Difference between task and duty

[Karla]

Test No. incompl/inter-23 "Leave me alone", question 5

Alan: I see and what is the ......... you are working on?

(a) duty
(b) task
(c) work
(d) goal

Test No. incompl/inter-23 "Leave me alone", answer 5

Alan: I see and what is the task you are working on?

Correct answer: (b) task

Your answer was: incorrect
Alan: I see and what is the duty you are working on?
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What is the diference between task and duty???

Thankx

[Alan]

Thanks for your question. A task is a job of work, usually something that it is hard or difficult to complete. A duty refers to something you should or ought to do. Let me put both words into one sentence:

If you are the boss of an enterprise, it is your duty to be optimistic even when business is bad but this can often personally be a difficult task.

Hope this helps
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Cool Expressions

[Sevide]

Hi,
so why work does not fit here?What is the difference between work and task?
thanks beforehand.
it is a wonderful site
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a smile changes everything:)

[Alan]

Hi Sevide,

Task as i have explained is a difficult job or piece of work. You can't use work here because it describes the activity and not a specific job and in this sense is usually uncountable.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story 'the' vs. 'a/an'