National Puzzlers' League

Time Test for the 2023 Convention IV

Montreal, Quebec

From The Enigma

August, 2023

Will Shortz

Part 4

 

Put three letters after STR to complete a common six-letter word. Then reverse those letters and place them on the blanks preceding STR to complete a two-word phrase common in a certain scientific field. 

_ _ _ STR _ _ _

HINTS:

1. The word formed by STR and the three letters that follow it is a homograph.

2. One of its meanings is a "beach" word.

3. The three letters that precede STR make up a common abbreviation. 

 

Answer:

 

The letters that follow STR are AND - making up the word STRAND.

 

Reversing AND gives DNA - forming DNA STRAND - a common phrase in genetics.