On-air challenge: I'm going to give you clues for two words. The first word starts with AB. Drop the AB and you'll get a new word that answers the second clue.
Example: Embarrass / Output of a volcano --> Abash, Ash
1. Missing, as from a class / Mailed
2. Leader of nuns / First lady between Eleanor and Mamie
3. On fire / Lie around idly
4. Like flowers in the spring / Weaving apparatus
5. In another country / Highway
6. Kidnap / Passage for air
7. Avoid liquor / Laundry problem
8. Shorten / Chain of hills
9. Source of mother-of-pearl / By oneself
10. Act of forgiveness for a wrong / Answer
Last week's challenge: This was an April foolish puzzle from Raymond Nardo of Mineola, Long Island. Think of a world capital. Drop the third and fourth letters, and keeping the remaining letters in order you'll name a state. What state is it?
Challenge Answer: Beijing --> being
Winner: Mary Springhorn of Bellingham, Wash.
This week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Bruce Campbell of Kansas City, Mo. Think of a well-known U.S. city. Its population is over a quarter of a million. Phonetically, the first syllable of the city's name plus the first syllable of the name of its state will sound like a well-known brand name. What is it?
If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you by Thursday, April 9, at 3 p.m. ET.
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LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:
And it's time to play The Puzzle.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Joining us, as always, is Will Shortz. He's puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster. Hi, Will.
WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Hey there, Lulu.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: You know, a lot of people have been telling us at WEEKEND EDITION how important it is at this time to have The Puzzle. So you are doing, I think, a great service (laughter).
SHORTZ: Thanks a lot. We all are. Thanks.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: And so remind us of last week's challenge.
SHORTZ: Yeah, it was an April foolish puzzle from Raymond Nardo of Mineola, Long Island. I said, think of a world capital, drop the third and fourth letters, and keeping the remaining letters in order, you'll name a state. What state is it? Well the capital is Beijing. Drop those letters - you're left with a state of being.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: A state of being. We received over 1,400 correct responses. And the winner this week is Mary Springhorn of Bellingham, Wash. Congratulations.
MARY SPRINGHORN: Thank you.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: So before you came on air, we asked you, you know, how you were feeling about doing the puzzle. And you said?
SPRINGHORN: I was moderately terrified.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: (Laughter) And I thought that was such a funny answer. How long have you been playing The Puzzle?
SPRINGHORN: On and off since email days.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yeah, email days when you had to email in your answer. And let me ask you, what do you do for a living?
SPRINGHORN: I'm a retired surgeon.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Oh, wow. Well, doctors are indeed our heroes, now more than ever. So are you ready to play The Puzzle?
SPRINGHORN: Sure.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: OK. Deep breath - it's going to be fine, I promise. Take it away, Will.
SHORTZ: All right, Mary, I'm going to give you clues for two words. The first word starts with A-B. Drop the A-B, and you'll get a new word that answers the second clue. For example, if I said embarrass and output of a volcano, you would say abash and ash.
SPRINGHORN: OK.
SHORTZ: All right. Number one is missing, as from a class, and mailed.
SPRINGHORN: Absent and sent.
SHORTZ: That's it. A leader of nuns and first lady between Eleanor and Mamie.
SPRINGHORN: Abbess and Bess.
SHORTZ: On fire and to lie around idly.
SPRINGHORN: Ablaze and laze.
SHORTZ: Good. Like flowers in the spring and a weaving apparatus.
SPRINGHORN: Abloom and loom.
SHORTZ: Good. In another country - highway.
SPRINGHORN: Abroad and road.
SHORTZ: Uh-huh. To kidnap and a passage for air.
SPRINGHORN: Abduct and duct.
SHORTZ: Good. To avoid liquor and a laundry problem.
SPRINGHORN: Abstain and stain.
SHORTZ: Good.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Wait a second. Wait a second. You're amazing. You were nervous?
SHORTZ: (Laughter).
SPRINGHORN: I still am.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: OK. I didn't mean to interrupt. I just had to say that. OK, go on. Carry on.
SHORTZ: Your next clue is shorten and a chain of hills.
SPRINGHORN: Shorten.
SHORTZ: To shorten.
SPRINGHORN: To shorten. Hmm. Chain of hills...
SHORTZ: And here's a more helpful clue - to shorten, as a dictionary.
SPRINGHORN: Oh, abridge and bridge.
SHORTZ: That's it.
SPRINGHORN: And ridge, rather. Sorry.
SHORTZ: There you go. A source of mother-of-pearl and by oneself.
SPRINGHORN: Abalone and alone.
SHORTZ: Good. And your last one is act of forgiveness for a wrong and answer.
SPRINGHORN: Absolution and solution.
SHORTZ: Well, that was fantastic, Mary.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: That was fantastic. How do you feel?
SPRINGHORN: I'm moderately relieved.
(LAUGHTER)
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Everything in moderation. (Laughter) For playing our puzzle today, you'll get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin, as well as puzzle books and games. You can read all about it at npr.org/puzzle. And, Mary, which member station do you listen to?
SPRINGHORN: I'm a member of KUOW in Seattle.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Ah. That's Mary Springhorn of Bellingham, WA. Thank you so much for playing The Puzzle.
SPRINGHORN: Thank you so much.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: All right, Will, what's next week's challenge?
SHORTZ: Yeah, this week's challenge comes from listener Bruce Campbell of Kansas City, Mo. Think of a well-known U.S. city. Its population is over a quarter of a million. Phonetically, the first syllable of the city's name plus the first syllable of the name of its state will sound like a well-known brand name. What is it? So, again, a well-known U.S. city - more than a quarter-million population - the first syllable of its name plus the first syllable of the name of its state will sound like a well-known brand name. What is it?
GARCIA-NAVARRO: When you have the answer, go to our website, npr.org/puzzle, and click on the Submit Your Answer link. Remember, just one entry per person, please. Our deadline for entries is Thursday, April 9, at 3 p.m. Eastern. Include a phone number where we can reach you at about that time. And if you're the winner, we'll give you a call, and you'll get to play on the air with the puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's very own puzzlemaster, Will Shortz. Thanks so much, Will.
SHORTZ: Thank you, Lulu. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.