to cause

to serve as a cause or occasion of

tough

difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with

audit

a formal examination of an organization's or individual's accounts or financial situation

allegation

a positive assertion especially of misconduct

infighting

prolonged and often bitter dissension or rivalry among members of a group or organization

subsidiary

a company wholly controlled by another

to grip

to seize or hold firmly

to sob

to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath

expletive

an exclamatory word or phrase (that is obscene or profane)

to peak

to reach a maximum

that ... of a ... (It's not that interesting of a story)

так(ой) уж ... (Это не такая уж и интересная история)

patriarchy

[пэтриарки]

mid-terms

an examination at midterm

to relate (to)

to have relationship or connection (the readings relate to his lectures)