depend on vs hang on

[Lost_Soul]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #27 "The Two Dogs", question 9

The house dog told him to criticize their master who had taught him not how to work but how to ......... on the work of others.

(a) hang
(b) support
(c) attach
(d) depend

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #27 "The Two Dogs", answer 9

The house dog told him to criticize their master who had taught him not how to work but how to depend on the work of others.

Correct answer: (d) depend

Your answer was: incorrect
The house dog told him to criticize their master who had taught him not how to work but how to hang on the work of others.
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Hi, Dear sir !

Could you explain to me why not "hang on" ?
I heard that it means the same as "depend on", like in this sentence: "The result will hang on whether the secret is discovered"

thanks
LS

[Mister Micawber]

.
The results, or the work, or whatever, 'hangs on'; a person does not 'hang on', in the meaning of 'depend on'.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Saneta]

The house dog told him ... him=the hound dog?
If I wrote: The house dog told it... (it=the hound dog), would it be also ok?
Thanks.;-]

[Mister Micawber]

No, not really. In this story, the dogs have been anthropomorphized, so they should be referred to using human personal pronouns.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's