Live and Learn English with Jean Lee

I've brought a few games of Kennections, in the style of "Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings' new book, "The Complete Kennections." In each set, I'll ask you five questions, the answers to which have something in common. Try to answer the questions. Then tell me the common denominator.   PUZZLE #1   1.    What giant in British publishing, founded in 1935, was known for its inexpensive paperbacks and merged with Random House in 2013? (7) 2.    What fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy is represented by a symbol called a "taijitu"? (3,3,4) 3.    What African animal travels in a herd known as a "dazzle"? (5) 4.    What kind of cookie is an ingredient in a Dairy Queen Blizzard? (4) 5.    For solving what kind of puzzle did Ken Jennings win a prize in a 2006 national championship? (9)   Answer Keys       1.   Penguin     2.   Yin and Yang     3.   ...

LET’S PLAY WITH IDIOMS! Do you want to learn and practice some idiomatic expressions? Try to fill in the blanks below by using the context and the given definitions for each.       1.     There is no g________saying (*meaning “to argue, oppose, question, disprove, negate …”) the importance of education.       2.    (*In a negative context) The press was all _____________ the politician after the scandal, asking intrusive questions. (*meaning “to berate, upbraid, or verbally attack someone”)       3.    Early this morning, the dense fog dis____________ the silhouette of all the passing cars on the road. (*meaning “to make something indistinct or unclear, often by obscuring it with a mist or fog”)       4.    Nasty politicians are using money to bu_______________ their image and reputations. (*meaning to “polish ….)b       5.    Are you ser...

Every answer is a word ending in the letters A-C, as in air-conditioning.   Ex. Person who stays awake all night --> INSOMNI AC   1. 12 astrological signs 2. High-quality brandy from France 3. Person with an inflated sense of himself 4. Person who's lost his memory 5. Substance said to increase sexual desire or pleasure 6. Related to the heart 7. Surface for roads and airport runways 8. Light purple ... or a flower with this shade 9. Wood finish 10. Temporary camp, as for soldiers 11. Street with no outlet (hyph.) 12. Miscellaneous ornaments of little value in a display case (hyph.) 13. Shrub or small tree with small reddish fruits used as a spice 14. Reference book filled with miscellaneous facts 15. Emergency removal of patients to or from a hospital 16. Superintelligent person   ANSWER KEYS 1.   Zodi ac 2.   Cogn ac 3.   egomani ac 4.   amnesi ac 5.   aphrodisi ac 6.   cardi ac 7. ...

A lot of idiomatic expressions in English have colors in them. Try to fill in the following blanks with the right colors!   1.   After the long vacation, she seemed a little ____________ around the edges. (*meaning “slightly tired or feeling sad”)       2.   Whether the film is a masterpiece or a piece of shXX is still a ____________ area. (*meaning “uncertain; not clearly defined)       3.   She ______________ out for a couple of seconds after hitting her head. (*meaning “to faint/ pass out”)       4.   He has hit a __________________ patch in his career. (*meaning “a period of exceptional success”)       5.   He’s always _____________-nosing his boss not to get laid-off. (*meaning “to try too hard to please someone”)       6.   The movie “Formula 1” got me on the edge of my seat all along through the back-to-back scenes of ______________-knuckle driv...

  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 year of 2024, I have shared a variety of herbs and foods by looking into their nutrition so that we are able to lead a life with more confidence and constantly get ourselves back on track with aplomb even if we happen to deviate from the optimal state of health from time to time.   #32. CHAMOMILE Sizzling summer seems like a t wo-faced time of the year. It could be described as a season for a relaxing retreat in an exotic island; otherwise, it could be the riskiest period in a year not only for the physically vulnerable but for any outdoorsy people because of its unbearably scorching heat. British TV host and celebrity doctor Michael Mosley went missing while vacationing on ...

Every answer today is something you might see in a kitchen. Identify them from their anagrams.   Ex. BLOW -- Bowl   1. VOTES 2. PETAL 3. SNOOP 4. REMIT 5. OWLET 6. NO-PAR 7. RELICS 8. ROTATES 9. GIRDLED 10. MACRO VIEW   Answer Keys      1.   STOVE     2.   PLATE    3.   SPOON    4.   TIMER      5.   TOWEL           6.   APRON    7.   SLICER    8.   TOASTER      9.   GRIDDLE    10.   MICROWAVE