Caring cops

By Ajarn Helen Jandamit

University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.

Read the following story from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.

First there were the life-sized, brown dummies known as Jha Choey (Pol Sgt Choey), which were produced with the aim of lowering traffic violations in Bangkok. Now we have Pukong Temjai Haiborikan (Willing-to-Serve Captains), who are meant to help boost the image of Thai police. Unlike Jha Choey dummies, however, Pukong Temchai will involve a team of real policemen.

Pongpat Chayapan, superintendent of the Crime Suppression Division's Section 5, initiated the Willing-to-Serve Captains project. He intends to equip a new generation of policemen with better interpersonal skills and service-mindedness to provide the public with better communication. Rather than focusing on conventional investigative skills, Pukong Temjai Haiborikan will be open and approachable to members of the public who seek help from them.

Pongpat said at a press conference at Ramkhamhaeng University that the first batch of Pukong Temjai will be dispatched soon. They will be plain-clothes police wearing a special badge.

At the press conference, a grab-and-run scene was simulated. While the police on duty at the scene ignored the case, one of the Pukong Temjai happened to pass by and offered a helping hand, catching and handcuffing the thief.

Pongpat won praise from the local community when he first introduced Willing-to-Serve Captains as a pilot project when he was deputy chief of Bang Khunnon police station.

Section 1

Read the story. Then answer the following multiple-choice questions.

1. What is the story about?

a. A new special police team.

b. A new set of Jha Choey dummies.

c. Building investigative skills.

d. Building communication skills.

2. Why were the Jha Choey dummies made?

a. To deal with riots in Bangkok.

b. To boost the image of Thai police.

c. To reduce traffic violations.

d. To teach people interpersonal skills.

3. Which organisation is Pongpat currently working for?

a. Bang Khunnon police station.

b. Section 5 of the Crime Suppression Division.

c. Ramkhamhaeng University.

d. The Department of Special Investigation.

4. Which of the following qualities are suitable for being a Pukong Temjai Haiborikan?

a. Having good investigative skills.

b. Having pubic speaking skills.

c. Having persuasive selling skills.

d. Having interpersonal skills and being service-minded.

Section 2

Read the following sentences. Then, choose a sentence from the choices that follow that best keeps the meaning of the original sentence.

5. Pongpat Chayapan initiated the project.

a. The project was ignored by Pongpat.

b. The project was rejected by Pongpat.

c. Pongpat started the project.

d. Pongpat supported the project.

6. The first batch of Pukong Temjai will be dispatched soon.

a. The first batch of Pukong Temjai will be postponed.

b. The first batch of Pukong Temjao will be terminated soon.

c. The first group of Pukong Temjai will soon be disregarded.

d. The first group of Pukong Temjai will soon be launched.

7. Pongpat occupied the position of deputy chief.

a. Pongpat was promoted to deputy chief.

b. Pongpat was demoted to deputy chief.

c. Pongpat held the position of deputy chief.

d. Pongpat wanted the position of deputy chief.

8. The police on duty ignored the case.

a. The police were on the case.

b. The police on duty ignored the chase.

c. The police on duty were excited by the case.

d. The police on duty paid no attention to the case.

Section 3

Match each of the following terms used in the article with the appropriate description from the choices that follow.

9. Pol Sgt	a. Where Pongpat held a press conference.
10. Jha Choey	b. Life-sized dummies.
11. Bang Khunnon Police Station	c. Pongpat's former workplace.
12. Ramkhamhaeng University	d. A police rank.

 

Section 4

Find words in the story that are synonyms of the following words.

13. Provide .................................................

14. Assistance ..........................................

15. Neglected ............................................

16. Meeting ................................................

Section 5

Find words in the story that are antonyms of the following words.

17. Worse ..........................................

18. Fake ..............................................

19. Increasing ...................................

20. Old .................................................

Section 6

Write down the verb forms of the following words used in the article.

21. Generation ..........................................

22. Special .................................................

23. Investigative .......................................

24. Violations ............................................