Q: Name two countries with a total of 12 letters that, when spelled one after the other, form six consecutive state postal abbreviations. What are the two countries?Anagram all the letters and you get something that means "loony sail".
A: DENMARK, SPAIN (Delaware, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Indiana)
Q: Name a well-known island. Move the first letter six spaces later in the alphabet. Read the result backward. You'll get where this island is located. What island is it?
A: Intended answer = MALTA --> ATLAS
Alternate answer = JAMAICA --> A CIA MAP
Q: Think of an eight-letter noun composed phonetically of two consecutive names traditionally given to girls. Remove the sixth letter and rearrange the result. You'll get an event where you might hear the thing named by the original noun. What words are these?If you remove the first letter and rearrange, you get a place you probably wouldn't want to hear the original noun.
A: CLARINET (CLAIRE, ANNETTE) --> RECITAL
Q: This is a continuation of a two-week creative challenge. The object is to write a sentence using only the letters of any particular U.S. state. You can pick the state and repeat letters as often as necessary. For example:
OREGON --> Roger, go gorge on green eggnog. NEBRASKA --> Sen. Ben Sasse's sneakers reek. [Note: Ben Sasse is a U.S. senator from Nebraska]
Entries will be judged on originality, sense, naturalness of syntax, humor, and overall elegance. No more than three sentences per entry, please. Deadline is Wednesday this week.
Winner:West Virginia: In tennis news, a new era starts as Serena is retiring. - Kate Simpson
Honorable mentions:Massachusetts: At the museum, esthetes hate the cute statues that amuse the masses. — H.S. Hughes Rhode Island: Denise hoarded sand and seashells inside her shoreside diner. — Rawson Scheinberg Rhode Island: Dolores had to dine on nine dollars she had hidden in her sandal, so she ordered a side salad and a dinner roll. — Kevin RootWashington: Shania Twain is in town tonight, singing Gaga's hit songs at Santana's San Antonio gig. — Kerry Fowler New Mexico: Native educational wisdom makes eradicating xenophobia its core obligation. — Tamar StieberMassachusetts: As she teaches math, she must use the state tests that she hates. — Rick Cleary Texas [only 5 letters to work with!]: Texas axes estate taxes. — Charvaka Duvvury
Q: This is the start of a two-week creative challenge. The object is to write a sentence using only the letters of any particular U.S. state. You can pick the state and repeat letters as often as necessary. For example:
NEW YORK --> No one knew we were ornery. WASHINGTON --> Sighting a ghost tonight was astonishing.
Entries will be judged on originality, sense, naturalness of syntax, humor, and overall elegance. No more than three sentences per entry, please.
There's clearly a reason this puzzle was picked. That being said, I can't think of a single show I've seen them on.Q: Name a famous person in American television — 6 letters in the first name, 4 letters in the last. Switch the last letter of the first name with the first letter of the last. Then reverse the order of the two modified names. You'll get a phrase meaning "almost typical." What is it?
A: NORMAN LEAR --> NEAR NORMAL
Research and read carefully. You can't say this about Where I'm Calling From or Luxembourg.Q: This week's challenge will require a little research. The 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 1992 Olympic gold medal in giant slalom both suggest, phonetically, a certain square number. What is it?
A: Anne Tyler (A.T.) and Alberto Tomba (A.T.) won --> "A.T. won" --> 81
Q: Name a food item in seven letters. Move the first letter to the fifth position and you'll get two words that are synonyms. What are they?
A: BRISKET --> RISK, BET
Coincidentally, the names are in the order they were president.Q: Write down the last names of two U.S. presidents. Move a letter from the second name into the first one. You'll name a vehicle that's used for special occasions. What is it?
A: CARTER, BUSH --> CHARTER BUS
Q: Name a well-known fictional character in two words. Remove two letters from the first word in the name. The result is the plural form of the second word. What character is this?My first thought was a fictional detective by a well-known author.
A: MICKEY MOUSE --> MICE
