(not) so; (not) particularly; (not) very; (not) that much
earnest; sincere; pressing; urgent; pertinent; appropriate
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
(written) treatment of current events
comprehension; consent; understanding; OK; roger (on two-way radio)
to go out of use; to become obsolete; to die out; to go out of fashion
this time; now; next time; another time; recently; lately
unification; bringing together; generalization; control; supervision
labor-relations board; labour-relations board
even if; even though; even; too; whether ... or ...; no matter (what, where, who, etc.)
government office; government agency; authorities
branch office; branch store
powerful person; influential person
unavoidably; inevitably; necessarily; reluctantly; against one's will
signboard; sign; draw; attraction; reputation (of a shop); name
to separate (by distance, time, etc.); to isolate; to interpose; to have between; to alienate; to estrange
very much; exceedingly; extremely
ingenious; skillful; clever; deft
to wake up; to sober up; to come to one's senses; to become enlightened