to come to a dead end; to come to a standstill; to reach a deadlock; to reach an impasse; to reach a stalemate
simulation; simulation (of a foul); diving; flopping
approximately; about; promise; appointment; shortening; reduction
government; government service; the bureaucracy; government post; government official
10^12; 1,000,000,000,000; trillion; sign; omen; indication
semi-governmental; semi-official
gross domestic product; GDP
about; roughly; generally; on the whole; completely; quite
to account for; to make up; to occupy (a place, position, etc.); to hold (a rank, seat, etc.); to occupy (one's mind, heart, etc.); to weigh (on one's mind)
to maintain itself; to last; to make itself pay; to make a living; to keep going
sudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp; drastic; radical
reduction; curtailment; cut; cutback; scaling down; contraction
unprecedented; never seen before
major recession; serious (economic) depression; Long Depression (1873-1896); Great Depression; Great Recession (2007-2009)
to visit and comfort or console; to go to see (e.g. someone in hospital); to ask after (e.g. someone's health); to attack; to hit; to strike
announcement (esp. over public-address system); official announcement; formal information release
near; neighbourhood; nearly (e.g. "it took nearly one year"); close to; shortly; soon
to make good one's escape; to get away; to outrun; to hold on (and win); to win narrowly
loss; damage; harm; disadvantage; handicap; drawback
decision; settlement; confirmation; establishment
like this; this sort; this way
at that time; in those days
duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff); liability; onus
heavy; weighty; heavy (feeling); depressed; slow; sluggish; important (position, responsibility, etc.)
public finance; financial affairs; financial situation
to concern; to be related
to touch; to feel; to touch (with); to experience; to come in contact with; to touch on (a subject); to allude to
declining birth rate and aging population
many problems; various problems
plentiful; abundant; ample; lavish
interview (on television, in a newspaper, etc.)
selecting a suitable person; personnel selection
to peep (through); to peek; to await (one's chance); to guess; to infer
regarding; in; to; towards; with regards to
pattern; figure; state; condition; conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems; model
quiet; silent; slow; unhurried; calm; peaceful
talk (esp. by a talk-show host, or by a stage musician to the audience between songs); banter; talk show; toque
price; cost; value; worth; value
passionate; fervent; affecting; moving; touching
a moment; a minute; an instant; stubborn; obstinate
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
government; administration; ministry
to be sticky; to be adhesive; to persevere; to persist; to stick to
end; ending; close; end of (one's) life; death
(death from) starvation; starving to death