NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home.
Challenge from May 29
This challenge involves a four-letter word square. Write down these four words, one under the other: SAGA, OPAL, FELL, and TRAY. The results spell four different words vertically: SOFT, APER, GALA, ALLY. This square contains three "L's" and no plurals, or verbs formed by adding "S". The challenge is to create a similar square with as many "L's" as possible, and no plurals or verbs formed by adding "S". And our reference for acceptable words will be Merriam-Webster's eleventh Collegiate Dictionary.
Answer: Will's best answer has 7 "L's" containing these words: LILLY, ALOE, MILL, and BALL. Coming down the row, they make LAMB, ILIA, LOLL and YELL..
This week's winner: Phil Goldberg, from Nashville, Tenn. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station WPLN in Nashville, Tenn.
Challenge from June 5
This week's challenge is from Paul Doering, from Rochester, N.Y. Name two fruits, and say their names out loud. They sound like a two-word phrase meaning "today." What is the phrase?
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