Video and research
par Me Esse
Prepare your viewing of the trailer of THE IRON LADY
Look at the picture on the left, what can you see ? Imagine why it was chosen as poster for the movie.
I- The British political parties
1. What was the former name of the Conservative Party ?
2. Which side/wing does it have in the British political system ?
3. What is their nickname ?
1. Which side/wing does it have in the British political system ?
To know more about how the Bristish constitutional monarchy works, click here.
1. How is the position of Prime Minister obtained ?
2. What is the group of all important ministers and secretaries of state called ?
3. What is the equivalent group from the opposition called ?
4. Where exactly is the Prime Minister’s official residence situated ?
5. In the list of Prime Ministers serving under the reign of HRH Queen Elisabeth II, how is Margaret Thatcher different from others ?
1. What are her date and place of birth, maiden name, and titles ?
2. Why was she nicknamed “The Iron Lady” ?
3. What was originally her job ? Which other employment did she have before becoming an MP* ?
4. How many times was she reelected as Prime Minister ?
5. Why did she resign in November 1990 ?
6. Why is she now entitled to sit at the House of Lords ?
*MP : Member of Parliament
III- The movie trailer
1. What do you notice about her voice ?
2. Fill in the blanks with the missing words in the captions :
She was an _____________________
Who fought _____ _________ ____
She was a _______________
Who never ______________ _____
3. Why was she made fun of ? (If you don’t know the meaning of “screech”, look up in a dictionary)
4. “If you want to change this party, ________________ it.” “You want to change this country, _______________ it”
5. Fill in the blanks with what she says : “Watch your words, for they become __________, Watch your actions, for they become your _____________________, And watch your character, for it becomes your _______________ !”
6. Fill in the blanks :
“With all due respect, when one has been to ________________ ?
With all due respect, I ___________________________________________________________.”
7. “If this is the best you can do, I’d better ___________ your job as well as _______________ else’s !”
8. 1’50 -1’53 : Why do the people get away from her ? (Listen)
MORE :
About the attack on the Falkland islands : speech at the House of Commons by Margaret Thatcher, 1982
To understand her point of view about the Falkland islands, listen to the speech she made announcing they had been invaded :
Watch to 1’50, and answer the following :
1. “ We are here because [..] British sovereign territory has been ___________ (..)”
2. “Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the whole House will join in me in ____________________ totally this unprovoked aggression by the government of ____________________ against British territory.”
3. What is the reaction in the House ?
IF YOU STILL HAVE TIME :
Another milestone in Mrs. Thatcher’s policy, the miners’ strike : watch the BBc report
