BEFORE AND AFTER
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Mar. 2008
Paddy Smith

By adding one letter before and one letter after each string of letters below, you can create a list of items that fit a specific category. Can your determine the letters to add and the category?

ALE          OSTO
OVE          USTI
ELEN        ENVE
IERR         UNEA
OPEK

Answer:

Adding the appropriate first and last letters gives a list of nine state capitals:

SALEM         BOSTON
DOVER         AUSTIN
HELENA      DENVER
PIERRE        JUNEAU
TOPEKA