rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
deserted village; poor village
to be left without means of sustenance; to be turned adrift in the streets; to be rendered homeless; to be out in the cold; to be down and out
human rights organization; human rights organisation
to obligate; to make compulsory; to require; to mandate
offer; tender; providing; sponsoring (a TV program)
economic superpower; economic powerhouse
to go against; to act contrary to; to run counter to; to deviate from
ruin; fall; collapse; downfall; bankruptcy
realization (of goods into money); conversion (into money); liquidation
social conditions; social situation; state of society; social landscape; social climate
assumption (of office); taking up (a post); inauguration; installation
preface; introduction; preamble
school tradition; school customs; school spirit
Qing dynasty (China, 1644-1912); Ch'ing dynasty; Manchu dynasty
current student; enrolled student
wings of a stage; side stage; coulisse
not bad; not half bad; pretty good
next term; next period; next version; next release
assembly hall; meeting place; venue; grounds
number of votes polled; poll votes
possession; occupation; occupancy
global scale; worldwide scale
(the) mainstream; main course (of a river); main stream
(world of) politics; political world; political circles
economic world; financial circles; business community
den of vice; rogue's den; brothel; red-light district; cluttered room
ingenuity; resourcefulness
strategy; stratagem; trick; scheme; plot
to be itching to put one's skills to use
vice president (of a club or organization, organisation)
unexpected meeting; coincidence
worthy opponent; worthy rival; good match
to be mixed; to be blended with; to be combined; to associate with; to mingle with; to interest
supreme ruler; conqueror; champion; winner; titleholder
self-conceit; self-centeredness; vainglory
manufacturing; processing; treatment; machining