英语听力精选进阶版 14225（在线收听）

BBC Learning English 

Video Words in the News  

10 April 2013 

Thatcher's legacy 

Transcript: 

Behind the smile, a tough leader. 

With steely determination, Margaret Thatcher sent a task force to re-take the 

Falklands, or the Malvinas, from Argentina in 1982.  

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev described her as 'a woman of conviction'. 

Her softer side saw her chatting amicably with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping 

and, with Ronald Reagan, strengthening the special relationship between Britain 

and the US. 

But her belligerent attitude to Europe may prove to be the Iron Lady's most 

enduring legacy. 

Vocabulary: 

steely determination 

refusing to stop trying to do something, even though it is very difficult 

conviction 

strong belief or opinion 

amicably 

pleasantly and in a friendly way, without arguments 

belligerent 

always unfriendly and wanting to argue 

enduring 

long-lasting 

Exercise: 

Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from 

news reports.  

Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence 

correctly. 

steely determination / conviction / amicably / belligerent / enduring 

1.  Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Chinese and European 

authorities to resolve the matter _________ by holding talks. But she called 

for more transparency from Beijing about incentives given to the sector. 

2.  There is undoubtedly __________ interest in the Titanic story - Belfast and 

Southampton both opened museums dedicated to the liner during the 

centenary year. 

3.  Mr Farage has defended UKIP as being different from other parties after 

Prime Minister David Cameron said some of its members were "pretty odd 

people". He said UKIP did have "some eccentrics" but this was healthy and 

he was an unusual party leader in that he was a __________ politician. 

4.  Correspondents say Iran's clerical leadership is showing a __________ to 

keep control amid the controversy, and urging people to unify in the face of 

western enemies. 

5.  The North Korean media are full of images of military preparedness, he adds,   

intended to rally people behind the leadership. Many observers say that 

North Korea's __________ rhetoric appears intended for a domestic 

audience and at shoring up the position of Kim Jong-un, who came to power 

after his father's death in December 2011. 

Answers: 

1.   Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Chinese and European  

authorities to resolve the matter amicably by holding talks. But she called 

for more transparency from Beijing about incentives given to the sector. 

2.  There is undoubtedly enduring interest in the Titanic story - Belfast and 

Southampton both opened museums dedicated to the liner during the 

centenary year. 

3.   Mr Farage has defended UKIP as being different from other parties after 

Prime Minister David Cameron said some of its members were "pretty odd 

people". He said UKIP did have "some eccentrics" but this was healthy and 

he was an unusual party leader in that he was a conviction politician. 

4.   Correspondents say Iran's clerical leadership is showing a steely 

determination to keep control amid the controversy, and urging people to 

unify in the face of western enemies. 

5.   The North Korean media are full of images of military preparedness, he 

adds, intended to rally people behind the leadership. Many observers say 

that North Korea's belligerent rhetoric appears intended for a domestic 

audience and at shoring up the position of Kim Jong-un, who came to power 

after his father's death in December 2011.