I'm going to give you some four-letter words. For each one change either the first or last letter to name part of the body.
Ex. BOOT --> FOOT
1. CHIP
2. DECK
3. HANK
4. HEAR
5. JACK
6. KNEW
7. MUTT
8. SHIP
9. VAPE
10. CALM (two answers)
ANSWER KEYS
1. CHIN
2. NECK
3. HAND
4. HEAD
5. BACK
6. KNEE
7. BUTT
8. SHIN
9. NAPE
10. CALF OR PALM
On-air challenge: Every answer today is a familiar two-word phrase or name with the initials D-H.
Ex. Batter who may substitute for a pitcher
--> DESIGNATED HITTER
1. Shape of
DNA
2.
Little-known contender who comes from behind to win
3. Race
ending in a tie
4. Large room
where students gather to eat
5. Road with
a median
6. What you
may turn in order to enter a room
7. Person who
works on a boat
8. Person who
helps clean teeth and do fillings
9. Middle of
an item sold at Dunkin
10. Volcanic
crater on Oahu
11. Bruce
Willis action film
12. Clint
Eastwood action film
Answer Keys
1. Double Helix
2.
Dark Horse
3.
Dead Heat
4.
Dining Hall
5.
Divided Highway
6.
Door Handle
7.
Deckhand
8.
Dental Hygienist
9.
Donut Hole
10.
Diamond Head
11.
Die Hard
12.
Dirty Harry
13.
Deathly Hallow
Autumn Meditation
By Jean J. Lee
Let the autumn breeze
Show your days how to ease
No need to think about others to please
Just let go of those in life who tease
Be ready to pick your garden peas
And toss them into your salad bowl and seize
Be grateful for a handful of happiness that would never
freeze
Smile at your precious moments of these
Ready to play the latest NPR Sunday Puzzle from yesterday? Every answer today is a made-up phrase like MIGHTY MATEY, consisting of two two-syllable words that are pronounced the same except for their initial vowels. The first word in the phrase has a long-I sound that is /ay/ sound. The second one has a long-A that is /ey/ sound.
Ex. Powerful comrade --> MIGHTY MATEY
1. Restaurant server who's more pale
2. Passover meal that comes with fermented apple juice
3. Person staring at Old Faithful, for example
4. Double-crosser who uses more hackneyed expressions
5. Earlier person making supplications to God
Bonus Question
Name two US presidents (from the 19th century)
whose names are appropriate for this puzzle!
Answer Keys
1. whiter
waiter
2. cider
seder
3. geyser
gazer
4. triter
traitor
5. prior
prayer
6. Tylor
Taylor
School is back, and today I've brought a game of Categories based on the word TEACH. For each category I give, name something in it starting with each of the letters T-E-A-C-H. For example, if the category were "Things to Have for Breakfast," you might say Toast, Eggs, Apple juice, Cereal, and Hash browns. 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. PARTS OF
THE HUMAN BODY
2. PARTS OF
A CAR
3. PLACES IN
AFRICA
4. SHAPES
AND LINES IN GEOMETRY
Answer
Keys
1.
Torso, Ears, Arms, Chest, Heart
2.
Transmission, Engine, Accelerator,
Clutch, Hood
3.
Tanzania, Ethiopia, Algeria, Chad, Harare
4.
Triangle, Ellipse, Arc, Circle, Hyperbola
Do you believe that feline friends are PURR-FECT prognosticators? What is the origin of the phrase “raining cats and dogs”? Can cats predict if a thunderstorm is on its way? How do cats seem to know about weather changes before we do? What do animals falling from the sky have to do with torrential downpours? Let’s explore the wonders of our feline friends!
Some authorities tie the idea of “RAINING CATS and 1. ____________”
to Norse mythology. Odin, the Viking god of storms, was often pictured with
2. _________ and wolves, symbols of wind. Witches, who
supposedly rode their brooms during storms, had black cats, which became signs
of heavy rain. Therefore, “RAINING CATS AND 3. ___________” referred to a storm
with wind and heavy rain.
While the story sounds good, the expression didn’t become
popular until the 1700s, when 4. Johnathan __________________ (author of
Gulliver’s Travels) used it in a satire.
He pictured snobby upper class aristocrats solemnly
fretting that it would “RAIN CATS and 5. _________”. Suddenly the saying caught on. Apparently,
the English spent a lot of time chatting about rain and it was the latest hit
phrase.
The cat/ witch connection created a lot of superstitions.
Many European cultures believed that cats could influence or even forecast the
weather.
-
In Britain, especially Wales, it was believed
that rain was likely if a cat busily washed its 6.____________.
-
In Holland, cats could predict the wind by 7.
_______________ at carpets and curtains.
-
In early America, if a cat sat with its back
to the 8. ___________, it was foretelling a cold snap and if it slept with all
four 9. _________ tucked under, bad weather was coming.
-
According to sailors, if a cat licked its fur
against the grain, it meant a 10. ____________________ was coming; if it
sneezed, 11. ________ was on the way; if it was frisky, the wind would soon
blow.
So, can cats predict weather? It turns out that cats are
more sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure. Yes, their heightened senses
can allow them to pick up hints that a storm is coming. Cats’ 12. inner _______
may detect the sudden fall in atmospheric pressure. A cat is also more
sensitive to sounds and 13. _______________. Therefore, your cat will hear the
rumble of a thunderstorm before you do. Likewise, your cat is more likely to 14.
______________ the incoming rain or that metallic odor of lightning in the air.
Why don’t we give our feline friends some credit for their awesome capability to
appreciate some sweet petrichor after the rain!!!
*Source from Old Farmer’s Almanac
Answer Keys
1. dogs
2. dogs
3. dogs
4. Swift
5. dogs
6. ears
7. clawing
8. fire
9. paws
10. hailstorm
11. rain
12. ears
13. smells
14. smell
Do you often mishear what others say a word or two? Today, let’s talk about an eggcorn, which is a word or phrase that has been misheard but is commonly used in place of the original expression. The new word or phrase has a completely different meaning than the original, yet it is still used because it sounds similar and is seemingly plausible when used in the same context.
E.g., “lack
toast and tolerant” is the eggcorn of “lactose intolerant”
Guess what the following underlined eggcorns
in each sentence are originally referred to.
1.
Whether a cup of coffee or two is good for your
health is still a mute point. => ___________ point
2.
Tim hasn’t been recognized for his capability
at work yet, but he’s never going to give up. He is biting his time. => _____________ his time.
3.
It was hilarious when Eric said “super
salad” when he was asked by the waiter what he’d like to have before the
main entrée. => _____________ or salad
4. I had a hard time holding back my laughter when my boss said he got terribly mad at the damp squid of our latest project. => damp _____________
5.
Marley is an ex-patriot who left his
home country 30 years ago. => __________________
6.
Phoebe is the escape goat in her
family. Even her parents accuse her of things that she’s not involved with.
=>
________________ goat
7. Could I
have a cup of expresso? => _________________
8. The
minister was hopeful that his request would illicit a positive response. => _________________ a
positive response9.
9. Bobby is such
a dead wringer of Santa Claus! => dead ___________
10. You need
to stay alert to survive this doggy dog world.
=> __________________________ world
Answer Keys
1. moot
2. biding
3. soup
4. squib
5. expatriate
6. scapegoat
7. espresso
8. elicit
9. ringer
10. dog-eat-dog world
Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of t...
