Expressions Quiz: Law

You can do this quiz online or print it on paper. It tests comprehension of common English expressions used when talking about the law.

Read each sentence and choose the answer with the closest meaning to the words in italics.

1. If you break the law you could be arrested and sent to jail.

enforce the law
damage the law
commit a crime
a) enforce the law b) damage the law c) commit a crime

2. My cousin was put behind bars for driving while drunk.

banned from bars
sent to prison
sent to trial
a) banned from bars b) sent to prison c) sent to trial

3. The former president was brought to justice for all the crimes he was accused of.

put on trial
punished
imprisoned
a) put on trial b) punished c) imprisoned

4. Members of the royal family used to be above the law.

protected by the law
not subject to the law
in control of the law
a) protected by the law b) not subject to the law c) in control of the law

5. Instead of calling the police, Jimmy took the law into his own hands and shot the thief.

illegally punished a lawbreaker
punished an innocent person
tried to help the police
a) illegally punished a lawbreaker b) punished an innocent person c) tried to help the police

6. All the cops who attacked the suspect will stand trial for his murder.

be blamed by a jury
be punished by a judge
be tried in a court of law
a) be blamed by a jury b) be punished by a judge c) be tried in a court of law

7. Many people think Julian has been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

wrongful punishment
delay in punishment
mild punishment
a) wrongful punishment b) delay in punishment c) mild punishment

8. The jury members believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the man on trial is innocent.

with a fair bit of certainty
with complete certainty
with a fair bit of doubt
a) with a fair bit of certainty b) with complete certainty c) with a fair bit of doubt

9. After the jury found him guilty, the accused man waited a month for the judge to pass sentence.

reverse the verdict
sentence him to jail
say what the punishment will be
a) reverse the verdict b) sentence him to jail c) say what the punishment will be

10. Despite the seriousness of her crime, she only got a slap on the wrist.

a very light punishment
a long jail sentence
a warning
a) a very light punishment b) a long jail sentence c) a warning

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Contributor: Matt Errey. Matt is the author of several books including 1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context and Common English Idioms for learners, and Matt's ESL Games and Quizzes for teachers.