ACRONYMS

An acronym is a word formed by taking the first letters of the words in a phrase. It has to be pronounceable - that is, it must contain at least one vowel. NFL (National Football League) is an abbreviation, not an acronym. How many of these acronyms can you identify?

1. SCUBA

2. NASA

3. RADAR

4. LASER

5. ZIP

6. NIMBY

7. HOMES

8. NATO

9. NASCAR

10. ASCAP

11. SWAT

12. AWOL

13. OPEC

14. MADD

15. EPCOT

16. COLA

17. UNESCO

Answers:

1. Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

2. National Aeronautic and Space Administration

3. Radio Assisted Detecting and Ranging

4. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

5. Zone Improvement Program

6. Not In My Backyard

7. Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior

8. North American Treaty Organization

9. National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing

10. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers

11. Special Weapons and Tactics

12. Absent WithOut Leave

13. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

14. Mothers Against Drunk Driving

15. Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow

16. Cost of Living Allowance

16. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization