❑ TEXTO: Read the text and answer the questions that
follow.
Violence Against the Homeless: Is It a Hate
Crime?
- By Alison Stateman / Los Angeles - Wednesday, Oct. 22,
2008
§1 The chapel at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
was filled to capacity last Saturday
afternoon, with mourners moving up to the
balcony. Much to the surprise of his family,
hundreds — from infants to senior citizens —
came to honor John Robert McGraham, a
homeless man who was brutally murdered
on Oct. 9. McGraham, 55, was doused with
gasoline and set ablaze. Despite efforts of
residents and shopkeepers to extinguish the
flames, he died at the scene, on a sidewalk
in front of a boarded up dental office on the
corner of West 3rd and Berendo Street in the
Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles. "They
targeted him in my mind and that's the
worst kind of person," says his sister
Susanne McGraham-Paisley of the suspects,
who remain at large. "I hope they give them
the full scope of the law because that person
went to a gas station, filled up the gas can,
drove to the site, poured gasoline on him
and then set him on fire. That person had so
many opportunities to change [his] mind
and... didn't."
§2 California has the dubious distinction of
ranking second, just behind Florida, in the
number of lethal and non-lethal attacks
against homeless people last year. It
recorded 22 but, says Maria Foscarinis,
executive director of the National Law Center
on Homelessness & Poverty, the actual
number of attacks is likely even higher
because many are never reported. After a
huge increase in 2006 — 65% some of which
is attributed to the video Bumfights where
people who live on the street are pitted
against each other — last year still saw an
increase of 13%. Street people, says
Foscarinis, live "outside so they can be
attacked by anyone for any reason. There
are a couple of more subtle factors that are
leading to this as well and one of them is
that there are increasingly punitive actions
taken by cities against homeless people. So
that also sends a message that these people
are less than human and that attacking them
is ok."
§3 The attacks on homeless street people are
particularly vicious. "They are the most
vulnerable people in the country," says Tony
Taylor, a research associate at the National Coalition for the Homeless. "Over one in 4
attacks that are reported against the
homeless end in murder. That's huge
compared to one-tenth of a percent of other
protected classes," he said, referring to
categories of individuals currently protected
under federal Hate Crime legislation. These
typically include bias-motivated violence and
intimidation against individuals based on
their sexual orientation, race or religion.
Being homeless on the street is not one of
the existing categories. In 2006, the last
year that FBI figures are available for hate
crime fatalities, three individuals in the
protected classes were killed versus 20
homeless individuals.
§4 Hence, there is a movement to get them
covered by existing hate crime legislation.
The Coalition and Law Center are lobbying
members of Congress to pass two bills,
sponsored by Texas Rep. Eddie Bernice
Johnson, which would amend two Hate
Crime acts. The first bill, H.R. 2216,
introduced in Congress on May 8, 2007
seeks to amend the Hate Crime Statistics
Act to include crimes against the homeless.
This would require the FBI to collect data on
crimes against the homeless — data sorely
needed by homeless advocates — in order to
determine if they are hate-motivated
attacks. The second bill, H.R. 2217,
introduced on the same date, seeks to
include the homeless in the list of classes
protected under the Violent Crime Control
and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Both bills
have been referred to the House
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and
Homeland Security.
§5 Foscarinis says the legislation proposed
seeks to increase the punishment for hate
crimes against the homeless by three
offense levels. "At the same time we are
lobbying for real solutions, which are
housing and social services for homeless
people, we have to make sure their lives and
dignity are respected," says Foscarinis. "The
point of hate crime legislation to act as a
deterrent. It becomes a more serious crime
when it's considered a hate crime and there
is a harsher sentence that's imposed. We
want to send a message that homeless
people's lives are just as valuable as anyone
else's life."
§6 That has certainly been the unintended
consequence of McGraham's murder. It has
stirred outrage in the wider Los Angeles
community. The Los Angeles City Council is
offering a $75,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of the
individuals responsible for the crime. But it is
§7
the people who actually saw him on the
streets through 20 years who have been
most affected by his violent end. Poignant
notes have been left at a shrine erected at
the site of his murder. "You didn't know me
but I saw you on my frequent drives... you
touched me so deeply...I am so sorry such
cruelty took your life," read one letter.
Another simply stated, "The neighborhood
will not be the same without you." His sister
Susanne was touched. "So many times when
my family would go to see John, our hearts
would be filled with so much sadness. My
children would feel sad that we were leaving
him all alone. I'm very grateful to hear that
he was not alone, that his life had an effect
on so many people in the neighborhood."
§7 McGraham's death will be prosecuted as
first-degree murder, a capital offense,
according to Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief
Charlie Beck. Even as she mourned,
Susanne McGraham-Paisley said, "the
people who did this to him did the cause of
understanding homelessness a great service.
Because the way in which they killed him
and the way in which he died and the
community's response has clearly shown
that people do have an interest in someone
like our brother."
- Available at: <http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,185 2825,00.html>. Access in Out. 22, 2008.
01 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) According to the text, John Robert McGraham
was killed in Los Angeles probably because
A) he was sleeping out of his home and
disturbing a peaceful neighborhood near a
church.
B) the city gave him many opportunities to
change his lifestyle and get out of the streets
but he did not.
C) he was thought to be less than human,
therefore attacking him was acceptable.
D) his being an outsider excluded from duties
like paying bills and following the law is a
serious matter.
E) some individuals wanted to increase the
punitive actions taken by cities against
homeless people.
Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
02 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Read the statement given by the victim’s sister,
Susanne McGraham-Paisley, in the first
paragraph:
- "I hope they give them the full scope of the
law because that person went to a gas
station, filled up the gas can, drove to the
site, poured gasoline on him and then set
him on fire. That person had so many
opportunities to change [his] mind and...
didn't."
According to Susanne,
A) it was a premeditated crime because the killer
could have changed his mind about killing her
brother. Therefore he should be punished
accordingly.
B) her brother’s death is not characterized by
previous consideration to commit murder. It
regards breaking the Hate Crime laws.
C) the brutal murder of her brother has to be
taken into consideration because it is in fact
an unintended crime.
D) even though it seems to be a deliberate
crime, the killer should not be given the full
scope of the law required in these cases.
E) the crime was unintentional and accidental,
nevertheless serious enough to be considered
in full extent of the law.
Comentários e Gabarito A
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
03 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) The text argues that the “unintended
consequence of McGraham's murder” (§6) is
A) the increase of hate crime rating in the wider
Los Angeles community.
B) the payment of a reward for information
leading to the arrest of the ones responsible
for the crime.
C) the raising of negative publicity about the
housing politics and federal laws in the whole
country.
D) the building of cohesion and raising
awareness about the homeless situation in
the community.
E) the community's lack of indignation about the
movement of the existing hate crime
legislation.
Comentários e Gabarito D
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
04 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Mark the option that DOES NOT correspond to
the content of the text.
A) Paragraph 1 provides information about the
killing of a homeless man in LA, and how his
family and the community reacted to the
event.
B) Paragraphs 2 and 3 compare some figures
about crimes against minorities, and the fact
that crimes against homeless is not protected
under federal Hate Crime legislation.
C) Paragraphs 4 and 5 give information about
the status of the Hate Crime laws, and how
the FBI participates in this matter.
D) Paragraph 6 refers to what the City Council
has done so far about the event and brings in
some voices of the community to give their
testimonies.
E) Paragraph 7 presents the conclusion of the
article, emphasizing the lack of interest of the
community in crimes related to homeless
people.
Comentários e Gabarito E
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
05 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Mark the alternative in which the word in bold
DOES NOT relate to the idea in brackets.
A) Street people, says Foscarinis, live “outside
so they can be attacked by anyone for any
reason” (§2) [purpose]
B) So that also sends a message that these
people are less than human and that
attacking them is ok. (§2) [consequence and
result]
C) Hence, there is a movement to get them
covered by existing hate crime legislation.
(§4) [summary]
D) (…) that homeless people's lives are just as
valuable as anyone else's life… (§5)
[comparison]
E) Even as she mourned, Susanne McGrahamPaisley said… (§7) [emphasis]
Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
06 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Mark the option in which the words in bold CAN
NOT BE REPLACED BY the ones in brackets
without changing the meaning.
A) I hope they give them the full scope of the
law (§1) [extent]
B) The attacks on homeless street people are
particularly vicious. (§3) [cruel]
C) This would require the FBI to collect data on
crimes against the homeless… (§4)
[information]
D) The point of hate crime legislation to act as a
deterrent. (§5) [an incentive]
E) It has stirred outrage in the wider Los
Angeles community. (§6) [indignation]
Comentários e Gabarito D
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
07 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) The word “they” in:
- “…in order to determine if
they are hate-motivated attacks (§4)”
refers to:
A) two Hate Crime acts.
B) crimes against the homeless.
C) homeless advocates.
D) the Coalition and Law Center.
E) members of Congress.
Comentários e Gabarito B
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
08 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Mark the option in which a comparison is NOT
established:
A) “(…) the actual number of attacks is likely
even higher…” (§2)
B) “That has certainly been the unintended
consequence of McGraham’s murder.” (§6)
C) “(…) that these people are less than human
and that attacking them is ok.” (§2)
D) “They are the most vulnerable people in the
country…” (§3)
E) “(…) three individuals in the protected classes
were killed versus 20 homeless individuals…”
(§3)
Comentários e Gabarito B
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
09 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Read the text and answer the question that
follows.
- SUMMERS, Dana. Oct. 10, 2008. From: <
www.gocomics.com>. Access: Oct. 20, 2008.
All the alternatives present the he cartoonist’s
intention, EXCEPT:
A) although there is a job crisis going on, the
U.S. is still the best place for those who want
to fulfil their dreams.
B) ironically, the immigrants are crossing back
the boarder due to the actual situation
regarding the job market in the U.S.
C) instead of trying to settle in the U.S. and
finding work, which was common a while ago,
immigrants are moving back to their
countries.
D) there are no more jobs available for those
who try to cross the border between Mexico
and the U.S.
E) the American Dream of the land of
opportunity is over; the job market faces a
crisis.
Comentários e Gabarito A
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
All the alternatives present the he cartoonist’s intention, EXCEPT:
Todas as alternativas apresentam a intenção do cartoonista, EXCETO:
A) although there is a job crisis going on, the U.S. is still the best place for those who want to fulfil their dreams.
embora exista uma crise de emprego, os EUA continuam a ser o melhor local para quem quer realizar os seus sonhos.
B) ironically, the immigrants are crossing back the boarder due to the actual situation regarding the job market in the U.S.
ironicamente, os imigrantes estão atravessando a fronteira devido à situação atual do mercado de trabalho nos EUA.
C) instead of trying to settle in the U.S. and finding work, which was common a while ago, immigrants are moving back to their countries.
em vez de tentarem estabelecer-se nos EUA e encontrar trabalho, o que era comum há algum tempo, os imigrantes estão regressando aos seus países.
D) there are no more jobs available for those who try to cross the border between Mexico and the U.S.
já não há empregos disponíveis para quem tenta atravessar a fronteira entre o México e os EUA.
E) the American Dream of the land of opportunity is over; the job market faces a crisis.
o sonho americano da terra das oportunidades acabou; o mercado de trabalho enfrenta uma crise.
10 – (UNICENTRO-PARANÁ-VESTIBULAR-2009.2) Read the text and answer the question that
follows.
Waiting Patiently
Service in the restaurant was abysmally slow.
My husband was starting to flip out,
so I tried to distract him with small talk.
"You know," I said, "our friend Christi
should be having her baby anytime now."
"Really?" my husband snapped.
"She wasn't even pregnant when we walked in
here."
- By Maureen Morrison, Tetonia, Idaho. From: <http://www.rd.com>. Access on: Oct. 30, 2008.
The CORRECT alternative about the relation of
the title and the content of the text is that
A) it brings forth the metalanguage involved in
the joke, that is, the words used for talking
about or describing the language spoken.
B) it is a metaphor, because it presents the
condition and the scenario in which the couple
is patiently waiting to be serviced at a
restaurant.
C) it is an irony, since it states the opposite
result from what is expected, especially from
the point of view of the husband.
D) it is a sarcastic statement used to emphasize
the ideas of waiting and patience involved in
the condition of being pregnant.
E) it is a hyperbole, that is, an exaggerating
statement used to make a strong impression,
but not intended to be taken literally.
Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
