Let's improve English Vocabulary!

How about checking with your English vocabulary?

Today, I will give you the sentences with blanks so that you can fill them up with proper words (using the given hints) to make them complete.

1.   A: How come we see more and more unexpectedly devastating natural disasters everywhere in the world?

    B: Well, all these apocalyptic phenomena might have been predestined to      happen. Nature __________ last.  (*meaning: Mother nature always has a chance to win in the end.)

  

    2.   The world has been hugely impressed by the democratic resilience shown by Korean people throughout the current political turmoil caused by the addle-headed president. They had been steadfastly protesting in the bitter cold street night and day for the impeachment of the president. Finally, they ___________ it out (*meaning: to endure, last, or survive challenging circumstances with resilience and determination) and made it.

 

    3.   I was just trying to inten_____________ (*meaning: to soften or to tenderize….) his stubborn heart, not to adulterate his pure intentions or logic behind his assertions.

 

    4.   Why don’t you ask her out? I just don’t understand you have a lot of hang-______ about dating. (*meaning: have a feeling of fear, anxiety, or embarrassment about something)

 

    5.   Have you checked out the newly opened cafeteria in the main street? I found it pretty qua_______ (*meaning: having an old-fashioned or unusual quality or appearance that is usually attractive or appealing) and perfectly nostalgic!

 

    6.   I enjoy listening to his live stream show very much. It is full of wit, sarcasm, and vitr___________ (*meaning: bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism) about stupid politicians we are witnessing today.

 

    7.   The debate was totally dull and insipid because all the panels invited were way too doct_________________ (*meaning: stubbornly or excessively devoted to a doctrine or theory without regard to practical considerations) and out of touch with public emotions at all.

 

    8.   We need to do our thorough research and incorporate careful planning before going __________first into (*meaning: to jump into something quickly and without hesitation, often implying a lack of careful planning or consideration) the project. Otherwise, we’ll blow it for sure.

 

    9.   Well, I’m not much of a big fan of tr____________ (*meaning: overly sentimental/ sweet) films that are oftentimes spoiled by sappy tear-jerking scenes full of sentimentality.

 

    10. The valedictorian student’s speech ran the g__________ of (*meaning: to include, express, or experience all the different things of that kind, or a wide variety of them) feelings and emotions that he and his classmates have experienced throughout their high school years.

 

 

 

Answer Keys 

    1.  Nature bats last.

    2.  rode it out

    3.  intenerate

    4.  hang-ups

    5.  quaint

    6.  vitriol

    7.  doctrinaire

    8.  going headfirst into

    9.  treacly

    10. ran the gamut of

Time to play the puzzle from NPR sunday on-air challenge!

Every answer today is a familiar three-word phrase in the form "___ and ___," in which the first and last words start with the letter S.

Ex. Free from danger and injury  -->  Safe and sound

 

    1.  What "wins the race" in a fable

    2.  What may break your bones, in a playground saying

    3.  Kind of pork at a Chinese restaurant

    4.  Like some perfume ads in a magazine

    5.  Nickname for the American flag

    6.  1970s sitcom starring Redd Foxx

    7.  Novel by Jane Austen

    8.  Spotlessly clean

    9.  Police action that may require a warrant

    10. Whiskey drink

    11.  One of America's third biggest book publishers

    12.  Pleasantly brief, like a good speech

 

 

Answer Keys

    1.  Slow and Steady

    2.  Sticks and Stones

    3.  Sweet and Sour

    4.  Scratch and Sniff

    5.  Stars and Stripes

    6.   Sanford and Son

    7.  Sense and Sensibility

    8.  Spic and Span   

    9.  Search and Seizure

    10.  Scotch and Soda or Seven and Seven

    11. Simon and Schuster

    12. Short and Sweet

HEALTH SERIES #28: MORINGA

It is natural to become physically weaker as one ages. However, it is possible to stay younger and healthier than your physical age by what you eat at your table every day. More and more medical research and studies have shown the medicinal properties and benefits of herbs and healthy diet.

As of this new year of 2024, let us stay healthy by looking into a variety of herbs one by one, their nutrition facts, and healthy diet so that we are able to lead a life with more aplomb even if we happen to deviate from the optimal state of health.

 

# 28. MORINGA

Have you heard of or tasted this green colored leaves in powder type or as a cup of tea? Moringa powder comes from a tree named 1.“drum_________  tree” native to South Asia and Africa. The tree has been cultivated for centuries for its health benefits, such as 2. w___________ healing and managing 3. blood gl_____________. There is growing research on moringa benefits, especially for women; it may aid with 4. ane_________, bone health, 5. meno_____________, and lactation. While the plant's leaves can be eaten, it’s commonly found as a supplement in pill or powder form.

 

Moringa offers a lot of vitamins and minerals, which would prevent or complement malnutrition. It is said to provide more 6. vitamin _____ than oranges and more 7. vitamin ____ than carrots, which promote the production of collagen, which is key for skin 8. ela________________.

Furthermore, Moringa provides staple nutrients essential for a healthy pregnancy, such as calcium, protein, potassium, and iron.

 

Also, all parts of the moringa tree have been shown to demonstrate activities against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. In addition, Moringa demonstrated significant 9. anti-inf________________ activity in one animal study, showing it has similar effects as ibuprofen in another study on cells.

 

Answer Keys 

    1.  drum stick

    2.  wound

    3.  glucose

    4.  anemia

    5.  menopause

    6.  Vt C

    7.  Vt A

    8.  elasticity

    9. anti-inflammatory

 

(*source from www.prevention.com)

 

 

Acrostic poem using MORINGA by Jean J. Lee

Meditation begins with a nice cup of tea

On your table is a warm treat

Rise and shine

Inhale the calming aroma

Nice and easy does your morning stretch

Gleeful day is in store for you

Alive! That is what you’d be grateful for.

 

 

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The very first quiz from NPR Sunday edition of 2025!

 

On-air challenge: The 1^st Sunday Puzzle from NPR on-air challenge is about 2024 year-end news!

 

[Fill in the blanks:]

    1.   In October Claudia Sheinbaum became the first __________ president of ____________.

 

    2.   Rachel Gunn aka Raygun, became a viral sensation last year as an Australian Olympian in what sport?

 

    3.   In November a piece of conceptual art titled "Comedian" was sold in a Sotheby's auction for $6.2 million. It consisted of something duct-taped to a wall. What was it?

 

    4.   What presidential candidate was widely publicized last year to have once had a dead worm in his brain?

 

    5.   In April last year something rare happened in the U.S. between Texas and New England. What was it?

 

    6.   Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived from China this year. Where are they now?

 

    7.   In June China also made history by receiving a group of rocks from where?

    

    8.   What four-letter word defined as "characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude" was named by Collins Dictionary as its "Word of the Year."

 

    9.   What country became the 33rd member of NATO in March?

 

     10. Last summer Danny Jansen became the first M.L.B. player in history to do what?

 

Answer Keys

    1.  female, Mexico

    2.  breakdance

    3.  a banana

    4.  R.F.K Junior

    5.  Total Solar Eclipse

    6.  the National Zoo in Washington D.C.

    7.  the dark side of the Moon

    8.  brat

    9.  Sweden

    10. He played on both sides of a game (In other words, he played for both teams -i.e., Toronto Blue Jays & the Boston Red Sox-  in the same game.)

Fill in the Blanks to Create New Year Resolutions!

Creating New Year Resolutions by Filling in the Blanks!

  

    1.  Give your daily workouts some more oo_______(*meaning  something more exciting/attractive/energetic) through incorporating a variety of movements using dumbbell lifting.

 

    2.  Do not be afraid of letting your voice heard by animad_________ (*meaning to criticize) on all the absurdity in this world.

 

    3.  Hope and create a society where JUSTICE pre_________________ (*meaning to excel or be greater in number, influence, or importance) over the lawless assertions.

 

    4.  Find peace in your own small way, such as running or having a ria__________ (*meaning cheerful/ laughing/ happy) chatter and conf___________ (*meaning to converse with) with your family or friends.

 

    5.  Ditch your fro____________ (*meaning headstrong/ obstinate/ stick-in-the-mud/ stubborn) attitude while trying to find a middle ground with someone.

 

    6.  Take a deep breath instead of getting terribly mad when you get no p___________ (*meaning to have no network connection)  now and then. 😉

 

    7.  Make a muni____________ (*meaning generous) donation to the charity sometimes.

 

    8.  Don’t hesitate to spr_____________ yourself up (*meaning to jazz up/ or make …. look tidy, spiffy, or attractive) to feel better.

 

    9.  Read good books or poems to realize that today is cognate and interl________________ (*to interlace/ intertwine) with the authors’ thoughts.

 

    10. Eat more won_______ veggies (*meaning somewhat less beautifully shaped veggies that don’t live up to supermarket aesthetic standards), which are mostly organic, on a daily basis!

 

Answer Keys

    1.  oomph

    2.  animadverting   

    3.  preponderates

    4.  riant, confabulating

    5.  forward

    6.  ping

    7.  munificent

    8.  spruce

    9.  interlinked

    10. wonky

Here's a piece of poem of mine to ring in the new year!

 

Ode to Our New Year of 2025

by Jean J. Lee

 

Let your bright inner light shine

Wake up and stay woke from dark torpor

Prayers for those in pain are yours and mine

Heart-wrenching memories will stay where they were

It will be all right to find yourself supine

As long as you occasionally become a weekend warrior

Pat on your back and be on cloud nine

The wintry chill would rather feel like warmer

When upslopes batter your spirits down, just say you’ll be fine

As you feel connected to your strength, curveballs are no longer a torture

Laugh out loud or give a smile so divine

The moon rabbits would greet you back in your dreams with rice cake from their mortar

Blessing is another word for fine

The bitter past was only a blessing in disguise ‘cause your new year will be a perfect restorer

Fill in the blanks from news reports about South Korea's Political Chaos

The Republic of Korea has been suffering in the midst of the totally unexpected political turmoil since December 3^rd when the president Yoon declared Martial Law out of the blue. Martial Law is imposed by the military during violent civil unrest. In this case that occurred in South Korea, there had been no emergency situation at all. This devastating and clueless incident had been secretly orchestrated by Yoon and his followers in the grand scheme of getting rid of the opposition parties as well as blocking the investigation of thousands of illegal acts. Even after Yoon’s impeachment motion was passed at the national assembly, a lot of red tapes and obstacles have still been in the way of the final decision to oust him.

Today, we are filling in the blanks of a bit of the news reports from BBC and AP news with the right words that would make sense of each given sentence.

 

    1.   Yoon has defended his decision to impose martial law, and after his im_________________ he once again said he would fight until the end.

    2.   His defiant words are a marked change from his apologetic tone earlier this month over his short-___________ martial law declaration.

    3.   There was pride when members of parliament swiftly over_____________ the president's martial law decision, that the country's democratic institutions were functioning after all.

    4.   But Yoon has denied that his martial law order was an act of ins__________________, claiming that his political rivals were now creating "false incitement" to bring him down.

    5.   Yoon denied wrongdoing in an influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife. The claims have battered his ______________ ratings and fueled attacks by his rivals. The scandal centers on claims that Yoon and first lady Kim Keonhee exerted inappropriate influence on the governing party to pick a certain candidate to run for a parliamentary by-election in 2022 at the request of Myung Tae-kyun, an election ______________ and founder of a po_______________ agency who conducted free opinion surveys for Yoon before he became president. (AP news reports)

 

 

 

ANSWER KEYS 

     1.  impeachment 

     2.  short-lived

     3.  overruled

     4.  insurrection

     5.  approval, broker, polling