FOR BETTER OR WORSE

GAMES/World of Puzzles

Holiday Issue, 2024

Jon King

 

All of the following words fall into one of two categories, except for one, which falls into both. What are the two categories and which word fits into both?

 

PANE                  PORTION

CREATE             SCIENCE

DENSE               SPIRE

DESCEND         TACT

FILE                   TEMPLATE

GRAM                TENT

JUROR               TRACTOR 

MOTION            VERB 

Answer:

 

Each of the words can be changed into a new one by adding either PRO or CON to the front of it:

 

PROPANE                 CONDENSE

PROCREATE           CONDESCEND

PROFILE                  CONJUROR

PROGRAM              CONSCIENCE

PROMOTION          CONSPIRE

PROPORTION         CONTACT

PROTRACTOR        CONTEMPLATE

PROVERB                 CONTENT

                                    CONTRACTOR

TRACTOR falls into both categories.