English File - Upper Intermediate - Lesson 8A

Here you will find the vocabulary from Lesson 8A in the English File Upper Intermediate coursebook, such as "burgle", "fraudster", "vandalism", etc.

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English File - Upper Intermediate
crime [noun]

an unlawful act that is punishable by the legal system

Ex:

the act of making someone suffer because they have done something illegal or wrong

Ex: The school implemented a new policy of restorative justice , focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment for student misbehavior .

to illegally enter a place in order to commit theft

Ex: After the suspect was caught trying to burgle the office building , he was charged with breaking and entering .
burglar [noun]

someone who illegally enters a place in order to steal something

Ex: The burglar wore a mask to hide his identity as he carefully searched through the drawers for valuables .

to use force to enter a building, vehicle, or other enclosed space, usually for the purpose of theft

Ex: They were caught red-handed while breaking into the abandoned factory .
to steal [verb]

to take something from someone or somewhere without permission or paying for it

Ex: The thief has stolen several cars in the past month .
burglary [noun]

the crime of entering a building to commit illegal activities such as stealing, damaging property, etc.

Ex: Installing a security system can help deter burglaries and protect your home from intruders .

the crime of demanding money or benefits from someone by threatening to reveal secret or sensitive information about them

Ex: The celebrity paid a large sum of money to prevent a tabloid from publishing a damaging story , which was considered blackmail .

someone who demands services or money in exchange for not revealing harmful information or doing something harmful

Ex: She was terrified when a blackmailer contacted her , demanding money in exchange for keeping a secret .
bribery [noun]

the act of offering money to an authority to gain advantage

Ex: The investigation uncovered a network of bribery , with officials accepting kickbacks in exchange for favorable contracts .
to bribe [verb]

to persuade someone to do something, often illegal, by giving them an amount of money or something of value

Ex: The contractor was accused of trying to bribe inspectors to overlook building code violations .

an individual who sells illegal drugs such as narcotics, opioids, etc.

Ex: He was sentenced to prison for ten years for his role as a drug dealer in the local community .
to sell [verb]

to give something to someone in exchange for money

Ex: Do you think they 'll sell their old bicycles at the flea market ?
drug [noun]

any illegal substance that people take in order to experience its mental or physical effects

Ex: Substance abuse and addiction are significant societal issues often associated with the misuse of drugs .
fraud [noun]

the act of cheating in order to make illegal money

Ex: The victim lost a significant amount of money to an online fraud scheme that promised high returns but was fake .

a person who deceives others to gain money, particularly in business transactions

Ex: The police arrested the fraudster for selling fake products online under the guise of a legitimate business .

to do a particular thing that is unlawful or wrong

Ex: She admitted to committing perjury during the trial by providing false testimony under oath .
to hack [verb]

(computing) to illegally access a computer system, network, or online account in order to find, use, or change the information it contains

Ex:
hacker [noun]

someone who uses computers to illegally access someone else's computer or phone

Ex: The hacker installed malware on unsuspecting users ' devices to steal their personal information .

to forcefully take control of a vehicle, like an airplane, often to take hostages or change its course

Ex: The terrorists attempted to hijack the plane to make political demands .
hijacker [noun]

someone who uses threats or violence to take control of a moving vehicle, particularly an airplane, to forcefully change the destination or demand something

Ex: The hijacker was arrested by the police after attempting to seize control of the plane mid-flight .

someone who takes an individual away and holds them in captivity, particularly to demand something for their release

Ex: She was terrified when the kidnapper threatened to harm her family unless his demands were met .

to take someone away and hold them in captivity, typically to demand something for their release

Ex: Parents educate their children about the dangers of strangers who may attempt to kidnap them .
to mug [verb]

to steal from someone by threatening them or using violence, particularly in a public place

Ex:
mugger [noun]

a person who attacks and robs people in a public place

Ex: She was traumatized after being attacked by a mugger while walking home late at night .

to unlawfully and intentionally kill another human being

Ex: The suspect was arrested and charged with attempting to murder a fellow inmate .
murderer [noun]

a person who is guilty of killing another human being deliberately

Ex: The film tells the story of a detective who is determined to catch a notorious murderer .
to rape [verb]

to force someone to have sex against their will, particularly by using violence or threatening them

Ex: Educational campaigns aim to teach individuals about the severe consequences of raping someone .
rapist [noun]

someone who forcefully engages in sexual activity with another person without their agreement or permission, which is against the law and considered a serious crime

Ex: The rapist was convicted based on DNA evidence that was found at the crime scene .
robbery [noun]

the crime of stealing money or goods from someone or somewhere, especially by violence or threat

Ex:
smuggler [noun]

an individual who illegally and secretly imports or exports goods or people

Ex: The smuggler had been using tunnels to secretly transport goods between two countries without detection .

to move goods or people illegally and secretly into or out of a country

Ex: Authorities discovered a tunnel used to smuggle goods between two countries .
to stalk [verb]

to follow, watch, or pursue someone persistently and often secretly, causing them fear or discomfort

Ex: After the unsettling encounter , she felt as if someone were stalking her .
stalker [noun]

a person who persistently and obsessively follows, watches, or harasses someone else, often causing fear, distress, or a sense of danger

the act of using violence such as killing people, bombing, etc. to gain political power

Ex:

person who uses violence or threats to achieve political or ideological goals by targeting innocent people or civilians

Ex: The government implemented stricter security measures in response to threats from terrorists targeting major infrastructure .
bomb [noun]

an object that is designed to explode and cause destruction

Ex: The bomb was hidden in a suitcase and left in the busy subway station , but it was detected just in time .
theft [noun]

the illegal act of taking something from a place or person without permission

Ex: The theft of confidential documents from the office led to a breach of security and serious consequences for the company .
thief [noun]

someone who steals something from a person or place without using violence or threats

Ex: After years of stealing from his coworkers , the thief was finally exposed and fired from his job .

the illegal act of purposefully damaging a property belonging to another person or organization

Ex: Vandalism of public transportation facilities has become a growing concern for city officials .

to intentionally damage something, particularly public property

Ex:
witness [noun]

a person who sees an event, especially a criminal scene

Ex: The witness identified the suspect in a police lineup after the incident .

the act of stealing property or money using a weapon

Ex: The police are still searching for the suspects involved in the armed robbery of a local jewelry store .

a mark made by the unique pattern of lines on the tip of a person's finger, can be used to find out who has committed a crime

Ex: The suspect was apprehended after his fingerprints matched those found on the stolen vehicle .
criminal [noun]

a person who does or is involved in an illegal activity

Ex: He became a wanted criminal after escaping from custody .

(of law enforcement agencies) to take a person away because they believe that they have done something illegal

Ex: The authorities have the power to arrest those who are caught in the act of committing a crime .
to catch [verb]

to stop and hold an object that is moving through the air

Ex: It might sound a bit strange , but my dog loves to catch a frisbee .

to officially accuse someone of an offense

Ex: The district attorney is considering whether to charge the defendant with assault .

to try to find the truth about a crime, accident, etc. by carefully examining its facts

Ex: She was determined to investigate the incident until she uncovered the truth .

to have or express uncertainty about something

Ex: The voters questioned the candidate 's promises , wanting more concrete plans for implementation .
trial [noun]

a legal process where a judge and jury examine evidence in court to decide if the accused is guilty

Ex: After a lengthy trial , the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison .
accused [noun]

one or multiple people who are believed to have committed a crime in a law court

Ex:
acquitted [adjective]

found to be not guilty of an illegal act in a law court

Ex: After being found innocent , the acquitted woman was able to clear her name and return to her career .
court [noun]

the group of people in a court including the judge and the jury

Ex: The lawyer addressed the court with a passionate closing argument .
evidence [noun]

a statement, document, or object that is used in a law court for establishing facts

Ex: The evidence presented in court included surveillance footage that clearly showed the accused committing the robbery .
guilty [adjective]

responsible for an illegal act or wrongdoing

Ex: Even though she was guilty of the offense , she showed remorse and sought redemption .
innocent [adjective]

not having committed a wrongdoing or offense

Ex: The jury found the defendant innocent of all charges due to lack of evidence .
judge [noun]

the official in charge of a court who decides on legal matters

Ex: He 's known for being a fair and impartial judge in the courtroom .
jury [noun]

a group of twelve citizens, who listen to the details of a case in the court of law in order to decide the guiltiness or innocence of a defendant

Ex: The judge instructed the jury to focus solely on the evidence presented during the trial .
proof [noun]

information or evidence that proves the truth or existence of something

Ex: The lawyer submitted proof of the defendant 's whereabouts during the crime to strengthen the case .

to officially state the punishment of someone found guilty in a court of law

Ex: The judge carefully considered the evidence before deciding how to sentence the defendant .
verdict [noun]

an official decision made by the jury in a court after the legal proceedings

Ex: The defense team was surprised by the unexpected verdict of not guilty .