LEGAL ENGLISH 3 – FINAL REVIEW

I. Can you think of another word with the same prefix as the words below?

dishonest enforce illegal overrule

disagree irresponsible reconsider unjust

impartial indecisive mistrial outline

II. The following words express common crimes. Can you give the word referring to the person who
committed the respective crime?

1. arson 2. bigamy 3. bribery 4. embezzlement

5. hijacking 6. mugging 7. rape 8. smuggling

1. assault 2. bombing 3. cybercrime 4. forgery

5. kidnapping 6. pickpocketing 7. shoplifting 8. theft

1. assassination 2. blackmail 3. burglary 4. espionage

5. hooliganism 6. murder 7. robbery 8. terrorism

III. Answer the questions below:

1. What do actus reus and mens rea mean in legal English? Explain.
2. What is the difference between a tort and a crime? Explain.
3. When doing research for legal studies we may need a variety of sources. What is the difference
between primary and secondary sources? Explain.

IV. Translate the following words into Romanian, considering their legal meaning.

1. agreement 2. battery
3. brief 4. constraint
5. criminal 6. deceit
7. evidence 8. the judiciary
9. plaintiff 10. sentence

1. the Bar 2. homicide

3. defendant 4. liable
5. binding 6. damage
7. case law 8. slander
9. contempt 10. solicitor

1. appropriation (n) 2. consent (n)

3. damages (n) 4. injunction (n)
5. barrister (n) 6. libel (n)
7. enforce (v) 8. conviction (n)
9. breach (n) 10. prosecution (n)

V. Continue the following sentences considering grammar rules:

1. If I attend all the classes this semester, …

2. I would call the police if …
3. If I had been more careful, …
4. I wish my best friend …
5. Somebody told me yesterday that …

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VI. Choose the correct word or phrase underlined in each pair.

1. If we’re / we would be late for class, our teacher will be / was angry.
2. If we lived / would live on another planet, we’d see / we will see the Earth in the sky.
3. If we take / will take a taxi, we’ll arrive / we arrived sooner.
4. If we don’t hurry / won’t hurry, we’ll be / we would be late.
5. If we were / are birds, we would be able to / are able to fly.
6. If you don’t wear / wouldn’t wear your pull over, you’ll feel / you felt cold.
7. If I studied /will study harder, I would get / get better marks.
8. If I had / have a motorbike, I’d ride / I rode it to school.
9. If you lend / will lend me your bike, I’ll let / I let you borrow my skateboard.
10. If I had / would have lots of money, I’d give / I gave some to all my friends.

VII. Complete each sentence a) to j) with an ending from 1) to 10).

a) If you play the music too loud, 1. the alarm would go off.
b) If the North Pole melted, 2. I’ll buy a new bike.
c) If we don’t have enough ice-cream, 3. I’ll be in Paris a t 6.00.
d) If I found someone’s wallet, 4. you wouldn’t see me anymore.
e) If a burglar broke into this house, 5. you would feel better.
f) If my train isn’t late, 6. the water would flood many cities.
g) If you were famous, 7. I’ll buy it for you.
h) If my father lends me the money, 8. you’ll wake up the neighbours.
i) If you took more exercise, 9. we’ll get some more.
j) If you tell me what you want, 10. I’d take it to the police station.

VIII. Choose the correct word or phrase underlined in each sentence.

1. If you phoned / had phoned me yesterday, I had given / would have given you the news.
2. If you took / would have taken more exercise, you might feel / had felt better.
3. If Tim drove / had driven more carefully, he wouldn’t have crashed / didn’t crash.
4. If you had come / came to see the film, you would have enjoyed / had enjoyed it.
5. If I’d known / I would know it was your birthday, I would send / would have sent you a card.
6. If people helped / had helped one another more often, the world might be / was a better place.
7. If your team had scored / scored more goals, it had won / could have won.
8. If you would have worn / wore a coat, you wouldn’t get / didn’t get wet.

IX. Choose the most suitable tense.

1. If the machine stops / will stop, you press / will press this button.
2. I can’t understand what he sees in her! If anyone treats / will treat / treated me like that, I am / will be /
would be extremely angry!
3. If you help me / helped me with this exercise, I will do / would do the same for you one day.
4. According to the timetable, if the train leaves / left on time, we will / would arrive at 5.30.
5. If it is / it will be fine tomorrow, we go / will go to the coast.
6. If we find / found a taxi, we will get / would get there before the play starts.
7. It’s quite simple really. If you take / will take / took these tablets every day, then you lose / will lose / lost /
would lose weight.
8. I don’t like this flat. I think I am / I will be I’d be happier if I live / will live / would live in a house in the
country.
9. I don’t know how to play basketball, but I’m sure that if I will / do / did, I play / will play / would play a lot
better than anyone in this awful team!
10. If I phone / will phone / phoned you tonight, are you / will you be / would you be in?

X. Choose the most suitable tense.

1. Why didn’t you tell me? If you told / had told me, I had helped / would have helped you.
2. If Bill didn’t steal / hadn’t stolen the car, he wasn’t / wouldn’t be / hadn’t be in prison now.
3. If Ann wasn’t driving / didn’t drive / hadn’t driven so fast, her car didn’t crash / wouldn’t crash / wouldn’t
have crashed into a tree.
4. Let me give you some advice. If you smoked / would smoke / had smoked less, you didn’t feel / wouldn’t
feel / wouldn’t have felt so tired.

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5. What bad luck! If Alan didn’t fall / hadn’t fallen / wouldn’t fall over, he won / would win / would have won
the race.
6. If you invited / had invited me last week, I was able / had been able / would have been able to come.
7. I’m sure your letter hasn’t arrived yet. If it came / had come I’m sure I noticed / had noticed / would have
noticed it.
8. We have a suggestion to make. How do you feel / would you feel if we offered / would offer / had offered
you the job of assistant manager?
9. If you lent / had lent us the money, we paid / would pay / had paid you back next week.
10. Terry never catches anything when he goes fishing. And if he catches / caught / had caught a fish, he
throws / would throw it back.

XI. Choose the correct word or phrase underlined in each sentence.

1. I am sunburnt. I wish I hadn’t sunbathed / didn’t sunbathe for so long.

2. I don’t feel well. I wish I could stay / stayed at home tomorrow.
3. I’m not a good swimmer, but I wish I could swim / would swim well.
4. I wish I had / have a lot of money!
5. I wish I could see / saw you tomorrow, but it’s impossible.
6. I wish Jim didn’t sit / doesn’t sit next to me. He’s so annoying!
7. If only we had / would have some money we could take the bus.
8. I hope you enjoyed / enjoy yourselves at the dance tomorrow.

XII. Choose the correct continuation for each sentence.

1. I’ve got lots of work to do, and I’m tired, but I can’t stop,
A. I wish I had taken a rest. B. I wish I could take a rest.
2. I wasn’t paying attention in class, and now I can’t do my homework.
A. I wish I listened to my teacher. B. I wish I’d listened to my teacher
3. Sarah painted her room green, but she doesn’t like it.
A. She wishes she’d painted it blue. B. She wishes she painted it blue
4. This is a very puzzling moment!
A. I wish I’d known the answer. B. I wish I knew the answer.
5. It’s really cold and miserable here in the winter.
A. I wish we lived in an warm place. B. I hope we live in a warm place.
6. I can’t repair my bike because I haven’t got any tools.
A. If only I would have a screwdriver. B. If only I had a screwdriver.
7. I’m worried about my basketball team. Perhaps they won’t win!
A. I wish they play well. B. I hope they play well.
8. You promised not to tell anyone my secrets but you did!
A. I wish I hadn’t told you. B. I wish I didn’t tell you.

XIII. Choose the most suitable tense.

1. I wish Peter doesn’t live / didn’t live / wouldn’t live so far away from the town centre. We’ll have to take a
taxi.
2. I feel rather cold. I wish I brought / had brought my pullover with me.
3. What a pity. I wish we don’t have to / didn’t have to / wouldn’t have to leave. I’ve just started to enjoy
myself.
4. I wish you tell / told / had told me about the test. I haven’t done any revision.
5. I wish the people next door hadn’t made / wouldn’t make / couldn’t make so much noise. I can’t hear
myself think!
6. Darling I love you so much! I wish we are / had been /would be / could be together always!
7. I’m sorry I missed your birthday party. I really wish I come / came / had come / would come.
8. I like my new boss but I wish she gave / would give / could give me some more responsibility.
9. Having a lovely time in Brighton. I wish you are / were / had been here. Love, Sheila.
10. This car was a complete waste of money. I wish I didn’t buy it / hadn’t bought it.

XIV. Choose the most suitable tense.

1. A transfer is all right but I’d rather you pay / paid me cash.
2. Imagine you live / lived in New York. How would you feel?
3. If only I have / had / would have a screwdriver with me.
4. If you want to catch the last train, it’s time you leave / left.
5. I’d rather you don’t tell / didn’t tell anyone about this conversation.

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6. I’ve got a terrible hangover. If only I didn’t drink / hadn’t drunk that fourth bottle of wine.
7. If you don’t mind, I’d sooner you practised / had practised / would practise your violin somewhere else.
8. It’s high time you learn / learned to look after yourself.
9. Jean thinks that everyone likes her. If only she knows / knew what people say behind her back!
10. I’d rather we stay / stayed at home this Christmas for a change.

XV. Choose the best verb underlined in the direct speech sentence:

1. Helen asked me if I liked visiting old buildings.

‘Do you like/ Did you like visiting old buildings?’ asked Helen.
1. Bill asked Mary if she had done anything the previous weekend.
‘Have you done anything/ Did you do anything last weekend?’
2. The policeman asked me if the car belonged to me.
‘Does this car belong/ Did this car belong to you?’ asked the policeman.
3. Fiona asked me if I had seen her umbrella anywhere.
‘Did you see/ Have you seen my umbrella anywhere?’ asked Fiona.
4. Joe asked Tina when she would get back.
‘When will you get/ have you got back?’ asked Joe.
5. Ed asked Steve who had been to the cinema with.
‘Who did you go/ had you been to the cinema with?’ asked Ed.
6. My parents asked me what time I had got home the night before.
‘What time did you get/ have you got home last night?’ my parents asked.
7. David asked a passer-by if it was the right road for Hastings.
‘Is this/ Was this the right road for Hastings?’

XVI. Put a form of say, tell or ask in each space.

1. I _____ you that you had to be on time. Why are you late?
2. When ______ her if she’d work late, what did she _____?
3. I think that Alan _____ us a lie about his qualifications.
4. When I _____ him what he was doing there, he _____ me it was none of my business.
5. I _____ I would help you, so here I am.
6. Did you hear what Sheila _____ about her new job?
7. What did Carol _____ you about her holiday?
8. There, you see! I _____ you the bus would be on time.

XVII. Put a form of one of the verbs listed into the space in each sentence.

accuse agree decide insist refuse admit apologise deny

offer remind advise confess doubt promise suggest
1. ‘No, it’s not true, I didn’t steal the money!’ Jean ________ stealing the money/ that he had stolen the
money.
2. ‘Why don’t we go the cinema this evening?’ Peter ________ going to the cinema/ that they went to the
cinema.
3. ‘Yes, of course, I’ll give you a lift, Helen.’ Liz ________ to give Helen a lift/ that she would give Helen a
lift.
4. ‘I’ve broken your pen. I’m awfully sorry, Jack.’ David ________ for breaking Jack’s pen.
5. ‘Don’t forget to post my letter, will you, Sue?’ Diana ________ Sue to post her letter.
6. ‘Let me carry your suitcase, John.’ Harry ________ to carry John’s suitcase.
7. ‘Alright, it’s true, I was nervous.’ The leading actor ________ to being nervous/ that he had been
nervous.
8. ‘I don’t think Liverpool will win.’ Vanessa ________ whether Liverpool would win.
9. ‘If I were you Bill, I’d buy a mountain bike.’ Stephen ________ Bill to buy a mountain bike.
10. ‘Don’t worry Martin, I’ll bring your book back.’ Leslie ________ to bring Martin’s book back/ martin he
would bring his book back.’
11. ‘You murdered Lord Digby, didn’t you Colin!’ The inspector ________ Colin of murdering Lord Digby.
12. ‘No, no, you really must have another drink!’ Dick ________ on my having another drink/ that I should
have another drink.
13. ‘It was me who stole the money,’ said Jim. Jim ________ to stealing the money.
14. ‘Right, I’ll take the brown pair.’ Andrew ________ to take the brown pair.’
15. ‘No, sorry, I don’t want to lend you my camera.’ Alex ________ to lend me his camera.

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XVIII. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

1. ‘Sue, can you remember to buy some bread?’ Paul reminded ________.
2. ‘I don’t really think it’ll snow tomorrow.’ I doubt ________.
3. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t phone you earlier.’ Jill apologised ________.
4. ‘I really think you should see a doctor, Chris.’ William advised ________.
5. ‘No, I’m sorry, I don’t work on Saturday. Definitely no!’ Catherine refused to ________.
6. ‘Let’s go out to the pub for lunch, shall we?’ Wendy suggested ________.
7. ‘It’s not true! I have never been arrested.’ Larry denied ________.
8. ‘If you like, I’ll help you do the decorating, Bob.’ Ann offered ________.
9. ‘I’ll definitely take you to the park on Sunday, children.’ Tom promised the ________.
10. ‘Yes, all right, I’ll share the bill with you, Dave.’ Brenda agreed ________.

XIX. Read the text below and decide which the best answer is.

In many countries the legal systems are very complex. This is because they have been developed
over very long times. Every time that a new case is decided it can have an affect on future cases. This
means that the people who work in legal situations have to be clever. They have to know and understand all
the rules and precedents. A precedent is when a previous decision will have an effect on future cases as it
was related to an important point.
There are many people who work with the law, such as solicitors or judges. A solicitor is a lawyer
who spends most of their time advising their clients and preparing legal documents, such as wills or
contracts for buying and selling houses. They need to be very careful and make sure that all the details are
correct, otherwise their clients might lose a lot of money.
A barrister is a type of lawyer who works in court rooms. They will either work for the prosecution or
defense sides. If they are a prosecution lawyer they are trying to prove that the defendant (the person on
trial) committed a crime. They have to present evidence to show that the defendant is guilty. If they are a
defense lawyer then they work for the defendant and have to show that the evidence presented is not
enough to prove that their client is guilty and he should be judged to be not guilty.
Then there are judges and magistrates. A magistrate will hear trials about less serious crimes, while
a judge’s will be about more serious crimes. These are the people who have to decide what punishment will
be given to someone who is guilty. The punishments could range from a small fine up to a long prison
sentence, and even a death sentence in some countries. The trial happens in the judge’s courtroom, so the
judge is responsible for making sure the trial is run fairly and follows the law.
If a lawyer believes that a trial was not fair or there was a mistake in the law, they can ask for a new
trial that will generally be hear by an appeal court where an appeal judge will be in charge. Often appeal
judges will be the most experienced judges in a country, so they know a lot about the law and how to apply
it.

1) What do lawyers have to be? 4) What is the most severe punishment a judge
A) Nice could give?
B) Clever A) A long time in prison.
C) Greedy B) A fine.
D) Fast workers C) A judge does not give punishment.
D) Capital punishment.
2) What could happen if a solicitor makes a
mistake? 5) Why might an appeal be needed?
A) Someone who is innocent could go to prison. A) The first trial was not fair.
B) Someone could lose their job. B) The first trial took too long to finish.
C) The client could lose some money. C) The first trial was done perfectly.
D) The client could learn something new. D) The first trial had too many people watching

3) What does a defense lawyer have to do?

A) Show that the prosecution’s evidence is not
enough.
B) Prove that the defendant is guilty.
C) Show that the defendant was someone else.
D) Prove that the judge has made a mistake.

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XX. The following text discusses some of the central characteristics of the British Constitution.
Before you read it, look at the questions below. After you read the text, try and answer these
questions.

1. When was the American constitution first written?

2. Can it be changed?
3. Does the United Kingdom have a written constitution as the USA does?
4. Who can alter the rules of the British constitution?

Because the rules of a constitution are laws of fundamental importance, it is not surprising that
they are often embodied in a single written document. Thus, for example, the Constitution of the United
States was reduced to writing in 1787 and the document which comprises it (as subsequently
amended) lays down the fundamental law of America today. Further, the US constitution, like many
5 other written constitutions, cannot be altered easily; a constitutional amendment can only be carried if
a very substantial majority, both in Congress and in the individual States, approve it.’
The British constitution is just as important to the British as the US Constitution is to the
Americans. Nevertheless, it is not ‘written’; that is to say, it has never been wholly reduced to writing.
Further, since Parliament is ‘sovereign’ it can, without any special procedure, and by simple Act, alter
10 any law at any time, however fundamental it may seem to be. Although, therefore, British courts have
always been astute to safeguard the rights of the subject and although certain legal remedies, such as
habeas corpus, are designed to protect him, yet, under the British constitution there are no guaranteed
rights similar to the fundamental liberties safeguarded by the US Constitution.
The statement that the British constitution is not ‘written’ does not mean that the British
15 possess no important constitutional documents; it merely means that the constitution is not embodied
in any single document, or series of documents, containing our essential constitutional laws. Thus
there are many enactments which either have been or still are, of great importance. One need only cite
as examples Magna Carta (1215), the Bill of Rights (1668) – which sets out the principal rights gained
by Parliament and the nation as a result of the seventeenth century constitutional struggles – the Act of
20 Settlement (1700) and the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949.

Read the statements below which also refer to the excerpt. Decide whether they are true (T) or false
(F).

a. An unwritten constitution can be easily changed.

b. There are no legal remedies which the British courts can apply to protect the rights of the subjects.
c. Parliament has no power to make laws to protect individual rights.
d. Parliament must follow a special procedure to alter any constitutional laws.
e. There are no documents containing constitutional laws in the United Kingdom.
f. An unwritten constitution is more flexible than a written constitution.

WRITING TOPICS

1. Is the current drinking age in most countries (or the country of your residence) proper?
2. Which country is serving as an example of a standard law system?
3. What changes could be made in the law of Romania to make them beneficial for the people?
4. Why do criminals still manage to escape even after implementing stern law against them?
5. Who should be vested in power for framing international law?
6. What should be the goal of putting someone in prison?
7. Anti-corruption law in Romania: how effective is it?
8. The freedom of speech and the privacy right in the press and the media: when should the journalists’
rights for the freedom of expression be restricted?