arguments for and against; pros and cons; mixed reception; mixed reviews
to weigh on one's mind; to bother one; to be interested (in); to be curious (about); to feel like (doing); to feel inclined to
(mental) agony; anguish; suffering; distress
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
sentimental; emotional; maudlin; mawkish
A Tale of Two Cities (1859 novel by Charles Dickens)
encounter; running into; meeting with (e.g. an accident); being confronted with (e.g. a difficulty)
returning alive; surviving; reaching the home plate
additional printing; reprint; reissue
to take offense; to take offence; to get angry; to lose one's temper
going to the United States
federal parliament; federal congress
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
class; heading; group; category
aim (of a gun, bow, etc.); aim; object; objective
to oust; to dethrone; to drive down (e.g. into a valley); to chase down; to capture (a castle); to seize (by driving out the garrison)
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864)
major powers of the world; great powers
death from disease; death from illness
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
failure (in an examination); failing to advance (to the next year); falling short of the standard; not making the grade
mental disorder; mental disease
devil worship; diabolism; diabolatry; Satanism
introduction (from abroad); transmission (through successive generations); being handed down (from generation to generation); being passed down
drought; long spell of dry weather
teaching the basics; initiation; introduction
Nanjing (China); Nanking; pumpkin; squash; Chinese; Southeast Asian
to enclose; to surround; to shelter (e.g. a criminal); to shield; to keep (e.g. a mistress); to store (vegetables, fruit, etc.)
reinforcement; augmentation; strengthening; increase; buildup
change; alteration; modification
Genesis (book of the Bible)
deletion; elimination; erasure; striking out
Minister for Foreign Affairs