AFTERTHOUGHTS
Credit: GAMES/World of Puzzles
January, 2018
Paddy Smith

Can you match each sequence of words (1-6) with one of the six words (a-f) that logically extends the sequence? All the sequences follow the same principal. HINT: If the first sequence were COD, HER, CHI (instead of PARK, PLUM, ANTI), the answer would not change.

1. PARK, PLUM, ANTI, ?
2. SCRAP, BELIE, CLAN, ?
3. COAT, HAD, THAN, ?
4. HARE, LINE, CAME, ?
5. BOA, CARES, VALE, ?
6. SINE, CODE, FAIR, ?

a. CRAM
b. BEAR
c. OAT
d. PEAR
e. QUART
f. TUT

Answers:

Consecutive letters of the alphabet, in order, can be added to the ends of the words in each series to make  new words (with the exceptions of Q and V). The next consecutive letter in the alphabet can be added to one of the choices to make a new word that will extend the series:

1. - b - BEAR:     PARKA, PLUMB, ANTIC, BEARD
2. - c - OAT:         SCRAPE, BELIEF, CLANG, OATH
3. - d - PEAR:     COATI, HADJ, THANK, PEARL
4. - a - CRAM:    HAREM, LINEN, CAMEO, CRAMP
5. - f - TUT:         BOAR, CARESS, VALET, TUTU 
6. - e - QUART:   SINEW, CODEX, FAIRY, QUARTZ

(Example: CODA, HERB, CHIC, BEARD) 

[Note from JA: I think this is a really great puzzle. I knew there was an alphabetical sequence involved, but that wasn't enough. Something else was going on. Sadly, I had to admit defeat. But it's that additional layer of wordplay (extending the sequence)  that makes this puzzle so clever and satisfying.]