Part C  Margaret Thatcher: Former British Prime MinisterDead

 

Vocabulary Preparation:

 

epitome  n. a standard ortypical example 典型

empowered adj.invested with legal power or official authority 获得授权的

reactionary  n.an extreme conservative; an opponent of progress or liberalism 反动分子；反动派

steadfast adj.marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable坚定的；不变的

kindred  adj. similar or related in quality or character 同类的

indomitable   adj.impossible to subdue 不屈不挠的

alliance  n. the state of beingallied or confederated 联盟

solidify   v. to make or become solid or hard 巩固；变得结实

unforgiving  adj. not willing to forgive and show mercy 不宽容的；无情的

deter   v. tostop someone from doing something, by making them realize it will be difficultor have bad results 制止；威慑

ingrain   v. to thoroughly work in 使…根深蒂固

provincial  adj.old-fashioned and boring 守旧的

sobriety  n. abstaining from excess 节制

Argentinian n. anative or inhabitant of Argentina 阿根廷人

take a toll on to have a bad effect on somebody or something 损害

oust   v. to remove from aposition or office 罢黜；把…撤职

despise  v. to look down on with disdain 轻视；鄙视

testament  n. strong evidence forsomething 证明

alter  v. to make different; tocause a transformation 改变

 

 

Notes:

 

MargaretThatcher (1925—2013) was a Britishpolitician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from1979 to 1990 and the Leader of the Conservative Party from1975 to 1990. 玛格丽特·撒切尔（曾三度连任英国首相）

Parliamentis the mainlaw-making institution in the UK, which consists of the House of Commons andthe House of Lords 英国国会；英国议会

The FalklandIslands are a group of islands, under British control, in the southwestAtlantic Ocean off the coast of Argentina. The Argentinians believe that theislands belong to Argentina, and call them the Malvinas.福克兰群岛（英阿争议群岛）

Methodist  a Christian who follows the teachings of JohnWesley and who has their own branch of the Christian church and their own formof worship 卫理公会教徒

Meryl Streep (1949—)is an American actress of theater, television, and film. She is widelyregarded as one of the most talented actors of all time. 梅丽尔·斯特里普

 

 

Exercise:Listen to the news report and decide whether the following statements are trueor false.

 

1.      Margaret Thatcher wasthe youngest woman ever elected Prime minister when she was 34 years old.

2.      In 1979, she led theConservative Party to win the election and became the first woman PrimeMinister in Britain.

3.      Both Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan were infavor of anti-communism, self -reliance, and free markets.

4.      Margaret Thatcher was given anickname “the IronLady of the western world” by America.

5.      In2011, Merrill Streep portrayed Thatcher’s role on various stages of her life onthe big screen in “The Iron Lady”.