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Vocabulary Quiz
made it • interned • desolate
cheerful • conservative
  1. The prisoners were here for a few months before they were sent overseas.
  2. She is pleasant to be around, because she is always .
  3. I can't believe that he through college without ever drinking a beer.
  4. Most of his friends are on the side , but they are very friendly.
  5. After all the trees were cut down, this area was nothing but land.
Comprehension Quiz
Answer the following questions about the interview.
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733 Grandfather
Conrad talks about his amazing grandfather.

  • Transcript
  • Audio Notes

make it through

I'd say he's been through a lot but he's made it through.

When you 'make it through,' it means that you survive despite set backs or difficulties.

Notice the following:

  1. I am not sure the flowers will make it through the winter.
  2. The doctor was unsure whether he would make it through until his next birthday.


They decided to intern them and put them into camps.

When you 'intern' someone it means that you imprison them.

Notice the following:

  1. They interned them for political reasons.
  2. There were quite a lot of people interned during the war.


These camps were located in the most desolate place that could be found.

A 'desolate' place can be either a place where nobody lives, a place where nothing can grow or both. If the camps were in desolated areas, they were probably in the middle of open areas of land where nothing could easily survive.

Notice the following:

  1. The place where he lived was very desolate.
  2. I think they sent the prisoners to desolate places to keep them away from the rest of society.


Conrad's grandfather is still very cheerful.

If you are 'cheerful,' it means that you are happy.

Notice the following:

  1. If you try and stay cheerful, it will make everything seem so much brighter.
  2. She is a very cheerful person.

on the conservative side

His thinking is rather on the conservative side.

When you are on the 'conservative side,' it means that you like to do things in a traditional way and are not very open to or accepting of change.

Notice the following:

  1. She decorated the house on the conservative side.
  2. My parents think on the conservative side of things.