Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

Each sentence below contains two words that have homophones that are opposites. What are they?   Ex. Does Liv Ullmann dye her hair? --> LIVE & DIE (homophones of "Liv" and "dye")   1. In London, bar patrons who misuse the loos will be fined. 2. Lo and behold, the boy said hi. 3. The story about the band was read aloud. 4. In the convent workshop, the nun used an awl to repair her shoe. 5. The movie was so scary, people could hear their own heartbeats. 6. My cousin contacted me by cell phone.   Answer Keys     1.   ( loos & fined   in the sentence, pronounced as) lose & find       2.   ( Lo & hi in the sentence, pronounced as) low & high       3.   ( band & aloud in the sentence, pronounced as) banned & allowed       4.   ( nun & awl in the sentence, pronounced as) none & all   5.   ( hear & their...

  Every single human being on earth has been affected or literally infected by the most destructive and strangest virus called Covid-19 for more than a year since its outbreak, and the major multinational pharmaceutical companies have made exerted efforts for vaccine development to fight back. Now that vaccinations are available in most places and gradually expanded to younger age groups as the eligible targets, we are all trying to stay patient until it is our turn to get vaccinated. Hoping for the official termination of the pandemic in any time soon, let us go over some vocabulary/ expressions related to vaccination.     1.   vaccine efficacy : how well the vaccine works in optimal conditions, in which its storage and delivery are monitored and volunteers are healthy   2.     adjuvant(s) : an ingredient of a vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response in the patient’s body. In short, adjuvants help vaccines work better. Many vacci...

Every answer today is a four-letter word that is composed of two consecutive state postal abbreviations .   Ex. Similar --> AKIN [Alaska + Indiana]   1. What a volcano spews 2. Mineral that comes in thin layers 3. Breeze 4. Like moist grass in the morning 5. Stash away 6. Arrived 7. Opera solo 8. Grand party, as a black-tie affair 9. Hotel employee who makes beds 10. Unconscious state 11. Sound of a siren 12. Interoffice note 13. Donations to the poor, once 14. Numerous   Answer Keys     1.    LAVA (Louisiana + Virginia)     2.    MICA (Michigan + California)     3.    WIND (Wisconsin + North Dakota)     4.    DEWY (Delaware + Wyoming)     5.    HIDE (Hawaii + Delaware)     6.    CAME (California + Maine)     7.    ARIA (Arkansas + Iowa)     8.    GALA (Georg...

Ready to solve another fun puzzle by NPR puzzle master? Every answer today is the name of a country. I'm going to give you some words. For each one, change one letter into two letters to name the country.   Ex. BELLE --> BELIZE   1. FENCE 2. BRAWL 3. NO SAY 4. POLAR 5. BRUNT 6. MONDO 7. BELAYS 8. CANAL 9. PANDA   Answer Keys     1.   France (E changed into RA)     2.   Brazil (W changed into ZI)     3.   No Say (S changed into RW)     4.   Poland (R changed into ND)     5.   Brunei (T changed into EI)     6.   Monaco (D changed into AC)     7.   Belarus (Y changed into RU)     8.   Canada (L changed into DA)     9.   Panama (D changed into NA) or Uganda (P changed into UG)

    Waiting for the Rain By Jean Lee For all the lands that are parched to the root, A gentle touch of sweet drops would perfectly suit. To all the souls that are broken apart, A quiet sound of savory drizzle would heal the heart. I believe there will be a hint of blessing tomorrow. So that withered petals of our hopes find their light even in sorrow.   Seeing through the blank look of your loved one someday, You may shout inside ‘Are you with me?’ like you pray. With the looming gap of miles and miles between each other’s mind, The ailing soul is reaching out to you in silence so unkind. It is your story, their stories ,…. and mine. You don’t need to keep it a secret, and I’m fine.   Only if there’ll come a day we have the long lost rain, All our tears won’t have been shed in vain. Whisper three words into his or her ears in no time Albeit it looks like they don’t even care a dime. It could be this very moment   that wo...

This puzzle is called "P B & J." I'm going to give you three words starting with the letters P, B and J. You give me a word that can follow each of mine to complete a compound word or a familiar two-word phrase.   Example: Parking, Back, Job --> LOT (parking lot, back lot, job lot)   3-letter answers:   1. Penalty, Boom, Juke   2. Power, Buzz, Jig   3. Present, Birth, Judgment   4. Pill, Bed, Jitter     4-letter answers:   5. Paddle, Basket, Jump   6. Plymouth, Bed, Jailhouse   5-letter answers:   7. Pogo, Broom, Joy   8. Pocket, Butter, Jack   9. Pinto, Baked, Jelly     6-letter answers:   10. Pickled, Bell, Jalapeño   11. Puzzle, Brew, Jedi   Answer Keys -      3 letter answers -     1.   Box     2.   Saw     3.   Day     4. ...

Wanna test your ability to find an English word with clues? Here’s the latest word puzzle from NPR Weekend Edition by the great puzzle master Will Shortz. Today's puzzle is called A++. With given clues for two things, say what they are. Then put the letter "A" at the start to make a word.   Example: Prohibition / Mafia chief --> ABANDON (a + ban + don)   1. Hydroelectric facility / Insect that scurries   2. Old horse / Male sheep   3. Hot dog holder / Waltz or minuet   4. Where a scientist works / Fall flower   5. Untruth / Country or land   6. Colorado ski resort / Skill     <Answer Keys>       1.   adamant (a + dam + ant)       2.   anagram (a + nag + ram)       3.   abundance (a + bun + dance)       4.   alabaster (a + lab + aster)       5.   alienation (a + lie + nation) ...