A Major World Problem

Nobody doubts that the world faces a major problem with the illicit use of drugs. It touches all our lives and few can claim to have been unaffected by it. We have learned of drug abuse among our friends and (1) ________, within our own families and in our own neighbourhoods. Most of us have personal knowledge of individuals who have died through (2) ________, and we all know people who have suffered because of it.

Three approaches

There are basically three (3) _______ to dealing with the drug problem: “try harder”, “get tough”, and “get soft”. The first proposes continuing with more-or-less the present system of restricting the use of “controlled substances” by a confusing combination of (4) ________, medical provision, miscellaneous taxation, and occasional criminal sanctions for unauthorized distribution and use. Despite repeated failures, it is believed that (5) ________ in the system can yet be made and the problem solved.

The second proposes “cracking down” on drugs, eliminating the problem “once and for all”. The rhetoric (though not the practice) of the so-called “war on drugs” falls in this camp. Greater police powers and tougher sentencing, it is claimed, will put all the (6) _________ behind bars and save our children from the menace of illicit drugs.

The third proposes legalizing the sale of drugs across the board, in the belief that this will make the problem (7) _________. It’s not the drug that’s the menace; it’s the laws against them. If we didn’t have the laws, we wouldn’t have a problem.

The (8) ________ reader will already have detected a degree of cynicism in my description of these three approaches. Their apologists (or so it seems to me) seldom attempt any honest evaluation of the situation, or of the merits of other options, or of the demerits of their own position. Instead they (9) _______as dogmatists, emotionally tied to a single point of view: “liberal democracy good”, so carry on regardless; “drugs bad”, so declare a moral war; “freedom good”, so legalize everything.

Today’s drug dealing is probably the world’s most (10) ________crime. The Colombian international drug (11) ______, “Kali”, which monopolizes the trade in Los Angeles and Miami, is estimated (12) _________ over 80% of the world’s cocaine and a third of its heroin.

Illegal drug syndicates are estimated to take in about $25 billion a year in the United States alone. In 1998, 59 tons of cocaine and 770 pounds of heroin were confiscated by American police (13) __________.

(Paul Birch “Analysis of the Drug Problem”)

Talking Points

Exercise 25.Get ready to speak onthe major problem connected with the illicit use of drugs:

a) three approaches to dealing with the drug problem;

b) world illegal drug syndicates.

Exercise 26. Express your opinion on the problem of smuggling. Use the expressions:

I don’t care much for …

I am not very fond of…

I’d rather …

Exercise 27. Role-play.

Your country has recently seen a big increase in drug use amongst the young. The government after looking at the different approaches of Holland and New York – has called on your committee to produce a range of ideas to lead the fight against the drugs menace.

In groups of four or five, you need to think about:

- new laws, whether to penalize drug use/the drug trade or to legalize certain aspects of it (give details about these laws);

- actions to educate the public against the dangers posed by drugs;

- other measures you think might be effective in the war against drugs.

Focus on Grammar

Exercise 28. Open the brackets using Passives.

1. Drugs often (portray) as a threat of enormous proportions.

2. More and more extreme measures (introduce) to win the war on drugs.

3. Interdiction efforts (direct) at drug trafficking across the globe.

4. Most of the current media and public attention (focus) on the matter of terrorism.

5. The cocaine, stored in metal drums marked as containing polyester resins, (discover) in the false walls of six containers.

6. Colombian authorities (aid) by a recent cooperation agreement with the United States aimed at strengthening narcotics detection.

7. A broad ring of people (involve) in organized illegal drug activity.Exercise 29. Change the sentences into Indirect Speech.

Start with “The Customs officer told the passenger…”

1. “Show me your passport, please”.

2. “Open your case for examination, please”.

3. “That’s all right! You may pass on”.

4. “You’ll have to pay duty on this”.

5. “I must confiscate these goods”.

6. “Please, fill in this form”.

Exercise 30. Change the sentences into Indirect Speech.

Start with “The passenger said…”

1. “This is my hand luggage”.

2. “I have only personal belongings”.

3. “I have only got some presents”.

4. “I’d like to phone to the embassy”.

5. “Here is my passport. I need an interpreter”.

6. “I need legal help”.

7. “This is a gift for a friend”.

8. “I’m travelling with my family”.

9. “I’m visiting my relatives”.

10. “I have nothing to declare”.

11. ”I plan to stay here for two weeks”.

Exercise 31. Choose the correct tense forms of the verbs in brackets.

1. They (work) in the restaurant at the weekends?

2. She (listen) to the radio in her bedroom at the moment.

3. They (not come) to the academy every day.

4. You (work) now?

5. The children (go) to bed at eight o'clock.

6. I (leave) the office every day at five.

7. I’m sorry I can’t talk to you now. I (go) out.

8. Customs inspectors (work) at the airport at the moment?

9. They (not go) to the meeting very often.

10. You (go) into the office every month?

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 767