1. What do the following words have in common?

AVER

ART

ELL

ILL

IT

2. What do the following words have in common?

LED

SAD

MOVE

FEND

SOLD

WATER

3. What do the following words have in common?

WANTED

PARDON

CHICKEN

HEART

BOTTOM

HINTS:

1. Each word can be preceded by the same two letters.

2. Each word can be changed into a new one by inserting the same letter.

3. The answer involves hidden words.

Answers:

1. Each word can be preceded by QU to give new words.

2. Each word can be changed into a new one by inserting the letter I .

LIED/SAID/MOVIE/FIEND/SOLID/WAITER

3. The last three letters of each word spell a man's name.

TED/DON/KEN/ART/TOM

Credit: NY Times Crossword - June 12, 2005

Joe Bower - NAME DROPPING