be popular with 受....欢迎
across the country 全国
with the exception of 除...之外
be meant to 旨在
address the difficulty 解决困难
impoverished or chaotic homes 贫困或困难家庭
on one's own 独立做某事
give a pass to 对.....给予通行证
be close to 接近于
be allowde to do sth 被允许做某事
no more than 仅仅
empower sb. to do sth. 赋予某人做某事的权利
across-the-board rule 一项呆板的、一刀切的规定
at the same time 与此同时
thorny question 棘手的问题
a significant portion of ....的很大一部分
be responsible for 负责
look into 调查
conduct public hearings 举行公众听众会
it is not too late for sb. to do sth. 为时不晚
