2 UNIT TEST Name Mark

Optional Reading Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

The Decline of Crime

I In the 1990s, experts predicted that crime would continue to rise in the western world. Yet they were
wrong. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. According to crime figures, people appear to be safer
today than they were in 1970. In Estonia, a small country in eastern Europe, the murder rate has dropped
by 70% since 1995, and in the UK, there were only 69 armed robberies of banks and post offices in
2013 compared with 500 in the 1990s.
II So what has caused the decline? It has been suggested that because most crimes are committed by men
between the ages of 16-24, any reduction in crime is the result of smaller numbers of these young men
in society. Since people in western societies are living longer than ever before, young men now make up
a smaller proportion of the population.
III In addition, policing has improved in recent years, especially in big cities like London and New York.
Today, police officers are trained to talk to and get to know the people whose neighbourhoods they
patrol. What’s more, police forces target problematic neighbourhoods, sending large numbers of officers
to these areas. This “hotspot” method is credited with successfully reducing crime.
IV Finally, criminals have fewer opportunities to commit crimes and are more likely to get caught. Security
measures like window locks, alarms and car immobilisers make it harder for people to break into
buildings or to steal cars. Shops and businesses employ guards to protect their property. Detectives have
access to DNA databases, mobile phone location technology and recordings from surveillance cameras.
In addition, as crime becomes increasingly risky, the motivation to commit these crimes decreases, since
electronic goods – a popular target – have become cheaper.
V Although there can be no doubt that certain crimes are decreasing, police forces and individuals must
remain on guard. Crimes like fraud and tax evasion continue to grow and cybercrime is widespread.
While it may be true that you are less likely to return home one evening to find that your home has been
burgled, you may wake up one day to find that your credit card details have been stolen online.

1 Write T (true) or F (false). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers. (3 x 3 = 9 points)
...... 1. Experts predicted that there would be a decline in crime in the 21st century.
........................................................................................................
...... 2. A longer life expectancy has affected crime rates in the western world.
........................................................................................................
...... 3. The “hotspot” method has brought crime down in certain neighbourhoods.
........................................................................................................

2 Complete the sentences. (2 x 3 = 6 points)

1. Older people are less likely to .................................................................
............................................................................................................... .
2. Policing appears to be more effective when ...........................................
............................................................................................................... .

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 2 UNIT TEST

3 Choose the correct answer. (1 x 2 = 2 points)

The writer believes that ...... .
a. online crime is decreasing
b. fraud and tax invasion are on the increase
c. people no longer need to worry about home burglaries
d. police forces are no longer as important as they used to be

4 Answer the question. (1 x 3 points)

Why are criminals less motivated to steal certain popular targets like electronic goods?
.......................................................................................................................

5 Find words or phrases in the text that mean: (5 x 1 = 5 points)

1. decreased (paragraph I) ....................................................................
2. give someone a job (paragraph IV) ....................................................................
3. dangerous (paragraph IV) ....................................................................
4. stay alert (paragraph V) ....................................................................
5. common (paragraph V) ....................................................................