ASK MARILYN
From Parade Magazine
December 20, 2015
Marilyn vos Savant

These words follow a rule:

BEECH
FIR
PEAR
PLUM

These words don't follow it:

BIRCH
CHERRY
ELM
PALM

Can you find the rule?

The words that follow the rule all have homophones:

BEECH - BEACH
FIR - FUR
PEAR - PAIR/PARE
PLUM - PLUMB