TWO TIMES HARDER
Credit: Will Shortz
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
January 5, 2014 (#1-6)

The two clues in each pair below can be answered with two words which are almost homophones. The words differ in pronunciation in that the first word has the AR vowel sound (as in ARE), and the second word has the ER vowel sound (as in HER). For example, given the clues CONTAINER and DRAPE, the answer words would be CARTON and  CURTAIN.

Bonus question from JA: Number 6 has both the AR and ER vowel sounds in the first word, and the ER vowel sound twice in the second word. Can you guess the two words without looking at the clue?

1. Predatory fish - Evade responsibility
2. Type of grain - Husky and strong
3. Cleric -  Human being
4. Of the flesh - Seed or military rank
5. Common blackbird - Valuable silver
6. Men's hair cutter - North African people
7. Jargon used by a particular group - plant disease

Answers:

1. SHARK - SHIRK
2. BARLEY - BURLY
3. PARSON - PERSON
4. CARNAL - KERNEL or COLONEL
5. STARLING - STERLING 
6. BARBER - BERBER 
7. ARGOT - ERGOT