Kidd, Captain William , 1645 - 1701

Dr.Jeckyll and Mr.Hyde

Jack the Ripper

"Jack the Ripper" (a) was a mysterious killer who terrorised (b) the East End of London in the autumn of 1888. His victims (c). all women, were killed by having their throats cut, and in many cases the bodies were savagely mutilated as well. The number of victims is said to be between four and fourteen, though police authorities generally thought that only five murders (d) were definitely the work of the Ripper. The Ripper was never caught, and his identity (e) remains a mystery. All kinds of people have been suggested as possible Rippers, including the Duke of Clarence, a Russian barber/surgeon, a society doctor and even a barrister (f).

Match each underlined word in the text with the correct definition.

- facts that describe who a person is;

- to fill people with terror by threats or acts of violence;

- a robber;

- the unlawful killing of a person on purpose;

- a person suffering pain because of circumstances;

- a lawyer who has the right to speak and argue in higher law courts.

In 1866 Robert Louis Stevenson wrote his famous thriller The Strange Case of Dr.Jeckyll and Mr.Hyde. Dr.Jeckyll is a kind man who wants to find out more about the evil side of human nature. He invents a potion, which changes him into the bestial Mr.Hyde, who looks quite different and who roams the Streets committing terrible crimes. By taking an antidote Dr. Jeckyll is then able to revert to his former self. However, as time goes by, he finds it more and more difficult to change back, until finally he remains in the form of Mr.Hyde. In desperation he

commits suicide, and as soon as he is dead he returns to the form of Dr.Jeckyll and as such is found by his friends. Mr.Hyde is then hunted for the murder, never, of course, to be found. Many films have been made of the story, and the term "Jeckyll and Hyde" had entered the language to describe a person who has two personalities, one good and one evil.

Find in the text the words that correspond to the following definitions.

- a work of fiction, or drama in which excitement and emotional appeal are the essential elements, esp. one involving crime;

- an offence for which there is punishment by law;

- an act of taking one's own life intentionally;

- an unlawful killing of a person on purpose;

- a remedy that counteracts the effects of poison;

- utter loss of hope and surrender to despair.

A privateer was a private person (a civilian not in the navy) who was given a commission to attack the King's enemies at sea and traditionally there was always a thin line dividing privateering from piracy. In 1695 William Kidd, a Scotsman who had emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, was given a commission by William III to arrest all pirates and also a commission to act as a privateer against the French. He fitted out the brig Adventure and in 1697 sailed to Madagascar, the lair of many pirates at that time But instead of attacking the pirates, he joined forces with them and began capturing merchant ships and plundering local trade. He deserted his ship and went to New York, offering treasure to the governor and claiming to be able to explain his actions. However, he was arrested and sent to England for trial where he was hanged in 1701. About £14.000 of treasure was recovered from his ship and from a hiding place near Long Island, though there is still supposed to be a lot of Captain Kidd's treasure waiting to be found.

Explain the meanings of the underlined words and expressions

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29