Episode Description:

Annual Christmas Message on behalf of all the team at DreyerCoaching.com, Scott gives his annual Christmas message. Christmas can be a wonderful time for many people (hear Ep. 19), but it can also be sad and painful for many others (hear Ep. 21). In this episode, Scott reads an opinion piece about Christmas 1942, during one of the most horrific and dangerous phases of WW II. From the past, we can learn to take hope.

The article: Christmas in Guadalcanal

Word of the Day: yuletide (adj.) of or pertaining to Christmas

Question of the Day: What are some things you can do to keep your spirits and energy up, during the dark, cold months of winter? 

Listen to Episode 23 below:

Listen Here

Check your listening ability:

1. What does S.A.D. stand for?

 

2. Winter Solstice is on December ___ and is the _____________ day of the year.

 

3. At 4:41, how does Mr. Dreyer use the term, “cutting edge?”

A. a construction term referring to which edge of material is to be cut

B. the most advanced development of something

C. to differentiate from the dull side of a knife or blade

D. a great name for a barber shop!

 

4. Why was Guadacanal so important as it relates to Japan’s plans for the Pacific region in World War II?

 

5. On what island chain is Guadacanal found?

A. Japan’s archipelago

B. Hawaii

C. Caribbean

D. Solomon Islands 

 

6. How many people per day die from the Greatest Generation?

 

7. What is the difference between a blue star and a gold star hung in your window?

 

8. At 13:19, what does underscore mean?

A. emphasize

B. the second set of scores that are kept in a baseball game

C. repeat

D. underestimate

 

9. How did the future president Harry Truman enlist in the military, though he would have been rejected for having poor eyesight?

 

10. Why was World War II considered a total war, especially on the homefront?

 

1. Seasonal Affective Disorder

2. 21; shortest

3. B. the most advanced development of something

4. If they successfully built an airfield on the island, they could easily gain control of Australia and India.

5. D. Solomon Islands 

6. 3000

7. A blue star means you have a family member in active duty, fighting in the war. A gold star means a loved one was killed in action.

8. A. emphasize

9. He memorized the eye chart test as those ahead of him read it.

10. Every member of the family was involved because they had to ration certain items so it could be used on the battlefield.

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Do you want to improve your listening ability? Contact Scott today to see what class you can take to improve that skill!

Have a question or feedback? Maybe a topic you’d like to hear in a future episode? Please email Scott at lifeapppodcast@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you! If you enjoy our podcasts, please subscribe, write a review, and share them on social media and by word of mouth! Those are GREAT ways to help more people find our podcasts. Please also visit us at www.DreyerCoaching.com; check out the blog posts at the bottom of the page for more information about life in the USA and the crazy English language.