1. What do the following words have in common?

PEN
MEN
RANGE

2. The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

a. Mediterranean-Red Sea connector
b. Huron-Superior connector
c. Iowa-Nebraska connector
d. March wind
e. Mark Twain, for example
f. Rude response similar to "Who cares?"

Answers:

1. Each word changes into a new one when it is precede by O:

OPEN
OMEN
ORANGE

2)
a. Suez Canal
b. Sault Ste. Marie
c. Sioux City
d. Sousaphone
e. Pseudonym
f. "Sue me."

Credits:
#1: Jack McInturff
      OH, YES
#2: Robert Zimmerman
       SUE ME