Questions

1. True or false? Violent crime is on the increase in the UK.

2. What does Gordon Brown want to do to reduce knife crime?

3. What will the police receive to help them do their job?

4. Why do young people carry knives, according to critics of the plan?

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Background: 在英國近幾個月來很多青少年成為了一些青少年持刀行兇犯罪的犧牲品。2008年6月英國首相戈登. 布朗號召起訴方對發現攜有兇器的青少年給予更嚴厲的處罰。

Almost every week it seems another British teenager ends up dead as a result of a knife attack 持刀攻擊.

While official figures 官方數據 suggest violent crime overall 總體暴力行兇數量 is falling, more offences 犯罪 are being committed by youngsters, and injuries are getting more severe.

The government has already begun an advertising campaign 廣告宣傳攻勢 to try to stop people carrying knives.

Now the prime minister, Gordon Brown, has said under 18s caught in possession should be prosecuted 被起訴 for a first offence 初犯 instead of just let off with a warning 給予警告就放了.

The police are also being given extra funding 特別的資金 to increase weapons' searches and education.

Critics 批評家 say a zero tolerance approach 零容忍方法 will not solve the underlying problems 更深層的問題, with young people often carrying knives to protect themselves.

But everyone agrees something has to be done to end what a senior judge 高級法官 has called an "epidemic" 流行病 of knife crime .

Answers

1. True or false? Violent crime is on the increase in the UK.

False. Crime is decreasing but younger people are getting involved.

2. What does Gordon Brown want to do to reduce knife crime?He wants children who carry knives to be prosecuted.

3. What will the police receive to help them do their job?

The police will receive more money to search for weapons and teach children of the dangers.

4. Why do young people carry knives, according to critics of the plan?

Critics of the plan say children carry knives because they are afraid of attack.