The seven eight-letter words below share a rare property, unrelated to their meanings, but having to do with the arrangement of the letters in the words. Can you determine what they have in common?

1. HALLMARK
2. FIRMNESS
3. MAGNOLIA
4. MONOPOLY
5. AVERSION
6. HAYSTACK
7. CULTURAL

HINT:
The title of this puzzle is CENTERPIECES.

Answer:

Each word has two consecutive letters of the alphabet in its exact center:

1. halLMark
2. firMNess
3. magNOlia
4. monOPoly
5. aveRSion
6. haySTack
7. culTUral

Credit: GAMES Magazine
April/May 1989
Rosalie Moscovitch
CENTERPIECES