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- 01.What does "like them" mean here? Could you explain why did he say it twice?
He repeats "like them" here because he is emphasizing this expression to understand if Rachel actually likes them. So '"like them" like them' is used here to mean she truly likes them, because he thinks she might only be saying she likes them just because they are expensive. You can use this way of repeating "like" to clarify whether someone truly likes something or they just saying they like it but don't actually mean it. Ex: Do you "like me" like me, or just like me as a friend?
- 02.Can I say "in my life" instead of "with my life" here?
No, it would not sound as natural to say "in my life" here instead of "with my life". This is because "with" indicates use in this context. He is talking about what he wants to do "in life", however, he is expressing also what he should do with his past life experiences. Thus, he uses the preposition "with" to express the use of his life.
- 03.Is it common to consider the things as "he"?
Some people do assign gender to objects. This is most common with cars. This is because they feel a close connection to it. But it's not common for a lot of inanimate objects like a carpet. However, here the "carpet" is considered less as an object and more of a pet. Even the line "he's not gonna bite" is similar to what one would say about a dog! So using "he" is appropriate within this context. Ex: She's a beauty! What model of a car is she? Ex: Your dog is so cute. What's his name?
- 04.What's "religiously" mean here? Does it have to do something with religion?
Here, the meaning is actually non-religious! "Religiously" means consistently and regularly. So he's saying that he consistently avoids stating a political opinion. Ex: Jane goes to that cafe religiously every Saturday morning. Ex: Every month, our family goes on a road trip, almost religiously.
- 05.What's "for what it's worth" mean?
"For what it's worth" is an informal expression used to preface an opinion. It expresses that the speaker isn't sure whether their opinion will be useful or valuable, but they will say it anyway. Ex: For what it's worth, I think you're an amazing artist. Ex: I loved the song you wrote, for what it's worth.
- 06.Does the word "forever" a compound word that is composed of "for" and "ever?"
Originally, yes, but it is its own distinct word today. In the late 14th century, it was used as two words, but it started being used as a compound by the 17th century. As of the late 19th century, it was a commonly used word that was no longer seen as being formed from two distinct parts.
- 07.What's the main difference between a "pharmacy" and a "drugstore?"
A pharmacy is where mainly medicine is sold with a few other products. A drugstore has a pharmacy and also sells various other products. A "drugstore" could be considered a "convenience store" that has a bit of everything. Ex: Can you go to the drugstore and get some bread and painkillers? Ex: I went to the pharmacy, but they didn't have the medicine I needed.
- 08.What does "mess up" mean? and what else can I use instead of "mess up"?
"Mess up" means "make mistakes" or "ruin", depending on the context. You can say "make mistakes" instead of "mess up" when referring to a person's actions, and use "ruin" when something physical is being distorted. Ex: I always make mistakes when taking tests! Ex: I ruined my shoes when I stepped in mud. Ex: The wind messed up my hair. Ex: It won't be too long until the new guy messes up.
- 09.What does "give a damn" mean?
The full expression is "I don't give a damn," which is used to mean that someone doesn't care at all about something. Similar expressions include, "I don't give a shit," and "I don't give a fuck," however, these expressions are a bit crude and very informal in nature. It is commonly used as a noun in this context. Ex: I don't give a damn about his opinion. Ex: I don't give a damn what he thinks about me.
- 010.Can I put "the" before "long-term trends"? If I put "the", how the meaning will change?
Remember that "the" is often used to specify specific or particular things. The speaker is talking about "long-term" trends in general, so it isn't necessary to use an article here. If you wanted to use "the," you would need to specify the type of long-term trend, for example. Ex: Climate scientists are interested in studying long-term trends. Ex: Climate scientists are interested in studying the long-term trends of plant species facing extinction.