MODULE 3
The History of the U.S. Customs Service. Grammar: Passive Voice
Exercise 1. Read the text using the dictionary and making notes. Make up a list of essential words and phrases from the text.
PART I
By the 1700s, England had established 13 colonies in the eastern part of what is now the United States. Most of the colonists were English or from other parts of the British Isles, such as Scotland, Ireland and Wales (there were also, however, many Germans in Pennsylvania, Swedes in Delaware and Dutch in New York, which was originally the Dutch colony of New Netherlands but was captured by Britain in 1664).
As time passed, the colonies began to resent the governing power that Britain exercised over them. The British government required them to pay taxes to help pay for colonial expenses, but gave them no voice in passing the tax law. British troops were stationed in the colonies and some people were forced to house the troops in their homes. The British motherland determined what the colonies could produce and with whom they could trade.
In 1774, a group of leaders from the colonies met and formed The Continental Congress, which became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress issued а Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, a farmer and a lawyer from the colony of Virginia. This document declared that from that time the “United Colonies” were no longer colonies of England. The Declaration described them as “free and independent states” and officially named them the United States of America.
With the help from France, England’s old enemy, and from other Europeans, the American armies, led by George Washington, a surveyor and gentleman farmer from Virginia, won the War of Independence. The peace treaty signed in 1783 set the western boundaries of the new nation at the Mississippi River.
When peace came, the United States was not one unified nation as it is today. Each new state had its own government and was organized very much like an independent nation. After the war was won, the country’s administration would handle only problems and needs that the individual states could not handle alone. It would raise money to pay off debts of the war, establish a money system and deal with foreign nations in making treaties. The agreement that set up this plan of cooperation was called the Articles of Confederation. Eventually this agreement failed because the states did not cooperate with country’s administration and with each other. When the United States needed money to pay the national army or to pay debts owed to France and other nations, some states refused to contribute.
Vocabulary Notes
to capture захватывать, брать силой
to resent негодовать, возмущаться
to pass the law принять закон
to house the troops размещать войска
the governing body руководящий орган
Declaration of Independence Декларация независимости
surveyor (здесь) землемер, топограф
peace treaty мирный договор
the Articles of Confederation Статьи Конфедерации (Первая конституция США, принятая в 1777. Оставалась в силе до 1789).
to contribute делать пожертвования, взносы
Exercise 2. Explain the meaning of the following words: colonists; to exercise one’s power; expenses;to pass the law; the governing body; independent states; old enemy; surveyor; to sign a treaty;to handle a problem; to raise money; the agreement failed; to refuse to contribute.
Exercise 3. Answer the following questions.
1. How many colonies had been established on the eastern coast of North America by 1700s?
2. Who were the founders of New York City?
3. What were the reasons for demanding independence?
4. Why was the Continental Congress formed?
5. When was the Declaration of Independence issued and what did it declare?
6. Who was the author of the document?
7. What are the Articles of Confederation?
8. When was the peace treaty signed?
9. What problems was the USA government facing under the Articles of Confederation?
Exercise 4. Study the following chart.
| The passive verb forms are: to be + past participle (pp) of the main verb | Examples |
| present simple: am/is/are + pp | The office is cleaned twice a week. |
| present continuous: am/is/are being + pp | The office is being cleaned now. |
| past simple: was/were + pp | The office was cleaned last week. |
| past continuous: was/were being + pp | The office was being cleaned when the boss arrived. |
| present perfect simple: have/has been + pp | The office has not been cleaned yet. |
| past perfect simple: had been + pp | The office had been cleaned by two o'clock. |
| future simple: will be + pp | The office will be cleaned tomorrow. |
| Questions are formed by putting the verb to be before the subject | Is your car being serviced? |
| Negations are formed with the word not | The furniture has not been delivered yet. |
| The passive of infinitives is like this: to be + pp | He wants to be told the truth. |
| The passive of modal verbs is like this: modal verb + be + pp | The roof of the house must be repaired. |
Exercise 5. Look through the text to find passive verb forms. Translate the sentences in which they are used.
Exercise 6. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the passive. Use the verbs in brackets.
1. Budget airlines nowadays ____ often ____ by passengers. (criticize)
2. A few weeks ago, I ____ to join this famous club. (invite)
3. Sorry, but your car ____ until next Monday. (can’t, repair)
4. Since 1990s, many of out toys and games ____ from China. (import)
5. She ____ just ____ for an Oscar. (nominate)
6. As far as I’m concerned, he ____ to prison. (should, send)
7. ____ the results of the survey ____ yet? (announce)
8. Are you sure the staff ____ about the new regulations last week? (inform)
9. We ____ not to use our work computers to send personal emails. (ask)
10. Borders between countries ____ day and night. (guard)
11. We can't go over the bridge because it ____ at the moment. (repair)
12. Under the Customs regulations, these travelers ____ for failure to declare their currency. (punish)
Exercise 7. Make up 5 sentences with passive verb forms to cover the contents of Part I.
Exercise 8. Read Part II of the text using the dictionary and making notes.
PART II
The story of the United States Customs Service is the story of America itself.
Founded in 1789, July 31, to protect this struggling new Nation from bankruptcy, Customs has come to the aid and protection of the Republic and its people for two centuries. Customs gave America its first source of revenue, became its first Federal law enforcement agency, and has affected and been affected by the Nation's history from the earliest days to the present.
After declaring independence in 1776, the struggling young Nation found itself on the brink of bankruptcy. During the brief period under the Articles of Confederation, in which each state assessed Customs duties against its neighbors, the Continental Congress learned that the national treasury could not rely upon the states for funds.
When, in 1789, Congress first assembled in New York City to launch this country on its proper course, it had one overriding concern: Money. Where to find it, how to collect it, how to keep it rolling in? Fighting a revolution had left the national cupboard bare: such was the price of liberty.
No less a guiding light James Madison of Virginia (the 4th president later on) proposed the scheme that would eventually make this Nation solvent: impose a duty on imports and create a well-managed agency to ensure its due collection. Responding to an urgent need for revenue, the First Congress passed, and President Washington signed, the Tariff Act of July 4, 1789. It established a tariff and a system for collecting duties.
The Act was considered so important that the press of the day hailed it as a "The Second Declaration of Independence." Customs districts, ports of entry, and the machinery for appointing Customs officers and prescribing their duties were established July 31, 1789 - one day before the Tariff Act took effect. President Washington then nominated 59 Collectors of Customs in the 11 states and more than 40 other officers to staff the new Customs Service.
The entire Service was placed then under the Treasury Department, headed by 32-year-old Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton's tireless, dedicated commitment to the new Service set an early standard for Customs officials.
Vocabulary Notes
to found основывать, учреждать, создавать
struggling (находящийся) в бедственном положении
law enforcement agency правоприменяющий, правоохранительный орган
to affect оказывать воздействие, влияние
on the brink of bankruptcy на грани банкротства
national treasury государственная казна
overriding важнейший; доминирующий
a guiding light путеводная звезда
solvent платёжеспособный
dedicated commitment (здесь) преданность
Exercise 9. Explain the meaning of the following words: struggling nation; law enforcement agency; on the brink of bankruptcy; the national treasury; to launch this country on its proper course; the national cupboard; a guiding light;solvent; the machinery for appointing Customs officers; the Tariff Act took effect; to set an early standard for Customs officials.
Exercise 10. Answer the following questions.
1. Why did the young Nation find itself on the brink of bankruptcy?
2. What was the main concern of the first Congress assembly in 1789?
3. Who proposed the scheme to make the Nation solvent?
4. What was the solution?
5. What is called the “Second Declaration of Independence”?
6. When did the Tariff Act take effect and what did it establish?
7. How many Collectors of Customs were nominated by President Washington?
8. Under which Department was the U.S. Customs Service placed?
9. Who was the first head of the Service?
Exercise 11. Study the following chart.
| To turn a sentence from the active into the passive: a) The object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence. b) The active verb changes into a passive form. c) The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent. Examples: present simple: She types the letters. >The letters are typed. present continuous: She is typing the letters. >The letters are being typed. past simple: She typed the letters. >The letters were typed. past continuous: She was typing the letters. >The letters were being typed. present perfect simple: She has typed the letters. >The letters have been typed. past perfect simple: She had typed the letters. >The letters had been typed. future simple infinitive: She will type the letters. >The letters will be typed. modals (modal + be + pp): She has to type the letters. >The letters have to be typed. |
Exercise 12 Rewrite the sentences in the passive.
1. They use this information is strictly for preventing and combating terrorism and serious criminal offenses.
2. The officers can use IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System) terminals to access records on wanted persons and stolen vehicles.
3. Agriculture experts may detain food in the interest of preventing possible outbreak of foreign diseases in the U.S.
4. They had stopped him for a spot check in the Green Channel, and the penalty for breaking the law was pretty stiff.
5. The Customs inspect the entire volume of cargo and mail by means of X-ray television endoscopes.
6. We are sure they will seize and destroy these illegal products.
7. If you are one of the travelers selected for an examination, they will treat you in a courteous and professional manner.
8. We allowed the officials to use their discretion about "reasonable" quantities (for personal use) of products.
9. A team with dogs specially trained to detect explosives was patrolling the terminal building.
10. In July 1789 the First Congress of the United States established a system of tariffs on imported “goods and merchandises” in order to fund the new federal government.
Exercise 13. Read Part III of the text using the dictionary and making notes.
PART III
Because Customs was, in essence, the nation's civil service in the early years, Congress would turn to it time and again to take charge of the nation's diverse needs. When America needed lighthouses, for example, to guide ships safely past dangerous shallows, it turned to Customs to build those lighthouses.
From 1791 to 1850 Customs supervised the construction of more than 300 lighthouses, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
When America needed a system to pension agents to honor the debts owed to its Revolutionary War heroes it turned to Customs as the first "Veteran's Administration."
When America needed to provide for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, it turned to Customs as the first public health service.
When America needed armed revenue cutters to patrol its shores, it turned to Customs to direct those ships, making Customs the first coast guard. When, in 1830, America needed to devise a system of "uniform authentic weights and measures" to ensure for merchants and consumers alike that a pound was indeed a pound, it turned to Customs, the first "Bureau of Standards." And when masses of immigrants began seeking refuge in America, Congress turned to Customs to manage the influx.
It was the first Immigration and Naturalization Service. This was and continues to be the character of Customs: always ready to serve the Nation, to accept any challenge in time of peace or war to protect, secure, and defend.
More than 150 years ago, for example, this country first began its battle against pornography. It was the Customs Service whom Congress first called upon to protect the public. More than 100 years ago, when American manufactured products started to become the targets of unscrupulous counterfeiters, it was Customs who first entered the fray to protect the rights of American manufacturers.
Nearly 90 years ago, when drug abuse first showed itself as the corruptive force it is, it was Customs who made the first efforts to close ranks in defending the nation in its war on drugs.
The traditional U.S. Customs Service Mission, as outlined in the Tariff Act of 1930 was threefold:
• To assess and collect customs duties on imported merchandise.
• To prevent fraud and smuggling.
• To control carriers, persons, and articles entering and departing the United States.
Vocabulary Notes
civil service государственная гражданская служба
diverse needs разнообразные нужды
disabled страдающий от увечья, болезни; нетрудоспособный
revenue cutter таможенное судно
devise a system разрабатывать систему
to seek refuge искать убежища
to enter the fray вступать в единоборство
to close ranks сомкнуть ряды; сплотиться
Exercise 14. Explain the meaning of the following words: to turn to Customs; the nation's diverse needs; shallows; to pension agents; to provide for the relief; public health service; a pound was indeed a pound; to manage the influx (of refugees); to accept any challenge; unscrupulous counterfeiters; to enter the fray;to close ranks in defending the nation; to prevent fraud and smuggling.
Exercise 15. Scan the text and make a statement of 5-8 sentences summarizing the contents of it.
Exercise 16. Study the following chart.
| With verbs which take two objects, such as ask, bring, tell, send, show, teach, promise, offer, give, pay, lend,etc., we can form the passive in two ways. Active:Someone sentme some flowers. Passive:a) I was sentsome flowers. b)Some flowers were sentto me. |
| When the verb of the active sentence is followed by a preposition, the preposition is kept in the passive sentence as well. e.g. Burglars broke into our house last night. Our house was broken into last night. |
Exercise 17. Rewrite the sentences in the passive in both ways, if possible. Consult the chart.
1. They offered him a new job. 2. Lisa is sending them an invitation. 3. Jack will show me how to operate this device. 4. They paid him a lot of money for the job. 5. They will teach you a lesson. 6. They gave him two days to think it over. 7. They gave us no explanation. 8. Did you send the parcel yourself? 9. They can’t tell her the truth. 10. He will lend me the money for the holiday. 11. Smugglers often use late booked or cash tickets. 12. The officer should examine the passport and establish reasons for frequency of travel. 13. They have changed the date of the delivery. 14. They are going to hold the next conference in Atlanta, GA. 15. People say the police have arrested three men after the accident.
Exercise 18. Rewrite the sentences in the passive.
1. The Customs officers often ask travelers this kind of question.
2. They teach us foreign languages at the Academy.
3. The chief asked them to hand in their report by the end of the day.
4. They listened to his lectures with great interest.
5. You must think the matter over.
6. They looked at the picture with admiration.
7. The government charges CBP with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
8. The experts estimate the total domestic value for the shipments to be more than $335,000.
9. We can’t speak of such important matters in public.
10. We must call the police immediately.
11. They were televising the examination procedure for the court.
12. Did they produce this counterfeit painting in France?
Exercise 19. Read some facts from the history of the U.S. Customs Service. Translate the following paragraph twice: yourself and with the aid of any computer translation system. Which translation do you like best? Discuss the details with another student.
In 1956 the U.S. Border Patrol Canine Program was initiated with the purchase of surplus military sentry dogs from the U.S. military.
In 1970 the U.S. Customs Canine Program was established. The program initially utilized ex-military sentry dogs and handlers; training took place at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, where preparing a dog for Customs operations took approximately 2 months.
More than forty years ago, the U.S. Customs Service announced its new detector dog program at ports of entry. Canines had been used by the military as sentry dogs and also on the battlefield for a variety of uses, but they had never been used to sniff out drugs.
In response to the rampant use of recreational drugs by the 60s counterculture, the government launched the first “drug war,” passing new laws and establishing new agencies and programs. As demand for narcotics, especially marijuana, hashish amphetamines and psychedelic drugs ratcheted up, drug smuggling efforts increased and became more sophisticated.
The training was based on a ‘game” of hunting for a “toy,” in this case, a rolled up towel, scented with a narcotic odor. The process was deceptively simple— the toy was hidden and when the dog found it, the handler rewarded the dog with lots of praise and a game of tug-of-war.
The first canines were trained to detect and respond to marijuana and hashish, but by the end of September, the trainers determined that the same dogs could be trained to detect the additional odors of heroin and cocaine.
In 1984 the USDA (Department of Agriculture) establishes a detector dog program at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). The APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) works with the Customs Service in developing a detector dog program. Beagles are selected as the breed of choice, and the USDA’s detector dogs become known as the Beagle Brigade.
Exercise 20. Make a summary of the above text in 5-7 sentences using verbs in the passive forms.
Here’s the beginning: The U.S. Border Patrol Canine Program was initiated in 1956.
Exercise 21. Read about other facts of the U.S. Customs Service on the official site:
http://nemo.cbp.gov/opa/TimeLine_062409.swf. Tell the class about these facts.
MODULE 3
Customs and Trade Documentation. Grammar: Modal Auxiliaries
Exercise 1. Read the text using the dictionary and making notes. Make up a list of essential words and phrases from the text.
Exercise 21. Think about any changes in your town/ city at different times in your life. Write at least two passive sentences describing the changes.
1. Changes when you were a child.
2. Recent changes.
3. Changes taking place at the moment.
4. Likely or possible future changes.
Exercise 16. Test your knowledge of Customs terms by reading some news article on one of the official Customs sites. Read the headline of a news article. What exactly do you think it is about? Make your prediction. Then read the article to find out if you were right. Tell the class the story you’ve read.
Did you know that in August 7, 1789 the First Congress establishes the Lighthouse Service. This was the first non-revenue responsibility assigned to Collectors of Customs, which was tasked with the design, staffing and management of lighthouses in their Customs districts.
In 1796 Collectors of Customs tasked to aid in the enforcement of Quarantine and Health Laws.
