'get on in the world' versus 'get by in the world'

[Haihao]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #163 "Idioms with the phrasal verb get", question 7

The days when Americans can ......... in the world on English only will soon be gone.

(a) get in
(b) get off
(c) get by
(d) get on

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #163 "Idioms with the phrasal verb get", answer 7

The days when Americans can get by in the world on English only will soon be gone.

Correct answer: (c) get by

Your answer was: incorrect
The days when Americans can get on in the world on English only will soon be gone.
_________________________

Hi,

I tought 'get on in the world' (= be successful) was a better choice for the test. Also, should 'the days that' be better than 'the days when'?

haihao

[Conchita]

As I see it, 'get by in the world' in the sense of 'manage', though informal, has about the same meaning as 'get on in the world'. Perhaps it's a matter of not wanting to repeat the same preposition in one clause?

As for 'the days when' versus 'the days that', in this context, the former sounds much better to me.