1. a breakdown truck
2. on the brink of war
3. call-up for army reserve
an order to report for military duty
4. forces on standby
standby=spare
something (or someone) you can rely on in an emergency,.
eg: the bicycle you keep as a standby in case your old car won't start.
5. I've been mobilized
the aremed forces completely immobilized
make ready for action or use
6.assume command of.....
assume: accept as truth without checking
7. blow up=explode
8. the old police maxim
maxim=motto
9. autocart doctors the petrol
10. I'm intrigued by this petrol business
the feeling of curiosity or interest
11. I'd like to get to the bottom of it
12. in a state of deterioration
13. The situation is catastrophic
catastrophic=harmful=disastrous.
eg: When the stock market crashes, it’s a catastrophic event for investors
14. oil shares have slumped to half their value
slump=drop=fall
15.The mind boggles!
boggle=amaze=astonish
eg: Your mind might boggle at all the information your physics teacher writes on the board on the first day of class.
16. storage depots
storage tank
17.on the verge of success
=on the brink of
18. Now we must mingle with the crew,we don't want attract attention.
When things mingle, that means they mix together while still retaining their individual qualities.
19. the world situation is grave
grave=serious
20. one single spark could set the world ablaze
spark: eg: Your dad might tell everyone to stand back from the bonfire so they don't get burned by a spark.
ablaze=alight sth is on fire
eg: Once your campfire is ablaze, you can toast marshmallows over it.
清醒，恢复理智
21. lost their wits
22. They'll be interrogated ashore
interrogated: ask someone a bunch of questions.
23.
