commonwealth; federation of states; confederation; union
gap; break; pause; interval; cut; incision
national border; provincial border
to step over; to step across; to stride over; to stretch over; to span; to bridge
wooded country; wooded (timber) region; woodland; woodlands
tropical forest; tropical rainforest
to indicate; to show; to point to
settlement; village; community; (bacterial) colony
sphere; circle; range; category
previously; already; for some time; for quite a while
to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from; to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert
even; flat; level; calm; peaceful; uneventful
immortal; undying; indestructible
warm (treatment, reception, etc.); kind; cordial; hospitable; courteous; respectful
first day returning to work after the New Years holiday; first task at a new job; newcomer's first job
bulletin board; display board; notice board; electronic bulletin board; BBS
to be wide-ranging; to be diverse; to cover a lot of ground; to cover various topics
recruitment; invitation; raising (funds, donations, etc.); collection; flotation (of shares, loans, etc.)
picking up trash; collecting garbage
to reject (a manuscript); to turn down (a proposal)
dimness; obscurity; indistinctness; unclear; unintelligible
to deliver; to forward; to send; to report; to notify; to file notice (to the authorities)
public (facilities, service, etc.); communal
tolerance; open-mindedness; forbearance; generosity; magnanimity
to tear off; to peel off; to rip off; to strip off; to skin; to flay
to get; to secure; to learn; to master; to complete
conference; consultation; discussion; negotiation
to be responsible for; to bear the responsibility of
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to sniff out; to get wind of
totally (immersed in something, e.g. liquid, work); addicted
station; office; guardroom
inquiry; enquiry; investigation; (police) interview; questioning (e.g. witness, suspect); hearing
all one has; all one's possessions
fray; fighting; brawling; scuffle