Cover of the textbook Cutting Edge Intermediate - Student's Book

The key answer of exercise 1

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 11 - Writing for the textbook Cutting Edge Intermediate - Student's Book with authors Sarah Cunningham, Peter Moor and Jonathan Bygrave from Pearson Education

Question

  1. Read the opinions and check the meanings of the phrases in bold. What topic is being discussed?
  2. Read the opinions again. Who supports tougher punishments for criminals? Who is against them? Which argument(s) do you agree with?

Answer

a)

Crime and punishment is being discussed.

  • life sentence: the longest prison sentence someone can receive; the length varies in different countries, but is usually around 15 years
  • good deterrent: something that makes someone unlikely to do something by making them realise it will have bad results
  • against: not agreeing with something
  • minor: not very serious
  • serious crimes: very bad crimes
  • effective: having the result that you want
  • community service: work to improve the community for other people
  • in favour of: support, approval or agreement for something
  • tougher punishments: harder punishments
  • leniently: not strict enough in the way you punish someone

b)

  • The first and fourth statements support tougher punishments.
  • The second and third are against tougher punishments.