英语听力精选进阶版 14127

Falklands invasion 'surprised' Thatcher¹

Summary

28 December 2012

Newly-released government papers show that the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982 took the then British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, by surprise. 

Reporter:

Peter Biles

Report

Margaret Thatcher's private reflections about the Falklands War are contained in evidence she gave to a committee of inquiry² after the conflict.

"I never never expected the Argentines to invade the Falklands head-on," she said. "It was such a stupid thing to do ... I did not think it would happen."

But two days before Argentine forces went ashore³ Mrs Thatcher was told an invasion was imminent⁴. She thought this was the worst moment of her life. And she said at the time no-one could tell her whether British forces could retake the Falklands.

The government records also describe her determined⁵ efforts to prevent France from selling Exocet missiles to Peru because of fears they would be passed on to Argentina.

In a confidential⁶ telegram to President Mitterrand in May 1982 Mrs Thatcher warned him that if it became known that France was releasing the weapons, it would have a devastating⁷ effect on the relationship between Britain and France.

1 thatcher   

n.茅屋匠

参考例句：

• Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常，还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

2 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

3 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

4 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

7 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。