LOGICAL THINKING XXVIII

FIGURING OUT AUNT MATILDA III

 

The Play of Words

Richard Lederer 

 

Aunt Matilda's likes and dislikes are based on the patterns of letters or sounds in words. Can you explain Aunt Matilda's preferences in the following examples?

1. Aunt Matilda likes:

    Radar but not radio

   A Toyota but not a Honda

   Noon but not night

   A kayak but not a canoe

 

2. Aunt Matilda likes:

    Army but not Navy

    Ribbon but not trim

    Legends but not myths

    Chinchilla but not mink

    Chestnuts but not walnuts

    Hippies but not protestors

3. Aunt Matilda likes:

    Staples but not tacks

    Bugles but not trumpets

    Demons but not devils

    Signs but not billboards

    Posters but not imposters

4. Aunt Matilda likes:

    Pears but not peaches

    Campers but not hikers

    Tables but not chairs

    Mothers but not fathers

    Platters but not dishes

Answers:

 

1. Aunt Matilda likes palindromes (words that read the same in reverse).

 

2. Aunt Matilda likes words that begin with syllables that name body parts.

 

3. Aunt Matilda likes words with long vowels, not short ones.

 

4. Aunt Matilda likes words that spell different words when the final s is moved to the front.