Abbreviations Used in Employment Ads

Read each abbreviation and guess its meaning. Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. FT
   Answerfull-time work

2. PT
   Answerpart-time work

3. FT/PT
   Answerfull-time work or part-time work

4. 20 hrs
   Answer20 hours per week

5. am/pm
   Answerday or night work

6. eves
   Answerevenings

7. M-F
   AnswerMonday through Friday

8. sal
   Answersalary

9. $9 p/h
   Answer$9 per hour

10. $450/wk
    Answer$450 per week

11. $1,200/mo
    Answer$1,200 per month

12. GED
    AnswerGeneral Educational Development credential required

13. HS Dip
    Answerhigh school diploma required

14. exp
    Answerexperience

15. pref
    Answerpreferred

16. req
    Answerrequired

17. No exp req
    Answerno experience required

18. exp pref
    Answerexperience preferred

19. exp req
    Answerexperience required

20. 2 yrs exp pref
    Answer2 years of experience preferred

21. min 2 yrs exp
    Answerminimum of 2 years experience

22. refs
    Answerreference letters required

23. immed openings
    Answerimmediate openings

24. avail immed
    Answeravailable immediately

25. apply ASAP
    Answerapply as soon as possible

(C) 2002 Nevitt Reagan

Vocabulary for University Students

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. Chris told us to hand in our term paper next Monday.

   a. to write our paper by hand
   b. to submit
   c. to correct
   d. to proof-read

   Answerb

2. Professor Wilson is a wonderful teacher but there are too many assignments in his course.

   a. His marks are always low.
   b. There are too many books to read.
   c. He often gives homework.
   d. There are too many students in his course.

   Answerc

3. Since I wanted to buy the new course catalog, I had to put in an order through the store manager.

   a. The store-manager didn't want to buy it.
   b. The course catalog was out of print.
   c. I had to ask for it to be bought for me.
   d. The computer was out of order.

   Answerc

4. Did you know it's down to three of us for the job in the library?

   a. The three of us will be working in the library.
   b. There are only three applicants left.
   c. The library only hires three students.
   d. At least three students will be retained.

   Answerb

5. I'll really have to hit the books this weekend.

   a. I have to tidy my room.
   b. There is a book fair this weekend.
   c. My books need a cover.
   d. I have to study.

   Answerd

6. To major in astrophysics you need an extra math course.

   a. To get higher grades in astrophysics
   b. To specialize in astrophysics
   c. To finish your astrophysics paper
   d. To better understand the astrophysics course

   Answerb

7. Did you know Mark was a sophomore?

   a. Mark is a second-year student.
   b. Mark majors in philosophy.
   c. Mark has a special grant.
   d. Mark's parents are both university professors.

   Answera

8. I haven't completed all the prerequisites for this course.

   a. I still have to fill in some papers.
   b. I have to finish some assignments.
   c. I haven't done enough research.
   d. I have to do some other courses first.

   Answerd

9. This year I will need to find off-campus housing.

   a. I will live on the campus.
   b. I will buy a house next to the campus.
   c. I will live outside the campus.
   d. The campus will provide a house for me.

   Answerc is the best answer.b isn't the best answer.

10. Alice, if I were you, I'd skip the meeting.

    a. Alice should prepare for the meeting.
    b. Alice should put the meeting on her agenda.
    c. The meeting is going to be cancelled.
    d. Alice shouldn't bother to go to the meeting.

    Answerd

(C) 2000 by Liliane Bois-Simon

L or R?

L & R Minimal Pair Quiz

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. What is the proper way to ___ a business letter?
   a. light
   b. wright
   c. right
   d. write
   Answerd
2. A heroic tenor is usually the ___ character in operas.
   a. lead
   b. read
   c. reed
   Answera
3. The ___ is a member of the cat family that lives in the wilds of North America.
   a. lynx
   b. rinks
   c. links
   Answera
4. I ___ him my umbrella because it was raining and he forgot to bring his own.
   a. lent
   b. rent
   Answera
5. I offered to ___ him my umbrella for a small charge but he declined.
   a. lent
   b. rent
   Answerb
6. Dieters believe that food spends a moment on the ___ and a lifetime on the hips.
   a. lips
   b. rips
   Answera
7. The players went to the local bar to ___in their victory.
   a. level
   b. revel
   Answerb
8. To ensure fairness, it is important to maintain a ___ or flat playing field.
   a. level
   b. revel
   Answera
9. The word "___" can refer to an internal organ or to an organism that is not dead.
   a. river
   b. liver
   Answerb
10. The phone call from the rescue team was a ___ of hope for the family waiting for word from the crash site.
    a. lay
    b. ray
    Answerb
11. The chest of drawers had a ___ runner on top to protect it from dust.
    a. lace
    b. race
    Answera
12. The track event had a ___ runner waiting area.
    a. lace
    b. race
    Answerb
13. He should not read a ___ magazine like Playboy in front of children.
    a. lacy
    b. racy
    Answerb
14. The cushion had a ___ cover with frills and bows.
    a. lacy
    b. racy
    Answera
15. They had ___ together twice before fully clothed as Amish custom allowed.
    a. rain
    b. lain
    Answerb
16. To ___ means to attack physically or with words
    a. lam
    b. ram
    Answera
17. To ___ means to hit or collide with an object.
    a. lam
    b. ram
    Answerb
18. The ___ is a monetary unit in South Africa.
    a. rand
    b. land
    Answera
19. Her hair smelled ___ because she had not shampooed it recently.
    a. lank
    b. rank
    Answerb

(C) 1998 Donna Tatsuki

Lie or Lay?

Make a choice by clicking on the radio button, then compare it with the correct answer hidden under the answer button.

1. He was ___ when he said that he didn't see anyone there.
   lying
   laying
   Answer lying
2. She ___ about her experience in order to get that job.
   lay
   lied
   laid
   Answer lied

You'll feel much better if you just ___ down and rest for a while.
lie
lay
Answer lie

He ___ the books on the table.
lied
lay
laid
Answer laid

The hens aren't ___ any eggs this week.
lying
laying
Answer laying

Why did they ___ so many employees off at that company last year ?
lay
lie
Answer lay

He___ a serious charge against his employer.
has lied
has laid
has lain
Answer has laid

What I did ___ heavily on my conscience ever since.
has lain
has laid
has lied
Answer has lain

The solution ___ with you.
lies
lays
Answer lies

Remember lie, lied, lied ( tell a lie)lie, lay, lainlay, laid, laid

(C) 1997 Vera Mello

Connecting Words

Choose the connecting word that completes the
sentences meaningfully. Then check your answer.

1. I don't know ___ you want to meet that lady. She's such a snob.
   that
   why
   when
   Answerwhy
2. He looks ___ he were sick.
   even if
   even though
   as if, as though
   Answeras if, as though

He asked ___ he could smoke a cigarette.
whether, if
what
that
Answerwhether, if

He insists ___ I be there.
if
that
as if
Answerthat

He punished the little boy ___ put salt in his coffee.
who
which
whenever
Answerwho, that

It was raining hard ___ we left the office.
where
when
although
Answerwhen

He'll have the work done ___ that you arrive.
when
after
by the time
Answerby the time

___ I was saying, how many of you want to attend the conference?
As
So
For
AnswerAs

He must be rich, ___ he spends a lot of money on gifts for his girlfriend.
but
for
in order to
Answerfor

We have been having problems with the heater ___ we bought it.
when
while
since
Answersince

___ he said did not please us.
That
Which
What
AnswerWhat

I liked the car, ___ I bought it.
so
for
even so
Answerso

The picture ___ is hanging over my bed was painted by an art student.
which
who
whom
Answerthat, which

Her parents will be very happy ___ she passes with flying colors.
so that
if
though
Answerif

(C) 1997 Vera Mello

All miners are saved

One by one the miners who had been trapped underground for more than two months in Chile ascended to the surface, ending their subterranean captivity. The world watched, their nation cheered, their families wept.

Today, we invite you to watch this CNN 10-minute report on the rescued miners.

Enjoy, and celebrate life!

Transcription to the report.

Prof. Mariano Ignacio

Centro Univ. de Idiomas

The "Mother" Quiz

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. ___ is the mother of good luck.
   a. Diligence
   b. Experience
   c. Intelligence
   d. Arrogance
   Answera

2. ___ is the mother of wisdom.
   a. Diligence
   b. Experience
   c. Intelligence
   d. Necessity
   Answerb

3. ___ is the mother of invention.
   a. Diligence
   b. Experience
   c. Intelligence
   d. Necessity
   Answerd

4. He that would the ___ win, must with the mother first begin.
   a. battle
   b. argument
   c. lottery
   d. daughter
   Answerd

5. "Like mother, like daughter" means ___.
   a. If you admire the mother you will also admire the daughter.
   b. Daughters tend to do the same things as their mothers.
   Answerb

6. "Tied to one's mother's apron strings" means ___.
   a. A person likes cooking.
   b. A person has a fetish for his or her mother's clothing.
   c. A person is dependent on his or her mother.
   d. A person has very strict ideas about what is proper behavior.
   Answerc

7. "Every mother's son (of someone)" means ___.
   a. Absolutely everyone with no exception
   b. Anyone who is underage
   c. All who are immature
   d. Anyone who is living at home
   Answera

8. "Old enough to be someone's mother" means ___.
   a. A person is as old as someone's parents (too old for a relationship).
   b. A person is old enough to have children.
   c. A person is well matched emotionally with another person.
   d. A person ought to act more mature.
   Answera

9. Children are the ___ that hold a mother to life. (Sophocles)
   a. stitches
   b. anchors
   c. pillars
   d. glue
   Answerb

10. Every beetle is a gazelle in the ___ of its mother. (Moorish Proverb)
    a. mind
    b. view
    c. eyes
    d. heart
    Answerc

11. A ___ son is the heaviness of its mother. (Bible, Proverbs)
    a. foolish
    b. friendly
    c. frank
    d. fiendish
    Answera

12. The ideal mother, like the ideal ___ is fiction.(Milton B. Sapirstein, Paradoxes of Everyday Life, 1955)
    a. house
    b. job
    c. marriage
    d. vacation
    Answerc

13. A mother is glad to get the loveliest child ___. (Emerson)
    a. dressed
    b. ready
    c. home
    d. asleep
    Answerd

14. No woman can call herself ___ unless she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be amother. (Margaret Sanger, Parade, Dec.1, 1963)
    a. happy
    b. open
    c. free
    d. modern
    Answerc

15. What mother sings to the cradle goes all the way ___ to the coffin. (Henry Ward Beecher, Proverbsfrom Plymouth Pulpit, 1887)
    a. down
    b. after
    c. on
    d. in
    Answera

16. Who takes the child by the ___ takes the mother by the heart. (Danish Proverb)
    a. storm
    b. hand
    c. shirttails
    d. arm
    Answerb

17. Men are what ___ mothers made them. (Emerson)
    a. some
    b. other
    c. their
    d. many
    Answerc

18. Only mothers can think of the ___ because they give birth to it in their children. (Maxim Gorky)
    a. future
    b. past
    c. present
    d. possible
    Answera

19. Motherly love begins with oneness and ___ to separateness. (Erich Fromm)
    a. ends
    b. leads
    c. results
    d. depends
    Answerb

20. A motherless son is a fish ___low water. (Burmese Proverb)
    a. out
    b. over
    c. in
    d. on
    Answerc

Copyright (C) 1998 by Donna Tatsuki