Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

This is the latest Sunday word puzzle from NPR (aired today in the US). Every answer today is a made-up two-word phrase in which the first word has five letters. Add one letter to the front and another at the end to make a seven-letter word that completes the phrase.   Ex. Decorative piece of needlework that's big enough --> AMPLE SAMPLER   1. Difficult extended period without rain 2. Tray that carries espressos mixed with steamed milk 3. Not these or those female parents 4. Sweepstakes with a prize of a playful mammal 5. Criss-cross framework in the top story of the house 6. Angry baseball players in Pittsburgh 7. Costs to buy poison derived from the castor bean 8. Destitution that's not hidden 9. Sikh head coverings worn in cities   Answer Keys     1.   rough drought     2.   latte platter     3.   other mothers     4.   otter lottery     5.   attic lattic...

  When was the last time you laughed your ass off or rolled on the floor laughing? Since this friggin’ virus named Covid-19 swept the whole world and trapped us all inside, there’s hardly been a day or two for us to feel completely relaxed and ready to welcome the moment of jollification. Pandemic is not over yet, so it might be too early to make jokes about quarantine, but let us just sit back for a second and laugh with these jokes.   picture source: https://www.uth.edu/news/story.htm?id=676b5d01-16a0-4d6e-934a-40407f42d5e5  Humor #1 “Do you know why COVID-19 won’t do any harm to Hollywood actor Tom Hanks? He has already survived a World War, being stranded on an island, being stranded at an airport, a failed moon landing, an emergency flight landing on the river and a ship hijacking.” (*Source from Twitter user’s comment)     Humor #2 Mom: Going to a party? NO WAY! Just enjoy it as a zoomer! Teenaged kid: Okay, okay, boomer! (*Sourc...

Time to check out this last Sunday’s Word Puzzle from NPR!! Every answer today is a famous person, past or present, whose last name has 7 letters. I'll give you a word or phrase that contains those letters in left-to-right order (not consecutively) and a hint to that person. You name the person.   Example: CAME AROUND — British prime minister --> (David) Cameron   1. EMERY STONE — Philosopher and essayist   2. FENDER BENDER — Tennis champion   3. STRANGELY ENOUGH — American poet   4. BOMBER JACKET — Humorist   5. GROUP THEORIES — Folk singer   6. SLANDEROUS — U.S. senator   7. PRO WRESTLING — Best-selling author of “Harry Potter” series   8. TO TAKE EFFECT — American painter   Answer Keys     1.   Emerson     2.   Federer     3.   Angelou     4.   Bombeck     5.   Guthrie     6.   Sanders ...

Today’s Sunday Puzzle from NPR might be a bit culturally skewed quiz, because people outside the US or Britain might not be familiar with these TV shows. But with Netflix and many other sources, one might already have been on top it all and easily ace this quiz. Let us just try to give it a try for fun. Every answer today is the name of a TV series past or present. Two consecutive letters in each title have been changed into one letter to spell a new word or phrase. You change one letter back into two to name the series. Ex. CHESS --> CHEERS   1. FRONDS   2. FULL HOUR   3. NIGHT COAT   4. FRAMER   5. THE WAGONS   6. BATON   7. SOUTH PAW   8. DOCTOR NO   9. LEAKING BAD     Answer Keys     1.   Friends     2.   Full House     3.   Night Court     4.   Frasier     5.   The Waltons     6. ...