Read the text again and answer the questions. 1 What kind of words does the writer of the letter use to describe systems

Question

Read the text again and answer the questions.

1 What kind of words does the writer of the letter use to describe systems of
punishment in Singapore and in Britain? Why?

2 Do the questions he asks require answers?

3 Is his position strong enough? What evidence does he give to justify it?

4 Did your translation sound the same as the original? Why? / Why not?

5 Do you agree with the writer of the letter?

Britain prides itself on being a humane and civilised country and adopts soft measures
against the criminal, because various experts repeatedly tell us that “brutality breeds
brutality". In other words, harsh treatment of offenders does not have the effect of putting
them off crime and sooner or later they are bound to re-offend.
I have been wondering if these experts have ever considered other methods. If they did,
they might find that there are some systems that seem to contradict their beliefs.
Take Singapore, for example:
— Streets are clean and free from vandalism.
— Public and private property can be safely left unattended.
— There are fewer than 200 crimes a year (from minor to major!).
The point about Singapore is that it is notorious for its extremely harsh system of
punishment, which includes public flogging, something unheard of in modern Britain!
And yet the statistics show that no one flogged in the last five years has re-offended.
Is it really a sign of civilisation that British society seems more concerned with the
well-being of thugs and murderers than with protecting their victims? Do the innocent
deserve less consideration than criminals?

Accepted Answer

1	The author uses “strong” words - both adjectives and verbs. He describes the system 
of punishment in Singapore with “negative” words (brutality, harsh) and the system in 
Britain with “positive” (welfare, humane, civilised) but actually he destroys this generally 
accepted view in his letter.

2	These are rhetorical questions that make the reader think about the point made; 
they don’t require direct answers.

3	The author’s position is very strong and he reinforces it by structuring his arguments, 
giving statistics and presenting a powerful image of an innocent and unprotected victim 
that no one cares about at the end of the letter.

4,5 Ss are supposed to reflect on their translations and the message of the letter.

Ответы1