Vacant vs. empty

[rich7]

Test No. errors/inter-16 "Sleep well (2)", question 5

For what seemed ages she read through the situations empty in her local newspaper for a new job.

(a) seemed
(b) through
(c) empty

Test No. errors/inter-16 "Sleep well (2)", answer 5

For what seemed ages she read through the situations vacant in her local newspaper for a new job.

Correct entry: vacant
The error was: (c) empty

You have found the error but your entry is incorrect.
For what seemed ages she read through the situations empty in her local newspaper for a new job.
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situation or position?

[Alan]

The set expression is situations vacant. It is a description which covers many kinds of jobs and an explanation for why it is situation rather than position is that the former is more general whereas the latter (position) is more specific. You would in fact apply for a position that you had seen in a situations vacant column in a newspaper.
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