NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle II
March 11, 2018
Will Shortz

Note: The first half of this puzzle was posted on 3/16/18.

Each word in Column I can be matched with a word in Column II according to a certain pattern. Can you determine the pattern and match the word pairs?

COLUMN I                    COLUMN II

1. SPLICE                        ARAGON
2. SHOVE                        BEACON
3. GERM                          STAGE
4. CHARD                        PLUMP
5. GAPS                            RUGBY
6. MEANT                        ACNE

HINT:
It has to do with dropped letters.

Answers:

Dropping a single letter from each word in Column I will leave a word that names a category of things. Dropping a single letter from the appropriate word in Column II will leave a word naming something in that category.

1. SPICE - SAGE
2. SHOE - PUMP
3. GEM - RUBY
4. CARD - ACE
5. GAS - ARGON
6. MEAT - BACON