NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle - Part II
#1: May 13, 2007 
#2: August 12, 2007 
Will Shortz

1. A single letter in each word below can be replaced by the same two letters, in the same, consecutive order, to make a new word. Which letters need to be removed, what two-letter pair can replace them to make new words, and what are the new words?

SUCKER
UNKIND
NORDIC
PRIORY
AUTEUR

2. Each name or word below can be changed into a new word by adding the same two letters, in the same, consecutive order, somewhere in the word. What are the two letters, and what are the new words?

ORION
BERING
SATIE
DICTION
FLIP (two words)

Answers:

The letters MA can replace one of the letters in each word to form a new word:

U -SMACKER
U - MANKIND
R - NOMADIC
O - PRIMARY
U - AMATEUR

2. The letters AT can be inserted into each name or word to form a new word:

ORATION
BERATING
SATIATE
DICTATION
FAT LIP