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.