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Improve your vocabulary, listening or reading skills with the quizzes below.
Quiz 1: Vocabulary Focus
suppose • depends • cubical
gross • detests • don't wish • associate
  1. I car trouble upon anyone in weather like this.
  2. Cleaning the bathroom is a really chore.
  3. I it is difficult to understand because you aren't a mother.
  4. What we do tomorrow really on the weather.
  5. He decorates his at work for every holiday.
  6. She the sound of someone brushing his teeth.
  7. We that smell with our grandmother.
Quiz 2: Comprehension Q's
Answer the following questions about the interview.
VideoVideo Response
Mixer Topic

MX02 Bad Jobs

Hear six different people talks about jobs they would not want to have.

  • Transcript
  • Audio Slide Show
  • Vocabulary

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I suppose

I suppose one job that I would really hate is to be a homemaker.

You can use the phrase 'I suppose' to say what your opinion about something is. It is similar to 'I think' or 'I guess.'  Notice the following:

  1. I suppose it would be great to live in the suburbs if you liked a quiet life.
  2. I suppose I should go home now. It's getting really late.

depended on

I think if my income depended on selling, I would probably starve.

When used like this 'depend on' refers to a connection between two things. In the example it is saying that if the amount of money this person made was decreased if he didn't sell anything then he would probably make no money. In other words, he is not a good salesman and he doesn't sell much. Notice the following:

  1. The university that you get into depends on your grades.
  2. I don't know if I will be there tomorrow. It depends on how I feel.

office cubical

I would hate to sit in an office cubical all day.

A 'cubical' is a small square space with temporary walls around it that is separate from other work stations in an office.  Notice the following:

  1. Chan Ho works in the cubical next to mine.
  2. The cubicals at work give you almost no privacy.

it's gross, it stinks

That job is gross, it stinks.

We use the word 'gross' to talk about something that is disgusting. 'Stinks' is used to talk about someone or something that is terrible or not fun.  Notice the following:

  1. That food was gross.  I'll never eat there again!
  2. Date your brother?  No way, he's gross, he stinks!

I don't wish (something) upon anybody

I don't wish that job upon anybody.

We use the phrase 'I don't wish (something) upon anybody' to talk about a very negative situation that we hope never happens to ourselves or others.  Notice the following:


  1. I don't wish a broken heart upon anybody.
  2. Jack lost his job last week.  I don't wish that upon anybody.

detest

I would absolutely detest that job.

The word 'detest' has the same meaning as 'hate'.  The two are interchangable. Because 'detest' is less commonly used than hate it has a stronger feeling when it is used. Notice the following:

  1. I detest rap music.
  2. She detests hot weater.

I associate that as

I associate that as being a really awful job.

When we 'associate' something, that means we connect it in our mind with something else.  Notice the following:

  1. I associate expresso with outdoor cafés.
  2. People often associate Americans as being aggressive.