Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Society, Law & Justice

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de participar en debates complejos sobre temas sociopolíticos, legales y éticos utilizando un registro formal y académico. Deberías haber dominado el uso de condicionales avanzados para expresar hipótesis sobre el pasado y el presente, así como la inversión de estructuras para enfatizar puntos de vista.

Asimismo, habrás ampliado tu léxico especializado en áreas como el sistema judicial, la estructura social y la criminología. Serás capaz de utilizar colocaciones precisas y procesos de formación de palabras para expresar matices de opinión, algo esencial para alcanzar el nivel C1 en el examen de Cambridge.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.

1. If I had taken that job, I would be living in London now. HAD If I ________ that job, I would be living in London now.

2. I didn't study harder, so I didn't pass the bar exam. WOULD If I had studied harder, I ________ the bar exam.

3. If you should need any further assistance, please contact us. SHOULD ________ any further assistance, please contact us.

4. I didn't know about the new law, so I broke it accidentally. KNOWN Had I ________ about the new law, I wouldn't have broken it accidentally.

5. If the jury hadn't been so biased, the verdict would be different today. NOT If it ________ so biased, the verdict would be different today.

6. Identify the error in this sentence: "If I would have known you were coming, I would have prepared dinner." (Rewrite the sentence correctly)

7. If the government had invested more in social programmes, poverty wouldn't be so high now. INVESTED

8. "I didn't see the warning sign, so I didn't stop." (Rewrite using inversion)

9. "If they had been more careful, the accident wouldn't have happened." (Rewrite using 'Had')

10. "If you are late, you will be fined." (Rewrite using 'Should')

Vocabulary activation

A. Word Formation: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in capitals.

1. The lawyer argued that the defendant's actions were entirely __ (JUST).
2. There has been a significant __ (COURT) in the way laws are applied to minorities.
3. The witness provided a highly __ (RELEVANT) account of the crime.
4. The sudden __ (APPEAR) of new evidence changed the course of the trial.

B. Collocations: Choose the correct word to complete the legal/societal collocations.

5. The judge decided to impose / inflict a heavy fine on the corporation.
6. There is growing public / social outcry regarding the new surveillance laws.
7. The defendant was acquitted / exonerated of all charges due to lack of evidence.
8. We must work together to uphold / maintain the rule of law in our community.

C. Register Choice: Replace the underlined informal words with a more formal C1-level equivalent (e.g., mitigate, exacerbate, breach, implement).

9. The new policy will make the problem worse ________.
10. The company committed a serious break ________ of contract.
11. The government decided to start ________ new social reforms.
12. The lawyer tried to make the punishment less severe ________ the sentence.

Integrated skills task

Reading Text

The concept of "restorative justice" has gained significant traction in modern legal discourse. Unlike the traditional retributive model, which focuses primarily on punishment and retribution for the offender, restorative justice emphasises repairing the harm caused by criminal behaviour. This approach involves a dialogue between the victim, the offender, and the community. The goal is not merely to penalise the individual, but to facilitate healing and reintegration.

Critics argue that this approach lacks the deterrent effect necessary to prevent future crimes and may fail to provide true justice for the victims. They suggest that without a clear punitive element, the law loses its authority. However, proponents claim that traditional imprisonment often fails to address the root causes of crime, such as social inequality or lack of education, and that restorative practices offer a more holistic path to social stability.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de respuesta (response essay) de entre 180 y 220 palabras. En tu texto, debes: 1. Resumir los puntos principales del texto. 2. Evaluar si la justicia restaurativa es más efectiva que el modelo tradicional de castigo. 3. Dar tu opinión personal utilizando un lenguaje formal y estructuras de nivel C1.

Speaking checkpoint

Responde a estas preguntas de forma oral para practicar tu fluidez y capacidad de argumentación. Intenta hablar durante 1-2 minutos por cada una.

1. Compare: Compare the advantages of a strict legal system versus a more lenient, rehabilitative one.
2. Speculate: If technology continues to advance, how might the concept of "privacy" and "law" change in the next fifty years?
3. Evaluate: To what extent do you think social media influences public opinion on legal matters?
4. Justify: Some people believe that fines are an ineffective way to punish minor crimes. Justify whether you agree or disagree.
5. Hypothesize: If you were responsible for reforming the justice system in your country, what would be your first priority?
6. Evaluate: How much responsibility should society bear for the crimes committed by individuals?

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. had taken 2. would have passed 3. Should you need 4. known 5. were not (or: had not been) 6. If I had studied harder, I would have passed the bar exam. 7. If the government had invested more in social programmes... (sentence is already correct, but if rewriting: Had the government invested...) 8. Had I seen the warning sign, I would have stopped. 9. Had they been more careful, the accident wouldn't have happened. 10. Should you be late, you will be fined.

Vocabulary activation 1. just 2. inequity / injustice (context dependent, but 'inequity' fits best) 3. relevant 4. appearance 5. impose 6. public 7. acquitted 8. uphold 9. exacerbate 10. breach 11. implement 12. mitigate