
16. repeatedly – часто, неоднократно
17. fair – ярмарка
18. highway – шоссе, магистраль
19. pedestrian – пешеход
20. helicopter – вертолет
1 я не видел его сестру(в конце\в последнее время) - после того, как она была(возле\почти) покусала собака
2 экспресс поезд из-за в 11 часов(острый\резко) прибыл(поздно\в последнее время)
3 смотри, ласточки потока(высокая\высоко) над озером
4 он говорил(злой\сердито) и мы сразу поняли, что что-л. произошло
5 говорят это слово(правильно\неправильно)
6 я говорю по-французски(плохо\плохо).Давайте говорите по-гречески
7 быть(быстро\быстро).На такси приехал
8 Не волнуйтесь. Это может быть сделано(легко\легко)
9 Ваша обувь(точный\ - металлургической) как у меня
10 наша кошка любит гулять(бесплатная\свободно).
Agatha Christie is known all over the world as the Queen of Crime. She wrote 78 detective novels, 19 plays, and 6 romantic novels. Her books have been translated into 103 foreign languages. They are the third best-selling books in the world (after Shakespeare's works and the Bible). Many of her novels and short stories have been filmed. The Mousetrap, her most famous play, is now the longest-running play in history of world theatre.
Agatha Christie was born at Torquay, Devonshire. She was educated at home and took singing lessons in Paris. She began writing at the end of the First World War. Her first novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" was published in 1920. That was the first appearance of Hercule Poirot, who became one of the most famous private detectives since Sherlock Holmes.
Agatha Christie became generally recognized in 1926, after the publishing of her novel "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd". It is still considered her masterpiece.
When Agatha Cristie got tired of Hercule Poirot she invented Miss Mar-pie, a deceptively mild old lady with her own method of investigation.
The last Poirot book, The Curtain, appeared shortly before the writer's death, and the last Miss Marple story, The Sleeping Murder, and her autobiography were published after her death.
Agatha Christie's success with millions of readers lies in her ability to combine clever plots with excellent character drawing* and a keen sense of humour with a great observation. Her plots always mislead the reader and keep him in suspense. He cannot guess who the criminal is. Fortunately, evil is always conquered in her novels.
Agatha Christies language is simple and good and it is pleasant to read her books in the original.