Homework:
A. The offense of ‘Piracy with Violence’ carried the death penalty in Britain until as recently as 1998.
Is true,
- The Piracy Act 1837: in 1837 the Parliament of the United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for most offences of piracy, but created a new offence often known as piracy with violence, which was punishable with death. Finally in 1998 the punishment for treason, piracy with violence and mutiny were abolished
B. According to a survey by the National Consumer Council in 2006 over half of British adults infringe copyright law by pirating CDs.
Is true,
- Private copying: the review coincided with a 2006 survey carried out on behalf of the National Consumer Council, which indicated that over half of British adults infringe copyright law by duplicating and ripping music CDs. Following the review, in January 2008 the government initiated a public consultation period on proposals to legalise personal copying.
C. The novel ‘treasure Island’, about a pirate called Long John Silver and his crew, was written by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Is false,
- Treasure Island: is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "buccaneers and buried gold". First published as a book on 23 May 1883. Long John Silver is the cook (not the captain) on the voyage to Treasure Island.
D. Captain Cook was a famous pirate king in J.M Barrie’s book, ‘Peter Pan’.
Is false,
- Peter Pan: Captain James Hook (not Cook) is a fictional character: the antagonist of J. M. Barrie's most famous work.
E. Most of the world’s pirate attacks these days occur off the coast of Somalia, Africa.
Is true,
- Piracy: Somali pirates have threatened international shipping with piracy since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century
F. There have never been any famous women pirates in history.
Is false,
- Women in piracy: while piracy was predominantly a male occupation, a minority of pirates have been female. Pirettes, like other women in crime, faced interesting issues in both practicing this occupation and being punished for it.
G. Piracy is not a new activity: thousands of years ago the ancient Greek writer, Homer, mentioned acts of piracy in his book, ‘The Odyssey’.
Is true,
- The Odyssey: piracy, war, and raids on foreign cities are all accepted means of increasing wealth. The first thing that Odysseus does after leaving Troy, for example, is to sack Ismarus, stronghold of the Cicones. In addition to plunder, he captures the women.
