NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
September 30, 2018
Will Shortz

Each word or phrase below conceals a related five-letter word. The letters are in correct left-to-right order, but they are not consecutive. Can you discover the hidden words and their relationship?

1. CONCEPTUAL
2. VITALITY
3. ASPIRATION
4. SAMOVAR
5. CHAINSAW
6. SUNDANCE
7. SYMMERICAL
8. RIGHT-HAND MAN
9. PLAY IT BY EAR

HINTS:
A. It has to do with geography.
B. It has do do with world geography.

Answers:

Hidden in each word or phrase is the name of a country:

1. coNcEPtuAL
2. CHILdrEn
3. vITALitY
4. SAMOvAr
5. CHaINsAw
6. SUnDANce
7. SYmmetRIcAl 
8. riGHt-hANd mAn
9. pLay It BY eAr