Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

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