I. Transcribe and practice pronouncing the following words as they are given in the text. Make sure you know what they mean.

1) thoroughly, gazebo, trial, lawyer, divorce, antiques, funeral, torment, custody, impartial, referee

2) tribal dialect, tedious, weary, accuse, deceased, attorney, paralegals, alternate (n/v), gawk, pawnshop, cello

 

II. Write out the proper names of the characters as they appear in Chapters 1 and 2. Make brief comments on what you learn about them.

III. Find the Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases. Make up your own sentences using these phrases.

1. a last second appearance (4)

2. to ride shotgun (8)

3. to award custody to (10)

4. to keep one’s composure (10)

5. to be presumed innocent (13)

6. to run a close second (18)

7. the jury box (22)

8. to plead guilty (23)

9. beyond belief (24)

10. to be quick on one’s feet (25)

 

IV. Find the English equivalents of the following words and phrases. Make up a situation (or situations) using as many phrases as possible.

1. щекотливые, деликатные дела (6)

2. быть арестованным по обвинению в распространении наркотиков (8)

3. никому из них не присудили срока (8)

4. ни разу не улыбнулся (12)

5. стоять навытяжку, по стойке смирно (13)

6. ловили каждое его слово (19)

7. у него жесткая дисциплина в суде (21)

8. вердикт должен быть единогласным (22)

9. приведен к присяге говорить правду (22)

10. потенциальный уголовник (26)

 

V. Write out all the verbs of motion. Translate them.

VI. Find in the text and translate the words that belong to law terminology.

 

VII. Practise phonetic reading and translate the sentences from English into Russian. Pay special attention to the underlined words and phrases.

 

1. Judge was a thoroughly mixed mutt whose age and breeding would always be a mystery. Theo had rescued him from near death with a last-second appearance in Animal Court two years earlier, and Judge would always be grateful. (3)

 

2. Most of all, Theo loved the courtrooms themselves. There were small ones where more private matters were handled without juries, then there was the main courtroom on the second floor where lawyers battled like gladiators and judges ruled like kings. (6)

 

3. He despised her parents for the way they treated her. He despised them for the chaos of their lives, for their neglect of April, for their cruelty to her. Theo had a long list of grudges against Mr. and Mrs. Finnemore. (8)

 

4. " State your case," Judge Gantry said. Theo had heard him issue this command on many occasions. He'd seen lawyers, good lawyers, rise and stutter and search for words while Judge Gantry scowled down from the bench. He wasn't scowling now, nor was he wearing his black robe, but he was still intimidating. (12)

 

5. "What about you?" Theo asked. Finally, a smile. " I'm a fair and impartial referee, Theo. I have no preconceived notions of guilt or innocence." (13)

 

6. Mr. Mount was in his midthirties, and had once worked as a lawyer at a gigantic firm in a skyscraper in Chicago. His brother was a lawyer. His father and grandfather had been lawyers and judges. Mr. Mount, though, had grown weary of the long hours and high pressure, and, well, he'd quit. He'd walked away from the big money and found something he found far more rewarding. (19)

 

7. Over here, next to the defense, is the jury box. It has fourteen chairs - twelve for the jurors and two for the alternates. Most states still use twelve-man juries, though different sizes are not unusual. Regardless of the number, the verdict has to be unanimous, at least in criminal cases. (22)

 

8. Theo continued: "For those of you who watch a lot of television, don't expect fireworks. A real trial is very different, and not nearly as exciting. There are no surprise witnesses, no dramatic confessions, no fistfights between the lawyers. And, in this trial, there are no eyewitnesses to the murder. (24)

 

VIII. Google additional information on the following:

 

1. Cherios

2. Gazebo

3. Bailiff

4. Mandarin Chinese

5. Debate team (at school, university)

6. District Attorney

IX. Comprehension check. Speak on the following using your active vocabulary (ex. III, IV, VII).

Chapter 1

 

1. Speak about Theo’s mornings.

2. Describe his way to school.

3. The county courthouse. Why did Theo like this building?

4. April Finnemore and her family. Why was the girl so unhappy?

5. Theo’s visit to Judge Henry Gantry. Why did the Judge treat the boy in a friendly way?

Chapter 2

 

1. Spanish with Madame Monique. Did the pupils like her lessons? Why?

(Find 2- 3 words in SPANISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, CHINESE, ITALIAN)

2. Mr. Mount. Why did he quit his practice of the lawyer? How did he address his 13- year-old pupils?

3. Theo’s presentation of the courtroom and its players.

4. The case of Mr. Duffy handled with the juries.

5. Theo’s classmates. Why was it a bright class?

Section 2 (ch. 3-4)