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In the News: Margaret Thatcher

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Margaret Thatcher, the British female prime minister, has died after a stroke aged 87.

She was elected Prime Minister in 1979 and served for 11 years until she was forced to step down by her party in 1990.

A Soviet journalist called her the "Iron Lady", a nickname that became associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership style.

During her eventful time as leader she is credited with making big changes to the UK. Domestically during her three terms, she cut social welfare programs, reduced trade union power and privatized certain industries.

Internationally, she aligned Britain with the USA rather than Europe, she entered into war with Argentina over the disputed Falkland Islands and was a leading player in played an important role in end the Cold War.

In 1984 she survived an assassination attempt in which five of her colleagues were killed when the IRA blew up a hotel she was staying at.

After retiring from office, she wrote two successful memoirs and was given the title Baroness Thatcher. Due to on-going health problems, she had not made any public appearances for a number of years.

As news broke about her death, tributes poured in from all over leaders all over the world. President Barack Obama tweeted, "She stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can't be shattered."

Match there the orange words and phrases to their definitions:

  • 1 - Stroke means:





  • 2 - Step Down means:





  • 3 - Uncompromising means:





  • 4 - Domestically means:




  • 5 - Cut means





  • 6 - Aligned means:




  • 7 - Disputed means:




  • 8 - Assassination means:




  • 9 - Memoirs means:




  • 10 - Glass ceiling (idiom) means: