live by 意为“以……为生”，by后接动名词，表示方式；

live on 也作“以……为主”解释，但on后接名词，表示主语主要吃什么，即主食是什么或表示主语的收入。如：

（1）They lived by fishing and hunting. 他们靠海猎为生。

（2）The six Indian blind men lived by begging.这六个印度盲人靠乞讨为生。

（3）People in the south live on rice.南方人以大米为主食。

（4）They lived on a small income.　他们靠微薄的收入维持生活。

  义务教育英语课程标准五级词汇表(点击每一个单词，可直接链接到这个单词的用法.)

alive , live . living. lively

经典考题：

1.Do you know                  ?

    A. which floor he lives        B. which floor he lives on

    C. he lives on which floor   D. which floor does he lives on

2. I want to see Mrs Wang , but I don't know              .

    A, she lives where  B. she where lives

    C. where she lives  D. where does she live

3. Could you tell me                   ?

    A. which room he lives  B. which room he lived

    B. which room did he live in  D. which room he lives in

4. We all know that pandas live on  b            .

Keys:

1.B 2. C 3.D 4. bamboo