\*
Reading and sPeaking
-.€
*
ca"
{I a Read and complete the list of crimes / anti-social
behaviour below. Cross out the things that are not
a problem in your country.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
b
dropping litter in the street
vondolism ond groffiti
drinking ond driving
truoncy from school
noisy/onti-soclol neighbours
footboll hooligonism
speeding
porking where You shouldn't
begging
drug obuse
Mark the others as follows:
*
**
this should not be o motter for the police
sometimes the police ore needed to deol with this
r.** the police should be reolly tough on this
c
Compare and explain your opinions with other
students, giving any examples you know of.
J a Look at the picture at the bottom of page 31.
- What can you see? Think of three possible
interpretations of the situation.
/l
Find the words/phrases in the text that tell you:
o
b
c
d
e
f
the police officers were speoking kindiy to the boy.
the boy wos in o confused stote.
the boy hod follen ond hurt himself.
the poiice officers looked copoble ond efficient.
there is very little crime in Denmork.
the outhor wos treoted horshly by the Americon
police.
the writer hod o positive opinion of the woy the
g
f,,
"
o
b
os gorgeous os everyone else in this
c
the most virulent crime in the country is bicycle
theft (lines 17-18)
I found myself following them oimost involuntorily
0ines 30-31)
I wos stopped by police ... ond frisked (lines 38-40)
token to the police stotion ond booked (lines 4O-41)
d
f
b
Q
Read the text again and answer the questions.
o
b
c
d
e
Which ciý wos the writer in?
Whot ottrocted his ottention?
Whqt hod the boY done?
How did the police officers behove?
Whot will hoPPen to the boY?
30
Can you guess whatthe words in bold mean?
Discuss with a partner, then check in your mini-
dictionary.
e
Skim the text. What was the correct interpretation?
police officers deolt with the situotion.
6
ciý
(iines 2_3)
o trickle of blood ron from obove his hoirline to his
cheek (lines 8*9)
Discuss the following questions in small groups.
Do you ogree with the opprooch of the Donish police
officers?
Do you believe o lenient or o tough cpprooch to
crime is more effective?
Are there ony crimes in your country thot you think
ore treoted too horshly, or too lenientiy?
zs
morning to buy flowers and vegetables just like a
normal citizen. I once asked a Dane who guarded
her in such circumstances, and he looked at me with
surprise and replíed,.Why, we all do,'which I
thought was rather sweet.
The police officers helped the boy to his feet and
:o led him to their patrol car. I found myself following
them almost involuntarily. I don't know why I was
Two police officers, a marl and a woman, both
so fascinated, except that I had never seen such
young and blond and as gorgeous as everyone else in
gentle police. I said in English to the íemale officer,
this city, were talking softly and with sympathy to a
'Excuse me, what will you do with the boy?'
boy of about seventeen who had clearly taken the
as 'We'lI take him home,'she said simply,'I think he
s kind of substance that turns one's brain into an
needs his bed.'
express elevator to Pluto. Disorientated by this
I was impressed. I couldn't help ůinking of the
sudden journey through the cosmos, he had
time I was stopped by police in my home town and
apparently stumbled and cracked his head; a trickle
made to stand with my arms and legs spread against
of blood ran from above his hairline to his cheek.
ro a wall and frisked, then taken to the police station
10 The police officers were weating the smartest
and booked because ofan unpaid parking ticket. I
commando-style uniforms I have ever seen. They
was about seventeen at the time. God knows what
looked as if between them they could hanďe any
they would have done with me Íf they had found me
emergency from outbreaks of Lassa fever to
like they found the young man. I suppose I d be
disarming a nuclear submarine.
4s ger.ring out of lail abour now.
1s And the thing is, this was probably the biggest
'WiU he be in trouble for this?'I asked.
thing they would have to deal with all evening. The
'With his father, I think so, yes. But not with us.We
Danes are almost absurdly law-abiding. The most
are all a little young and crazy sometirnes, you
virulent crime in the country is bicycle theft. In the
know? Goodright. Enjoy your stay in Copenhagen.'
year for which I happen to have the facts, there were
so 'Goodnight,' I said and with the deepest admiration
zo six murders Ín Copenhagen' compared with 205 in
watched them go.
Amsterdam, a city of similar size, and 1,688 in New
York.The city is so safe that Queen Margarethe used
Adapted from Neirher Here NorThere by Bill Bryson.
to walk from Amalienborg Palace to the shops every
31