Homework for you guys!

I love teaching young adults with intermediate English skills. Reason 1: I learn a lot about the lives of young Lao people. 2: Most of them are really motivated to study English, you don't have to kick their a* all the time. 3: They ask tricky questions.

In my evening class, most of the students are between 16 and 20 years old. Some of them there are really bright, and I just had quite a long conversation with a guy whose main hobby it is to study English. He really challenged me, in a very polite and interested way! Not someone to be satisfied with half-baked answers.

So now I've got some questions to the native English speakers among you guys. Help - I need the answers until Monday!!

* How would you explain the use of the word "basically"?

* Can you say that someone is "practical"? (My guess: Yes, if this person can do things like fix a lamp or weld metal)

* Why does English have so many phrasal verbs? :)

* Is a "tendency" the same as a "habit"? (OK, I was able to explain that one...)

He even taught me an idiom: "put all eggs in one basket". Apparently it means the same as "go all in", or "risk everything". I like the expression!