Title: Yawning Proves Costly

Source: Reuters

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2005

Level: Intermediate

Here is an excerpt of the article:

Boredom proved costly to a potential juror who let out a loud yawn in a Los Angeles courtroom and was promptly ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Click for article.

Vocabulary

Try to guess what these words mean from reading the article.
If you need help, check out OneLook Dictionary Search.

New words you will see in this article:

boredom
courtroom
enforce
identity
impose(d)
judge(s)
juror
lengthy
official(s)
potential
procedure
prompt(ly)
protest(ed)
punish(ment)
reveal(ed)
slash(ed)
wave(d)
yawn(ing)

Interesting phrases:
contempt of court
impose a fine
jury selection
prove costly
turn up

Talking Points

With your conversation partners, or classmates, you may wish to discuss the following:

Does a judge have the right to impose a fine on anyone who fails to maintain order in the court?

Do you think that yawning is a sign of rudeness?

Do you think this man should have been fined for yawning in court?

How serious do you think it is to disobey a judge's order?

For More Practice

Would you challenge a judge's decision if you thought it was too harsh?
Why or why not?

Pretend you are the man who got fined by the judge. What will you say to your friends?

Pretend you are the judge. It is dinner time. Tell your spouse about the yawning
incident in your courtroom.

Role play a situation in which someone is dismissed from a courtroom for unruly behavior.