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

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. FURY                        MOUTH
2. STATUE                    LOATHE
3. MENTAL                  MARINE
4. INSPECT                  POPULAR
5. THREE                     STABLE
6. STOOL                     CROPPER

HINTS:
1. It has to do with dropped letters.
2. It has to do with dropped letters in both columns.

Answers:

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

1. FUR - SABLE
2. STATE - MAINE
3. METAL - COPPER
4. INSECT - MOTH
5. TREE - POPLAR
6. TOOL - LATHE