IELTS Vocabulary Topic: Crime & Punishment
appreciate – to recognize how good someone or something is and to value him, her, or it
arson – the crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or destroy something, especially a building
authority – the official power to make decisions for other people
convict – someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime
criminal – someone who commits a crime
deterrent – a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something
fine – an amount of money that has to be paid as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law
fraud – the crime of getting money by deceiving people
imprisonment – the state of being in prison, or the time someone spends there
inequality – an unfair situation, in which some groups in society have more money, opportunities, power etc than others
intent – the fact that you want and plan to do something
intrusion – an occasion when someone goes into a place or situation where they are not wanted or expected to be
kidnap – to take someone somewhere illegally by force, often in order to get money for returning them; ransom
motive – a reason for doing something
offense – a specific act that breaks the law
pickpocketing – the crime of stealing things out of people’s pockets or bags, especially in a crowd
prosecutor – a person, especially a public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone.
recklessness – lack of regard for the danger or consequences of one’s actions
smuggling – the crime of taking goods or people into or out of a country illegally
swearing – rude or offensive language that someone uses, especially when they are angry
the accused – the person who is on trial in a law court
vandalism – the crime of intentionally damaging property belonging to other people
violation – an action that breaks a law, agreement, rule, etc.
evil – morally bad, cruel, or very unpleasant
harsh – unpleasant, unkind, cruel, or more severe than is necessary
intentional – planned or intended; done on purpose; deliberate
law-abiding – someone who obeys the law
offensive – very rude or insulting and likely to upset people
petty – not important and not worth giving attention to
punishable – (of an act) subject to a judicial punishment
strict – limiting people’s freedom to behave as they wish beyond what is usual
victimless – (of a crime) lacking a victim, or thought not to involve a victim
abide – accept and follow out; remain faithful to; dwell; endure
abolish – to put an end to something, such as an organization, rule, or custom
combat – to try to stop something unpleasant or harmful
deter – to prevent or discourage someone from doing something
enforce – to make people obey a rule or law
imprison – to put someone in prison
offend – to make someone upset or angry
perpetrate – to commit a crime or a violent or harmful act
resent – to dislike or be angry at something or someone because you have been hurt or not treated fairly
sanction – a strong action taken in order to make people obey a law or rule, or a punishment given when they do not obey
on behalf of – for somebody; instead of somebody
insane – mentally ill
elusive – difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember
deem – to consider or judge
bully – a person who threatens to hurt someone, often forcing that person to do something
IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions
- Nowadays you can find instructional videos for just about any crime you can think of. What possible effects can this have on individuals and society? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- In many countries the age of criminals is getting lower. Give reasons and solutions to the problem. Support your position with relevant examples.
- In most countries military officers retire at the age of 45 while other people work as long as 65 to 70. Compare these two approaches. Provide specific reasons and examples to support your position.
- Some people believe that once a person becomes a criminal, he will always be a criminal. Do you agree with this statement? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- In some countries, prisons are overcrowded, leading to many government expenses. To lessen the cost for prisoners’ cost of living, reduced sentences are implemented. What do you suggest could be done? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.