NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle - Part I
#1: May 13, 2007
#2: August 12, 2007
Will Shortz

1. A single letter in each word below (different for each word) can be replaced by the same two letters, in the same, consecutive order, to make a new word.Which letters need to be removed, what two-letter pair can replace them to make new words, and what are the new words?

CROON
TABLE
DISHY
SLICE
PLUNGE

2. Each word below can be changed into a new one by adding the same two letters, in the same order,
somewhere in the word. What are the two letters, and what are the new words?

SIRE
PRIME
STRUM
RELIVE
NOTION

Answers:

1. The letters MA can replace one of the letters in each word to form a new word:

C -MAROON
B -TAMALE
H - DISMAY
S - MALICE
N - PLUMAGE 

2. The letters AT can be inserted into each word to form a new one:

SATIRE
PRIMATE
STRATUM
RELATIVE
NOTATION