英语听力精选进阶版 7207（在线收听）

Background: 前任英国首相撒切尔夫人的标志性手提包，在伦敦的一家拍卖会上以4万美金的高价成功卖出。在冷战期间，撒切尔夫人曾多次携带这款皮包与美国前总统罗纳德·里根一起参加和前苏联领导人米哈伊尔·戈尔巴乔夫的谈判。

She may have styled herself as the Iron Lady, but in fact it was this shiny black leather accessory that became her most iconic trademark. A member of her cabinet once said that she used the handbag not as a shield but as a weapon.

Thanks to Margaret Thatcher, the word 'handbagging' has entered the English language to describe the former prime minister's abrasive style in dismissing those she disagreed with or who incurred her displeasure.

This particular bag, made by the firm Asprey of Bond Street in London, was used by Margaret Thatcher for over 30 years. It was large enough to hold state papers when required. Partly because of this, the handbag was expected to fetch up to US$160,000. In the event it went for only a quarter of that sum.

Forty grand is still quite a lot of money for a purse, but could it be that the Iron Lady's handbag is finally losing some of its power?

Glossary 词汇表

to style (oneself) 妆扮自己 

Iron Lady 铁娘子 

a trademark （衣着）特征 

a handbagging 猛烈的抨击、批判（人、事或体制） 

an abrasive style 强硬的风格 

to dismiss (someone) 打发走，反驳，解雇 

to incur (someone's) displeasure 引起（某人的）不满 

state papers 国家机密文件 

to fetch up to 售得（多少价钱） 

a grand 一千

Questions and Answers

1. What comment was made about how Margaret Thatcher used her bag? 

A member of her cabinet once said she used the bag as a weapon.

2. What inspired the creation of the word ‘handbagging’. 

It was inspired by Margaret Thatcher's behaviour towards people who did not agree with her.

3. How big is the former prime minister’s handbag? 

According to the report, it is big enough to carry official documents.

4. True or false? Many people remember Margaret Thatcher when they look at the bag. 

True. It is an object that is famously connected with the former British prime minister.