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Getting Thick In The Midsection

On-air challenge: You'll be given some four-letter words. For each one, insert two letters exactly in the middle to complete a common, uncaplitalized six-letter word.

Example: pace + L-A = palace

Last week's challenge: This challenge came from listener Ben Bass of Chicago. Take the name of a modern-day country. Add an A and rearrange the letters to name a group of people who used to live in the area of this country. Who are they?

Answer: Netherlands and Neanderthals

Winner: Molly Dobbins of Double Oak, Texas

Next week's challenge: Name a well-known movie of the past — two words, seven letters in total. These seven letters can be rearranged to spell the name of an animal plus the sound it makes. What animal is it?

Submit Your Answer

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 Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Copyright 2024 NPR

NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has appeared on Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start in 1987. He's also the crossword editor of The New York Times, the former editor of Games magazine, and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (since 1978).