Political vocabulary

5. She crushed* the unions Before Thatcher came to power, the unions (workers UK Prime Ministers organisations) were very powerful. Britain had come to a halt. The winter of 1978 was called the ‘Winter of Discontent’ you need to know because there were so many strikes. Thatcher confronted Margaret Thatcher the unions and defeated* them, most famously the coal 1 Robert Walpole (1721-1742) miners. After they were defeated, unions became weaker. The first British Prime Minister, and the Over thirty years ago, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first female The consequences: first to live in the official residence, Breaking the unions helped reform the UK economy, 10 Downing Street. Prime Minister. She introduced radical* ideas that changed Britain forever. and make it more competitive. Thatcher weakened worker’s rights, and failed to help William Pitt the Younger Some think that she was the greatest British Prime 2 2. She promoted ‘privatisation*’ the poorest workers in society. (1783-1801, 1804-1806) Minister of all time. Others argue that she was the worst, During Margaret Thatcher’s 11 years in power, she sold Situation today: Unions have less power today than they He became the youngest ever Prime abandoning* British industry and neglecting* the poor. many public services, including British Telecom, British used to, but they can still organise strikes. Recent strikes Minister in 1783 at the age of 24. His Gas and British Rail. One thing is for sure: Margaret Thatcher divides British include postal workers, airline staff and journalists. father was also Prime Minister - he was opinion. CLUB investigates the five ways the ‘Iron Lady’ The consequences: called William Pitt the Elder. changed Britain. Thatcher and her government believed selling these companies would make them more efficient. They made Cut out and keep: Political vocabulary Winston Churchill (1940-1945, 1. She was the first female British Prime a profit, and helped the UK economy. the leader of the United Kingdom 3 Prime Minister: 1951-1955) Minister Others argue that privatisation is only about profit. ty: a group that wants to achieve the same Political par Probably Britain’s most famous Prime Until Margaret Thatcher came to power, British political This can lead to lower quality of services. political aims Minister. He was in office during the leaders had been men in grey suits. Thatcher was famous Situation today: Privatisation is still controversial* today. Election: a voting process to decide who will run the government Second World War. He inspired many for her bright outfits, and always carried a large handbag. The Government wants to privatise the Post Office, and Houses of Parliament: The Houses of Parliament are where people through a time of difficulty, and The consequences: even allow businesses to run schools. These are called the decisions are made by the government was known for his rousing speeches*. Thatcher’s election broke a ‘glass ceiling*’ for women, Academies. Member of Parliament showing they could rise to the top of organisations. MP: 3. She gave the banks more freedom a government made up of two or more political parties Tony Blair (1997-2007) Although Thatcher’s appointment was groundbreaking*, Coalition: 4 Margaret Thatcher passed laws in 1986 to make it easier she did not encourage other women to take positions of Union: an organisation of workers who want to achieve He came to power in 1997, and was for banks to operate independently. power in her government, or improve women’s rights. common goals the first Prime Minister from the Labour The consequences: Party since 1970. He is controversial for Situation today: While Thatcher was in office, the number of Strike: a protest by stopping work London grew as a global financial centre, attracting his decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003. women MPs rose from 27 to just 43. Thanks to political many banks and trading companies. reforms and social progress, this has now risen to 143. Without regulation, banks took more risks with The Quote 5 David Cameron (2010 - ) people’s money. This encouraged a ‘culture of greed’, with During a time of economic crisis in the 1980s, many people He came to power in 2010, in the first people being motivated by money and profit. questioned Margaret Thatcher’s approach to solving the country’s coalition government since the Second Situation today: In 2007 there was a major financial crisis, problems. She replied: World War. He is one of the youngest and since then a global economic recession*. People are “You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.” Prime Ministers, at the age of 43. angry at financial traders receiving large bonuses worth

hundreds of thousands of pounds, and believe that the What did she mean?

banking system is out of control. A. When I make a decision, I stick to it. I don’t change my mind. busy. very been have I 3. relax. to like I 2. reconsidered. and nervous became I 1. B: confident. too get not does He A: Idioms 16: Page Quote The 15: Page gone have could/would – A. is answer the – friends. my with movie a see to

could/would have bought have could/would a new computer game. 4. If I had had enough time, I I time, enough had had I If 4. game. computer new a I money, my saved had I If 3. grades.

would have got have would studied gone have would rained Conditional Third better better I more, had I If 2. park. the to I B. When I choose my handbag, I keep it and don’t change it. hadn’t it If 1. –

Page 13: 13: Page Regrets and Wishes

4. She divided the country practising. not practised, had 3. choosing; not chosen, had 2. wearing; worn, hadn’t 1. –

11: Page obligation of verbs Modal

C. When I walk along the street I don’t turn left or right. to. allowed not g) to, have f) mustn’t, e) must, d) must, c) mustn’t, b) mustn’t, a) – 9: Pack cat, the rats would have taken over our house! 3. If I hadn’t spotted the snake, it would have bitten someone. someone. bitten have would it snake, the spotted hadn’t I If 3. house! our over taken have would rats the cat,

➜

In the 1980s, there was an economic recession. Thatcher pet a got hadn’t I If 2. school. our in ants had have wouldn’t we food, that all out left hadn’t I If 1. B: scream! would I snake,

ANSWER a saw I If 3. it. stroke would I kitten, a saw I If 2. away. run would I rat, a saw I If 1. A: – answers Suggested answers. own

Second and Third Conditionals Third and Second 7: Page – Pupils make their their make Pupils – encouraged financial industries in the Southeast of snakes. of Fear 3. spiders. of Fear 2. spaces. open of Fear

Fears and Phobias and Fears 7: Page – 1. 1. – harder. work should You 5. calm. become to need You 4. important. not It’s 3. serious. so

Informal Phrases Informal 5: Page – 1. Stop being concerned with meaningless details. 2. Stop being being Stop 2. details. meaningless with concerned being Stop 1. –

England, but did not support traditional industries such as about. talking are you what

anyone think Robert Pattinson is a good actor? 5. You should check out the new TV show about vampires. I don’t know know don’t I vampires. about show TV new the out check should You 5. actor? good a is Pattinson Robert think anyone

shipbuilding, steel making and coal mining in the North. WORDWISE radical (adjective) – extreme, new ✱ to abandon Does 4. it. about happy really They’re terrific. was meal Their there. went Tina and Jo friends My town. our in restaurant

game. It’s a great challenge. Its cover is green. 3. There is a really nice new new nice really a is There 3. green. is cover Its challenge. great a It’s game. Warcraft of World

TCHER FACTS: latest the It’s present. new ANSWERS ANSWERS Keyboard Crimes Keyboard 5: Page

THA The consequences: (verb) – to leave someone or stop doing something ✱ to neglect your love to going You’re 2. songs! his love I gorgeous. really Bieber’s Justin 1. – Margaret Hilda Thatcher (verb) – to fail to look after someone properly ✱ glass ceiling (noun) Name: Many new jobs were created in London and the – an unofficial barrier to workplace advancement, usually associated Cover: VFKA/iStockphoto; P. Gendreau/Corbis. Pages 2 & 3: Albanpix, Quirky China News/Rex Features; R. Francois/AFP/Getty The Iron Lady Images; M. Keller/SuperStock; Greenpeace. Pages 4 & 5: J. Hordle/Rex Features; Photodisc; Apple; Motorola. Pages 6 & 7: Nickname: Southeast of England. with women ✱ groundbreaking (adjective) – using new methods for Imagestate; Fotosearch/SuperStock; News International. Pages 8 & 9: J. Greenberg/Alamy; Channel 4; Hemera. Pages 10 & 11: the first time ✱ privatisation (noun) – the process of selling Fremantle; D. Hogan, I. Gavan/Getty Images; Syco/Talkback Thames. Pages 12 & 13: PopbangColour.com; Melhi/iStockphoto; Date of Birth: 13th October SuperStock; E. Dunand, E. Oudenaarden/AFP/Getty Images; A Vincente/Alamy. Pages 14 & 15: G. Whiltshire/Rex Features; Factories closed in the North, and three million something owned by the government to a company ✱ controversial Popperfoto, P. Macdiarmid, AFP/Getty Images; SuperStock. Page 16: EMI.

1925 people in the UK were unemployed. (adjective) – causing a lot of disagreement ✱ recession (noun) – a CLUB is published five times during the school year by Mary Glasgow Magazines, Euston House, 24 Eversholt Street, London 1979 - 1990 difficult time when there is less trade and business activity in a country NW1 1DB, England Tel: +44(0)20 7756 7756. CLUB is accompanied by two CDs, Teacher’s Notes and online language Prime Minister: Situation today: There is still a large gap in wealth activities. The six Mary Glasgow Magazines for learning English in school are KIDS’ NEWS, CLICK, CROWN, TEAM, CLUB ty: Conservative than usual ✱ to crush (verb) – to destroy ✱ to defeat (verb) – to win a and CURRENT. © 2011 Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this issue may not be reproduced in whole or in part in Political Par any form or format without special permission from the publisher. Numéro de Commission Paritaire: CLUB 1214 U 85807. Prix à between the North and the South of the UK, and victory over someone ✱ rousing speech (noun) – an exciting speech l’unité = 3,40 €; à l’abonnement (5 numéros) = 17,00 €. ISSN 0307-4382 Printed in Italy by STIGE S.p.A., Via Pescarito 110, unemployment remains higher in the North. 10099 San Mauro,Torino. Directeur de la publication: Gordon Knowles.

MARCH /APRIL 2011 www.number10.gov.uk MARCH / APRIL 2011