A2AI-generatedOctober 26, 2026·2 min read·207 words·5 vocab words·Source: NPR Arts & Life

A Special Listener Joins the NPR Puzzle

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A Special Listener Joins the NPR Puzzle
Photo: Gary Sinise on stage 1 crop by Daniel Schwen (CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
In brief

NPR host Ayesha Rascoe played a puzzle game on the radio with Will Shortz, the Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster. They were joined by Jordan Bogdan, a WUOT listener from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The three of them worked together on the word game during the broadcast.

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On a recent of NPR, host Ayesha Rascoe played a fun puzzle game. She worked together with Will Shortz during the Will Shortz is well-known as the Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster. He brings challenges to the air every week. A guest listener also joined the show to solve the puzzle with them.

The listener who played this week was Jordan Bogdan. She came on the radio from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Jordan Bogdan usually listens to the radio station WUOT in her area. She tested her skills live on the air with Ayesha Rascoe and Will Shortz. The team worked through the word challenges together in a friendly atmosphere.

Playing games on public radio is a long for Weekend Edition. Listeners from across the country love to tune in each Sunday. They enjoy hearing regular citizens tackle tough clues alongside the host. Jordan Bogdan did a great job representing her home station, WUOT. Her brought local pride to Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

This weekly gives everyday people a chance to shine. Participating in a national can be exciting for a listener. Will Shortz continues to create entertaining games for everyone. Audiences look forward to hearing who will play the puzzle next week.

Speak about it

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Comprehension
Question 1 of 3

Which radio station does Jordan Bogdan tune in to?

Grammar spotlight

Past Simple Tense

One point · A2

Used to describe completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past.

From this article

“A guest listener also joined the show to solve the puzzle with them.”

What to know · A2

Use it today

Try saying this aloud

Neutral register

Scenario: Talking about an interesting segment you heard on a radio show.

  1. 01“She worked together with Will Shortz.”
  2. 02“A guest listener also joined the show.”
  3. 03“The team worked through the word challenges.”

Register tip · informal

🔑Key Phrases

“radio station WUOT”— WUOT radio station

Refers to a specific local station mentioned in the news item.

Noun Phrase

She listens to the radio station WUOT.

“played a fun puzzle game”— enjoyed an entertaining game

Describes active participation in an entertainment activity.

Past Simple Verb + Object

We played a fun puzzle game yesterday.

“joined the show”— became part of the broadcast

Used when a guest comes onto a program.

Past Simple Verb Phrase

A famous guest joined the show today.

💬Discussion Questions

Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.

  1. 1

    How often do you listen to radio broadcasts or podcasts?

    Personal
  2. 2

    Why do public radio stations invite listeners to play games?

    Opinion
  3. 3

    How do live radio games compare to television game shows?

    Compare
  4. 4

    What would you do if you were invited to speak on a live show?

    Personal
  5. 5

    Why is local community support important for public radio stations?

    Evaluate
  6. 6

    Do you think puzzle games will stay popular on radio shows?

    Predict
  7. 7

    What is your favorite type of word game or puzzle?

    Personal
  8. 8

    Should radio hosts include more games with audience members?

    Opinion

News sourced from: NPR Arts & Life →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.

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