Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

Christmas is one of our favorite holidays of the year. According to Christmas lore, the weather on Christmas foretells the weather for the coming year. If windy on Christmas, trees will bring much fruit; if there is ice on trees on Christmas day, there will be clover tall enough to cut by Easter. Then, do you know about mistletoe? How about the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe and how that came about? Why don’t you fill in the blanks given below to complete the fascinating mistletoe folklore?   In an old Norse legend, Frigga, the goddess of 1.______________, had a son named Balder who was the god of 2. _______________ and light. To protect him, Frigga demanded that all creatures -and even inanimate objects – swear an oath not to harm him, but she forgot to include mistletoe. Loki, god of 3. __________ and destruction, learned of this and made an arrow and guided it to kill Balder. The death of Balder meant the death of sunlight, which explains the long winter night in t...

Today I've brought a game of Categories based on the word JOKES. For each category I give, name something in it starting with each of the letters J-O-K-E-S. For example, if the category were "Four-Letter Names Traditionally Given to Boys," you might say John, Owen, Kurt, Evan, and Stan. Any answer that works is OK, and you can give the answers in any order. (Note: In some cases there may be other answers. Any answer that works will be counted as correct.) 1. PLACES IN FLORIDA 2. BIRDS 3. HIGHWAY SIGNS 4. SPACES ON A MONOPOLY BOARD   Answer Keys     1.   Jacksonville, Orlando, Key West, Everglades, St. Petersburg       2.   Jay, Oreo, Kiwi, Eagle, Swallow     3.   Junction, Off Ramp, Keep right/left, Exit, Stop     4.   Jail, Oriental Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, Electric Company, Short line

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Some have a family get-together, while some others enjoy their lone time by indulging in their own hearty meals and binge-watching their favorite shows. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States? Let us go over a brief history of this all-important American holiday.   In a 1789 proclamation, President George Washington called on the people of the United States to acknowledge God for affording them “an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their _______________ and happiness” by observing a day of thanksgiving. Devoting a day to “public thanksgiving and prayer,” as Washington called it, became a yearly tradition in many communities.   Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863. In that year, during the __________ War, Abraham Lincoln made his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. He asked his fellow citizens “to set apart and observe the last ____________ (which day of the week?)  of November next a...

Here’s the latest On-air challenge of Word Puzzle from NPR! In each one, find two words that sound like two other words that are synonyms Ex. I can pare an apple, too. --> pair, two   1. I stubbed my toe running down the hall. 2. How much do the shutters on the manor weigh? 3. Winnie Mandela voted "nay." 4. In Korea a pail costs three won. 5. The spy was sent on a mission to the Oder river. 6. Dad went to the grocery to buy some chow.   Answer Keys 1.    tow and haul (toe and hall in the sentence) 2.    manner and way (manor and weigh in the sentence) 3.    whinny and neigh (Winnie and nay in the sentence) 4.    pale and wan (pail and won in the sentence) 5.    scent and odor (sent and Oder in the sentence) 6.    bye and ciao (buy and chow in the sentence)  

Here’s the Sunday Word Puzzle from yesterday. Every answer is an anagram of an article of apparel.   Ex. BORE --> ROBE     1. TACO 2. PACE 3. WONG 4. GOAT 5. WALSH 6. CUT-IN 7. OBELUS 8. X'ED OUT 9. THIRST (hyph.) 10. ROUSTERS 11. UNGREASED   Answer Keys 1.   Coat 2.   Cape 3.   Gown 4.   Toga 5.   Shawl 6.   Tunic 7.   Blouse 8.   Tuxedo 9.   T-shirt 10.               Trousers 11.               dungareese  

Halloween is fast approaching and the grim grinning ghosts can’t wait to come out and socialize. Want some fun facts about Halloween?   *Picture Source:  https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/newsroom/2018/10/31/7-tips-to-a-safely-spooky-halloween          1.    The first Jack-O-Lanterns were made out of ___. a.    turnips      b. melons      c. coconuts      d. pumpkins       2.    In what century did the practice of trick-or-treating begin? ___ a.    17 th century b.    14 th century c.    16 th century d.    20 th century       3.    If you want to keep spirits out of your home on Halloween, what should you sprinkle on your doorstep? ___ a.    garlic      b. holy water     c. thyme     d. salt ...

I'm going to give you two words. Drop one letter in each of them to leave two words that are in the same category of things.   Ex. DRILL STAGE --> dill & sage (both herbs)   1. FEATHER TAUNT 2. MARKS VENUES 3. STATUE COUNTRY 4. LATKE POUND 5. SCORN BERET 6. CLOSEST SHALL 7. BLUSH CHARTER 8. PREACH BANDANA   Answer Keys (categories are inside the parentheses)     1.   Father, Aunt (relatives)     2.   Mars, Venus (planets)     3.   State, County (US regional category)     4.   Lake, Pond (bodies of fresh water)     5.   Corn, Beet (vegetables)     6.   Closet, Hall (rooms)     7.   Bush, Carter (former US Presidents)     8.   Peach, Banana (fruits)

Did you know that the color of your car says more about you than just personal preference? According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, information from over 130,000 insurance claims reveals what car color says about the owner’s personality as well as which colors are the most accident-prone. What is the color of your vehicle?   Black Cars denote an aggressive personality or someone who’s an outsider or rebel.   Silver Cars indicate someone who’s cool, calm, and slightly aloof.   Green Cars are often the choice of people with hysterical tendencies.   Yellow Cars signify someone who is idealistic and novelty-loving.   Blue Cars are chosen by the more introspective, reflective, and cautious drivers.   Gray Cars represent those who are calm, sober, and dedicated to their work.   Red cars denote those who are full of zest, energy, and drive and who think, move, and talk quickly.   Cream-color or white Cars denote sel...

Every answer today is a word or name that either starts or ends with cap - C-A-P. For example, if I gave you the clue line of text below a photo, you would say caption.   1. to overturn, as a boat. 2. Part of a rocket that holds astronauts 3. Drink just before bed 4. to take as a prisoner 5. Covering for a leg joint. 6. Cover for an automobile wheel 7. Sign after Sagittarius 8. Organization that provides royalties to musical artists      9. to summarize       Answer Keys 1.   capsize 2.   capsule 3.   nightcap 4.   capture 5.   kneecap 6.   hubcap 7.   Capricorn 8.   ASCA 9.   recap