Section 2: The Puzzles - The GCHQ Puzzle Book (2016)

The GCHQ Puzzle Book (2016)

Penguin Books

Section 2: The Puzzles

1.    Where?

Where does RESURRECTION fit into the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

2.    What next?

What is the next word in this sequence?

UNSAID, RANDOM, SALUTED, DANEWEEDS, DRAUGHTS, AFRAID, ?

3.    Odd one out

Which is the odd one out?

(a) BEGGAR, BOXCAR, DELIVER, HARDWARE, LITIGATION, MOLECULE, SCOWL, SEVERAL, VOLATILE

(b) BAIT, BALL, BIRD, GUARD, JACK, LEG, LIST

(c) BODY, HOTEL, KNIFE, RELAXING, STATELY, TROUBLES, UNGRATEFUL, WRINKLE

(d) ARSENAL, CARAFE, CIPHER, COTTON, IDEA, MAGAZINE, MATTRESS, MONSOON, SOFA, SYRUP

(e) CASTLE, DEATH, HARBOUR, IDEA, LITTLE, RECREATION, TYPE, WRONG

4.    Lists I

Each of the following lists leads to a second list, which leads to a third list, which leads to a fourth list which is in alphabetical order. What are the fourth lists?

(a) GODS, VASE, GROWN, STAPLER, EARTHY, DIET, CANED, SERVE, SADDLER, SNAP, BLOTS, PLACER, PRIESTS

(b) BIRDWATCHER, BOMBING, BEEF STEW, DAGGER, BROAD-BRIMMED HAT, OPENNESS, DEAD END, OPEN PIE, GRIEVANCE OFFICIAL, DRUMBEAT, PAPER-FOLDING

5.    Please stand

In the following, what does the ? stand for?

UNITED KINGDOM

3435

AUSTRALIA

794

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

3486

NEW ZEALAND

CANADA

16

6.    Odd one IN

(a) Which of the following words is the odd one in (i.e. not the odd one out!), and why?

PRIEST, PARSON, PADRE, CURATE, PEAHEN

(b) Which of these numbers is the odd one in, and why?

4, 66, 121, 484, 1936

7.    Identify the film

Image_29292

8.    Odd sequence out

Which sequence is the odd one out and why?

(4 8 11 13), (9 18 7 2), (16 13 1 19 8), (20 18 9 7 8), (4 12 7 15 9 8), (7 1 15 20 8 19), (10 1 5 14 8 18), (13 1 16 7 11 17), (16 1 9 19 11 20), (7 3 18 12 6 1 9)

9.    Properties I

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) BLACKENED, DEFACING, FREIGHT, HIGHJACK, POLICEMAN, REQUEST, OVERTURNS: CERTAINLY

(b) ERROR, OUTER, PITY, QUIET, TORQUE, WRITER: FLASH

(c) BENZENE, BETWEEN, COLOURFUL, CRUX, FOIL, FRILL, GAD, JAMMY, KNEE, PAMPAS, VAMP, WHEEZE: GASEOUS

10.   What’s in common?

What do the following words and phrase have in common? Suggest another word or phrase which could be in this list.

AGEISM, ALES, CAPE, EARTH, EMIRATES, EMIGRE, FOEMAN, LIMA, MALLS, NOTE, SOONTIME, THUMPING NOISE

11.   Word sequence I

What is the next word in the following sequences (in most cases there is not a unique solution, so any word which fits will be correct):

(a) CHIN, PLUM, MAGI, HEAR, FORT, BRIE, CLAN, CLOT, ?

(b) PIECE, LADDER, HASTE, EMOTION, BONY, LITTER, RASPING, ARROW, RISES, ?

(c) HERD, TALE, FOAL, CAGE, CRAM, RILE, TIER, ?

12.   A literary question

Richmal Crompton, Johanna Spyri, Lewis Carroll, Wilbert Awdry, Vladimir Nabokov, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Arthur Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling, Benjamin Disraeli, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Frederic Farrar, Joyce Lankester Brisley?

13.   Can’t play it

What is the shortest word that can legally be played in a game of (British) Scrabble, but which can never appear on a Scrabble board?

14.   Christmas songs

(a) O-LITOOFBEHOSTWESETHLI

(b) ECHEALITOUF-OLA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-

(c) EYIDER--OW--RIEYIDER--AC--RT

(d) LEPHCHIRCK--HT

(e) LEEYLEEY----Y---

(f) TETETU--------NETE

(g) --MA----MA----------GI

(h) --N---IN----------

(i) ----L---------------LY

(j) --------------T-

15.   Find the link

What links?

(a) GARRISON, PORK, FIERCE, GIANT, HARES, TART, HOOKER

(b) BRA, CARE, MILLIONAIRE, NEEDLE, PRINCE, TIMELINE

(c) 10, 190, 2766, 57005, 11325150, 14613198, 16435934

(d) BUTCHERS, DIVER, HANDY, HARLEM, LARGE

16.   13 Pairs

Add one word to the 24 listed below to give 13 (yes, 13) pairs.

AFT, AFTERS, ALOFT, FELT, FILE, FUSTIER, GLARE, GROWN, HATED, HATRED, HINT, ISLE, LAYER, LOWERS, MALLS, PEACH, READ, SCENTED, SERVE, SKIN, SPORE, STANCE, TALE, THRUST

17.   Identify the following

(a) Author of 21f.

(b) Weapon that fires a shot of diameter approximately 4.57mm.

(c) Poet.

(d) Chicago serial killer.

(e) Opening line of a Leiber and Stoller lyric.

(f) TV writer/producer and film director, born in 1966.

(g) Rapper, born in 1968.

(h) 16.5mm track.

(i) A tourist attraction in Bristol since 1970.

(j) Rock band noted for their beards.

18.   Where?

Where does WHITE fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

19.   What’s the missing word

(i) NEQQA WF Z IFCKDKAQ

(ii) LKTUL NJ YX YWHCSUXE

(iii) VFJQUA BJ D CKDNQIN

(iv) DCGYCZ XM G PXBF-DCGP ODXYCF

(v) WKPIY OP T POWNKG

(vi) NHSD WS H DWL-YHNF

(vii) FPHPWMG PL KBR _ _ _ _ _ _ _

20.   Properties II

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) CONQUISTADOR, CROSSBOW, DUMBSTRUCK, GUILDHALL, KILOBYTE, LANDMARK, SHRUBLIKE, STARTLING, WRITTEN: INTERNAL

(b) BEAT, CHAFE, CHIC, CLOVER, HIDEOUS, MODEL, STALK, TRIO, GARNISHED: SINGLE

(c) BRANDY, CRUISE, DECK, DOPE, EASEL, FROLIC, KIT, LANDSCAPE, SLEIGH, YACHT: CARNIVAL

(d) ASTEROID, BREWSTER, BUCKTHORN, COMPENSATE, ENTHRONE, OUTSHINE, STEWARD, XANTHOUS: LIMPIDLY

(e) ART, BUDS, COMPARE, LEASE, LOVELY, ROUGH, SHALL, SHORT, TEMPERATE, WINDS: SUMMARY

(f) CANVAS, FLASKS, FLORIST, IMAGO, MAINLAND, MAUVE, ORIGIN, TEENS, VARMINT, ZOOMING: CONNECTIONS

(g) CHAIN, ENEMY, MOAN, PLANE, REGALIA, REIGN, SERIAL: ANIMAL

(h) GRATE, DISCRETE, HOSE, PRIDE, RUDE, SEER, WEAR: PRAISE

21.   Missing characters

Identify the following books from their opening lines. We’ve included only letters from a subset of the alphabet (a different subset in each case).

(a) -h-y’r- -u- -h-r-. --a-k --ys -n wh--- su--s up --f-r- m- -- --mm-- s-x a--s -n -h- ha-- and g-- -- m-pp-d up --f-r- - -an -a--h -h-m.

(b) I- -a- -he -e-- o- -i-e-, i- -a- -he -or-- o- -i-e-…

(c) -h--- w--- f--- -f -s: G---g-, --- W------ S----- H----s, --- --s--f, --- ---------c-.

(d) --e-l--- --l-e- ---- -is b---le f--- --e ---ne- -f --e -an-el-ie-e and -i- ----de--i- ---in-e f--- i-- nea- ------- -a-e.

(e) -ll --i- --pp-n--, --r- -r l---.

(f) - ---- - ----- ----- - -- ---- -----’- --- ---- ------.

(g) So-- o- t-- -v-- o- -y t--- --y --v- b--n -n--r-nt -n o-r --r---st-n--s.

(h) -- -h-s S--da- m-r---- -- Ma-, -h-s --r- -h- -a--r -as -- -- -h- -a-s- -f a s--sa---- -- --- --rk, a--k- m--h --- -ar-- f-r h-r ---h- --f-r-.

(i) ‘-ha-’- ---n i-!’ -ai- ---- -e-e- -i--ey.

(j) --w-rd- -h- -nd -f -----mb-r ---7, -n -li-n -r-f----r -f ---i-l-g- -i-i-ing R---i- --m- -- --- m- in ---r-gr-d.

22.   Christmas songs

(a) DKTEHSWHBSOFHYFALALALALALALALALA

(b) NLNLNLNLBNISTEKGOFIL

(c) TECSWEGTWEDE

(d) WTWLYRDYDOWNHESSYRMAKGSACS

(e) CSRGONANONFE

(f) TYNRLTPRRHJNINAYRRGS

(g) RGOTTEBSTTBMBM

(h) RTATTEFTFEBYSTASFN

(i) SGCSOFASSGINENSGALYECSOFHNAE

(j) TSSETESHADFHADAASGTG

23.   Reorder I

Arrange the members of the following sets into another, logical, order.

(a) ATHLETICS, COLLOQUY, ELEVEN, KANGAROO, LACERATE, MATADOR, OVERDRIVE, PALATINE, POLICEMEN, UNDERRUN

(b) CALLING, ENTIRETY, EREMITE, ETYMOLOGICAL, IONOSPHERE, ITEM, PERCOLATOR, STATION, TEMPER, TORRENT, VISTA

(c) CLEAR, DISCHARGE, EMPTY, FAIR, FIRE, JUST, ONLY, PASSION, SUFFERING, UNDERGOING

(d) ACTION, ADORNS, COURSE, DOMAIN, ELICIT, EXCUSE, INCITE, MANIOC, NOTICE, RANDOM, ROUSED, SECURE, SOARED

(e) BEGINNING, BRUISE, DEPARTURE, FIGURES, GNOMES, LEAKS, PITY, POST, RATES, SORROWS

24.   Lists II

Each of the following lists of words leads to a second list, which leads to a third list, which is in alphabetical order. What are the third lists?

(a) SHAWL, COURTESY, TULIP, CARGO, BANDIT, COACH, MOLASSES, MYTH, EDUCATION, CORACLE, MAMMOTH, POODLE, DECK

(b) STARE, BEACHES, PEAK, FOURTH, RHYME, SALTER, CARROT, BOARD, CHASED, IDLES, COARSE, CHOIRS, ASSENT, REST, PAUSE

(c) UNSTUFFY, HOWITZER, HAZELNUT, MATCHBOX, PUNGENCY, RELATIVE, SENSIBLE, SWITCHES, DEADLIER, QUESTION

(d) LATER, DOUBLER, ZEBRA, ASHORE, GUN, MARITAL, PLEAD, TRIFLE, ASLEEP, RECALL, LIGHTS, WORDS, ARTIST, TISSUE, SINEW

(e) RUGS, TRACER, TROPIC, SPICES, CAMUS, PULES, MANOR, CANTOS, RAISE, LAVE, HARDY, SCUNGY, NAMES, SCUTE

25.   Where?

Where does SILENCE fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

26.   Identify me

My first is in a combine harvester, but not in a ploughshare.

My second is in a pigsty, but not in a cowshed.

My third does not exist.

My whole is in a farmyard, but not in a jungle.

Identify me.

27.   Sums

(a) Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose + Amaranth - Guar Gum = ?

Graphic_24597

28.   Hotels

(a) I was in a hotel recently, and in the lobby area was one of those signs which consists of a black board with lots of holes in, and a set of plastic letters which are used to form words. The sign said:

IN THE EVENT OF FIRE
OR EVEN SNOWING
USE THE EXIT

How many rooms were there in the hotel?

(b) Shortly afterwards I was in a European hotel of similar size with a lovely sea view. Amazingly there was a similar sign in the lobby which said:

SINCE THE FIRE
WHEN BUZZER HISS
EVIDENCE INN UNSAFE

In which country was I staying?

29.   Longest word

Find the longest word, with no repeated letters, which, when its letters are arranged in alphabetical order has no 2 letters adjacent in the alphabet. E.g. DRAFT becomes ADFRT, and satisfies the criterion, WORDS becomes DORSW and does not satisfy it.

30.   Order

Seven words have been enciphered using a simple substitution. Decrypt them, and then put them in the appropriate order:

FRAFR CNEGL THRFF URNIRA RFGNGR YNQL PBYHZA

31.   Next pair

What is the next pair of numbers in this series?

(18, 19), (28, 29), (38, 39), (79, 80), (81, 82), (83, 84), (85, 86), (?, ?)

32.   Number sequence I

(a) 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 20, 33, 54, 88, ?

(b) 4, 2, 5, 2, 6, 10, 3, 7, 6, 4, ?

33.   Name dropping

The following words used to contain some famous names, before they became stars.

For example, *et cho*ol = Mark Lester (MARKet choLESTERol)

(a) *stro sou*er

(film)

(b) *sled re*nt

(politics)

(c) ent* *na

(film)

(d) *ion fri*

(business)

(e) *h pa*e pea*

(film)

(f) pa*ma vi*nt

(music)

(g) cla*t

(fashion)

(h) e*e s*y

(sport)

(i) o*a a*

(film)

(j) i**

(music)

34.   8-letter word

Here are ten 7-letter words. But what 8-letter word do they convey?

image

35.   Lists III

(a) The following list of words leads to a second list, which leads to a third list, which is in alphabetical order. What is the third list?

RING, WAVE, GREASE, BURN, MEAL, BAG, PRINT, PULL, STRAP, FLINT, CAP, VARNISH, CHAIR, SHOE, FLASK

(b) The following list of words leads to a second list, which leads to a third list, which leads to a fourth list, which leads to a fifth list, which leads to a sixth list, which is in alphabetical order. What is the sixth list?

GAMBLE, SPANS, GRASPING, LADDER, STALE, STABLE, CRATES, CHASTE, RELAPSE, SENDS, PRAISE, BANGLED, SNAILS, ANODE, TROWEL

36.   Letters and numbers

(a) What is the next (final) letter in this series?

E, O, R, X, N, T, Y

(b) What property do the following numbers, and no others, share?

3, 8000, 1000000, 1000900, 2×1048, 1062

37.   Word sequence II

(a) NIGHT, PAINTING, INIQUITY, THRIVE, VAPOURS, VERIFY, REVISIT, ?

(b) HIP, HEAD, LIP, BELLY, BACK, CHEST, NOSE, OCCIPUT, FOOT, NECK, ?

(c) STOP, LUMBERED, TORN, DENOTED, CONTORTS, TUBERS, NUTHATCH, BARRISTERS, DITHERS, ?

(d) HEWED, GREENWOODS, FANCY, ENGINEERED, DREAM, CONSENTS, BRUSHED, ?

(e) SUPERABUNDANCE, CALIPH, FRAGILE, ISOMETRIC, TICKLING, EXPIRY, ALIQUOT, DOCILE, ?

(f) OPENED, SECURE, SUMMIT, BEFALL, ISOBAR, LATTER, INSECT, OVERDO, SECRET, ?

38.   Film plots

Identify the following films, and give their titles and dates.

(a) Two rival racing drivers go undercover to catch a narcotics dealer, but are sucked into the drug subculture.

(b) A woman runs away to Chicago after massacring her schoolmates in the gym, and has an affair with a married man.

(c) A blue parrot escapes from prison to kill his wife’s lover.

(d) After a car salesman’s brother is killed in a cattle stampede, he gets caught up in a kidnapping plot.

(e) At an exclusive school, a possessed doll is drawn into a conflict between two instructors.

(f) Saoirse Ronan encounters a giant mutant slug monster in the Han River.

(g) A pair of assassins discover they’re not really married.

(h) An ambitious coalminer is talked into becoming a boxer and builds himself a high-tech armoured suit.

(i) Charlie Chan investigates the case of a man who gets his leg chopped off, to the theme used for the BBC’s London Marathon coverage.

(j) A wandering samurai protects a pop singer.

(k) While crossing the Caspian Sea, Jeanette MacDonald leaves Nelson Eddy and embarks on a relationship with a werewolf.

(l) On a plane from Peru to Panama are a private eye and a nightclub singer, a fisherman married to a cannery worker, a construction worker and his unemployed pop singer girlfriend, and a group of lifeguards.

39.   Trigraphs

Explain the following sets of trigraphs.

(a) ART, BUS, CAR, COO, FOR, HAY, KEN, MAD, PIE, WAS

(b) AIA, AOU, BLJ, GHD, HGA, IJI, JEV, KCH, NDH, NGK, SSO, UJU, YKJ

(c) AIL, BUT, CAR, FIN, JET, LIT, MET, PAN, PAR, RUE, SON

(d) CHM, GHI, GSK, HMS, ISZ, KOV, KYK, LIU, LSS, UGH

(e) ANO, APH, EGA, GAN, GRA, HER, NOG, OGR, PHE, RAP, STE, TEG

(f) AYE, CHI, DIK, GRU, JUG, KIE, MUU, PUT, TAM, TEE

(g) AND, BUR, EAT, ETH, GUY, LAR, MAL, RIM, WAG, WAN

(h) ART, ASP, BEE, CAB, CAR, LEE, LET, MAR, PAR, POT

(i) ASS, BUT, HER, ION, NET, ONE, PET, RUM, TAR

(j) BEN, LAC, LED, NET, NEP, NIM. RAM, REV, SAW, SEW

(k) AAA, ANN, CIA, EAR, ETA, IDA, LAN, LOO, MOO, NIA, SAE, UAE

(l) AME, CEE, ELS, GAW, IGL, HYP, MUC, PYE, QIG, STY, UFW

And what’s the missing trigraph?

(m) CDE, FHJ, GXY, HOQ, ILO, JXZ, LPT, OTY

And divide the following trigraphs into two groups - one before and one after.

(n) BOK, FTR, JJJ, KOS, LQR, PCF, QDU, RFS, RHQ, TOS

40.   The list

What completes the list?

SORE

KEEL

COSH MARK

41.   Word shape

If ABBOT, DITTO, GLEE, HABIT, KELP, ORBIT, THIRD and TOOTH can be described as square words, what shape is CUFF?

42.   Name dropping

The following words used to contain some famous names, before they became stars.

For example, *et cho*ol = Mark Lester (MARKet choLESTERol)

(a) undi*uished

(music)

(b) c*nge mul*

(film)

(c) con*e *w

(sport)

(d) heat* *nt

(film)

(e) de*d c*on

(art)

(f) si*n *ock

(sport)

(g) s*le t*

(TV)

(h) s*d f*k

(music)

(i) *ry g*

(film)

(j) *a*py

(music)

43.   Pairs

The elements of each of the following sets can be paired up. What are these pairs?

(a) AGREES, ASPIRE, CHASTE, ENLIST, ENTRAP, GREASE, LATTER, NEURAL, PALEST, PARENT, PRAISE, PRIEST, RATTLE, SACHET, SILENT, STAPLE, STRIPE, UNREAL

(b) ASP, BAR, BOARD, CHOPS, COME, CUP, DAM, DIES, GAIN, HALT, MILES, NATION, RAIN, REAL, REST, SIDE, TICK, TONE

(c) ALTHOUGH, BEER, BITE, BLUE, CONFINE, DISDAIN, GATEAU, LAUGHED, LYNX, QUARTZ, RAFT, RESIGN, SANE, SLEIGHT, THROUGH, TIER, WARTS, WINKS

(d) ANT, BAN, BAR, BOG, BUS, END, FOE, FUN, GAT, LEE, POT, RAG, RED, ROT, SHY, TEN, THE, TRY, URE, WIN

(e) AIL, AIR, ALE, AND, ANY, ASS, BUS, EFT, FED, FEE, FIN, FIR, FUN, JUT, LET, LID, LUG, ODD, OIL, OLD, ONE, ORE, PAY, PIE, PRY, RAY, RED, ROE, RUE, SET, SIT, SOT, TIE, TOP, WAY, WOE

(f) AIL, ANY, CAR, CUR, END, FEN, KEY, OLD, PAN, ROW, RUT, SEW, SPY, VAT

(g) ADORN, AID, AIM, AMOK, ANT, AT, BEAR, COOL, FACIAL, FOR, GORE, HALO, HATING, IRON, JEWRY, LAID, LARD, MANY, MOAN, OH, ON, REAL, ROAD, SANK, SEEN, SERAPHIM, SEX, SHIELD, SNOW, SONNET, STAIR, VIEWING, WADE, WHEN, WORK, YEN

44.   Matrices

image

45.   A to Z

A = SW, TS, HDS, JH, YK

B = JP, RDN, MP, BH, KG

C = DA, JT, HC, TW, SG

D = JV, BR, NB, RC

E = HM, NT, CL, NC

F = DW, DC, KR, JG, ML

G = SB, GC, EH, OI, PS, AW

H = JLC, DP, PJS, NL

I = LD, KW, MC, EP, TB

J = RS, RS, RD, LG, MH

K = LA, AA, FA, LN, RC

L = JC, DB, TF, CM, ST

M = BS, CR, DS, JPS, SBC

N = AH, JA, PS, BH, EGM

O = RM, MA, SB, DL, KW

P = TH, DW, JR, AB, JW

Q = PD, RW, LA, TW, S

R = JC, JH, MA, JB, RR

S = DC, JB, RF, BM, JD

T = EM, EB, JLM, KM, RC

U = CE, GH, MF, RH

V = POT, LP, JW, RG, VR

W = YB, RB, JB

X = ONJ, MB, GK, JS, DA

Y = GC, PC, EI, JC, SM

Z = BS, OW, WF, MJ, JV

46.   Garbled text

The following text is garbled - explain how.

DCBI NE UIF MTNADSR AFVZDDM UYM COF MHOD NO C NNCGJD QGNOF BNPSFQSMMER UN UGPFD NQ DNTP JFUVDSQ ND UID BKQGBAFV BMF DCAI KDVUFP GM VGHP UFZV HQ PCOENOKW QDQJBBFE CW CMNVGDQ XGGBG AMPPFPQNMEQ VN UGD RCOD MVNADP BP VGCV JFVVFQ

47.   Cipher message

The following cipher message contains a clue to the method of encipherment:

580: 546 5603248534, 590 492

What does it say?

48.   Where?

Where does HEAVEN fit into the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

49.   Groups

What group is associated with each of the following?

image

50.   When was that?

The author of that favourite novel of yours? Well he shares his surname with another who came from Sheffield and who wrote a novel set in a fictional seaside town that shares its name with a real one in Devon. That town has a castle that isn’t a castle, and the architect of that worked with another architect in Plymouth and this second architect died on the same day that an author first gave a lecture on manners. He gave part seven of the series on the same day as someone else became famous for surviving. The husband of the artist who painted this event wrote the biography of a man who was killed in a battle that ended a war. The peace treaty was signed on the same day as two Nobel Laureates were born. The one of these who wasn’t a writer was born in a town where a famous conference took place and the man who presided over this had been crowned king only recently in a cathedral that was built by and is the resting place of a man who was authorised by a pope to take anything he wanted from an Italian city where a Roman emperor was born and where his daughter married the king of a tribe who was previously married to the daughter of a king killed in battle. In which year was that battle?

51.   Sums

(a) Vinegar + Carbolic Acid + Carbon dioxide - Aspirin = ?

(b) image

(c) (Baseball × Cricket × Netball) - (Basketball × Rugby Union × (Rugby League - Polo)) = ?

52.   Number sequence II

(a) 7, 14, 19, 29, 40, 44, 52, 59, 73, 83, 94, ?

(b) 18, 26, 38, 62, 74, 102, ?

(c) 18, 25, 28, 34, 35, 37, 41, 44, … (44th element)?

53.   Chains

(a) SOYLENT ____ CARD

(b) DIE ____ ____ SQUARE

(c) UNIVERSAL ____ ____ ____ MAGNOLIAS

(d) CABIN ____ ____ ____ ____ MAN

(e) NEAR ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ INTERRUPTED

54.   CEB VRD CPC VPB?

CNT VOD VIE / CTC VSD / CEK VUD CQP / CSK VIB VHB CTC / CNP VID / CNA CZN VCB VSA CEH / CDP CEF VCB / CEB VRD CPC VPB / CUP VOD / VRA CGK CRO CER VTB CTN / CEP CLF VEC CEO / CRM VHE VTB CHO CCP VIC VHD CWK ?

55.   Missing letter

What is the missing letter?

?, ?, ?, ?, n, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, u, u, i, n, i, o, ?, u, n, i, i, i, ?

56.   What doesn’t come next?

Here’s an antidote to ‘what’s the next in this series’ questions.

(a) What ISN’T the next state of the USA in this series (of those remaining)?

INDIANA, ALABAMA, COLORADO, SOUTH DAKOTA, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, GEORGIA, MASSACHUSETTS, WEST VIRGINIA, NEW JERSEY, ALASKA, OKLAHOMA, MONTANA, VIRGINIA, VERMONT, MISSISSIPPI, —, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, TENNESSEE, UTAH, NEVADA, DELAWARE, TEXAS, MARYLAND, ARIZONA, LOUISIANA, NEBRASKA, NORTH CAROLINA, IDAHO, KENTUCKY, FLORIDA, OREGON, MICHIGAN, ?

(b) What ISN’T the next African country in this series (of those remaining)?

LIBYA, CHAD, SOUTH AFRICA, MALI, GABON, RWANDA, ALGERIA, MALAWI, GHANA, BURKINA FASO, MAURITANIA, NIGER, GUINEA, ZAMBIA, TOGO, LESOTHO, TANZANIA, BOTSWANA, SUDAN, UGANDA, NIGERIA, SWAZILAND, ERITREA, ETHIOPIA, ZAIRE, BURUNDI, KENYA, ZIMBABWE, ANGOLA, SOUTH SUDAN, ?

57.   Jeopardy

(a) Judge Doom

(b) One joined the army and one married Thelma

(c) It makes none

(d) Because she would have known that the old man was an impostor

(e) It’s behind a double-parked van

(f) She lives in a mansion with her sister Blanche

(g) Put him in the long boat and make him bail her

(h) Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!

(i) 36°35’N 98°28’W 32°43’N 117°10’W

58.   A poem

Whilst driving recently my car felt weird.

The steering failed and off the road I ______.

A gentle stop was not on the agenda.

I bruised my leg, and gosh did that feel ______.

I ______ right by the vehicle till the AA came along.

They spotted that the brake alignment had been set up wrong.

The mechanic in the garage said he would have to _____

and then replace the brakepipes, back into their groove.

He tested them and it turned out that the test results were poor.

So I asked for a ______ just to be quite sure.

You’ll see I’ve left 5 words out of my little doggerel rhyme.

They all have 6 letters - which should save you lots of time.

These words all fit together in a sort of square array.

Use this to solve the question: This all happened on what day?

59.   In common

What do the following have in common?

ADIER AIN ERAL EREAN IRAL OMMANE OMMOO ONEL OR ORAL RIVA

60.   Reorder II

Arrange in a different logical order.

CROSS, DOT, DROP, MIND, ROLL

61.   … and in English?

In French only (2, 3), (9, 10) and (10, 11) have this property. In German only (4, 5), (5, 6), (7, 8) and (8, 9) have this property. What is the situation for English?

62.   Where?

Where does COSY fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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63.   Sums

(a) (Monkey + Dragon + Rabbit) - (Dog + Rat) = ?

(b) (OF × EA - FR × SL) / (CR + AL + SH + OZ) = ?

(c) (Hobbits in the Fellowship + Elven rings + Dwarvish rings + Towers) × Black Riders = ?

(d) ((Anna + Puss - Liss) / Nerk) - Pier = ?

64.   Where? - with a difference

Here is a slightly different Where? question. Normally we tell you which word you need to position in the list. Not this time. Not only do you have to work out where the missing word belongs in the list - you also have to work out what the word might be! (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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65.   Chessboard

(a) Whilst tidying the Kwiz vault we found a chessboard on which each square had been marked with a number. The top right hand corner of the board had the following markings:

4 5 4 5

3 4 5 4

4 3 4 5

3 4 3 4

How were the squares in the bottom left of the board marked?

(b) Another chessboard had the top right corner marked:

5 6 6 6

5 5 6 7

4 6 6 7

6 6 6 6

How were the squares in the bottom left of the board marked?

66.   Identify and divide into pairs

(a) Band from Wigan

(b) Word that is the theme of this question

(c) Surname of former Foreign Secretary

(d) 1961 film that marked the final appearance of two Hollywood legends

(e) Novel by Stephen King

(f) Band who debuted in May 1979 supporting Scritti Politti

(g) Best picture Oscar winner of the ’70s

(h) European city

(i) ASBO superheroes

(j) REM single

(k) Singer, born in 1951

(l) Band from Wigan

67.   Complete the set

5, 8, 9, 12, ?, 20, 23, 25

68.   63 words I

The 63 words below can be divided into 21 sets of 3, with the 3 words in each set being linked in some way. Of these 21 sets, 20 of them can be paired into 10 pairs by means of a connection between the sets - perhaps a common theme, or the sets have been formed in the same way, or the links themselves are connected in some way. Having removed these 60 words, which 3 words are left, and what is the link between them?

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69.   Identical property

Divide the following lists of words into pairs, with each pair having an identical property.

(a) BALLS, BATH, BLACK, BOOT, BUTTON, CHAIR, COLD, GREASE, IRON, NUT, PADS, RIGHT, RING, ROSE, SECOND, SPRING, TEA, TENNIS, TIPS, YELLOW

(b) BLOOD, BOTTLE, BREAST, EARL, ELEPHANTS, GERMAN, HOUND, HOUSE, JET, LINCOLN, LINING, MARKET, NAVY, PEEL, RACING, SEEING, SNOW, WASH

70.   Two things in common

The answers to the following clues have 2 things in common.

· Bicarbonate

· Alien spacecraft

· Toy figure

· Relations frequently the subject of jokes

· Authorizing official (especially US)

· Items of ladies’ underwear

· Credit card

· Delays action

· Reinvested

· ?

· Silhouette

· Ability to sustain effort

(a) What are the 2 things the answers have in common?

(b) Add another possible answer.

71.   Lists IV

Each word in the following lists leads to another word, in a manner which you are to determine, and this second word leads to a third word, in a different manner. These third words are in alphabetical order. What are they?

(a) ALLEY, DESERT, POLAR, CRY, HOT, LOAN, MARCH, SEA, LEMON, SCREECH, SHIRE, ROLLER

(b) THE HAGUE, VALETTA, ANKARA, MADRID, HAVANA, PARIS, LISBON, COPENHAGEN, BERN, MOSCOW, BERLIN, NEW DELHI, BEIJING

(c) CENT, HEAVEN, FOOL, HAMLET, ATTITUDE, MECHANICAL, OUTRAGEOUS, DIOCESE, VOLITION, BRASSICA, RIPE

(d) RICH, HAIRY, WARM, CROOKED, ALIVE, DARK, UNWELL, SANE, LOW, UGLY, FAT

(e) MOCK, BED, WAG, TELL, WRAITH, FROM, TOP, METRE, NAME, RUNG, BOOK

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72.   Word sequence III

(a) QUARTER, DUTY, LINER, POSTER, OFF, ASIDE, PINS, STEP, ?

(b) ALERT, AGENT, BELLY, LAND, BIRD, MOOD, ?

(c) ELOPE, BUG, ENTER, REIN, LATE, OUT, SUCKER, ?

73.   Name dropping

The following words used to contain some famous names, before they became stars.

For example: *et cho*ol = Mark Lester (MARKet choLESTERol)

(a) se*e ma* nar*psy

(music)

(b) tar*in par*y

(music)

(c) ho*ss

(sport)

(d) diplo* stin*

(music)

(e) r*mp cha*e

(politics)

(f) *i go*k

(actor)

(g) s* va*

(actor)

(h) na* p*

(astronaut)

(i) *b t*

(actor)

(j) r**

(film director)

74.   Reorder III

Arrange in a different logical order.

587 YARDS (approx), AGAINST, CARBON, COMPACT DISC, RALPH FIENNES, GREEK LETTER, KISS, LIFE STORY, ME, SRI LANKA, VIOLET

75.   Morse Christmas music

Here are the titles of some Christmas pieces, given in Morse. To keep things simple, we have shifted all the spaces to the right-hand end of each line. Identify the pieces.

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76.   Properties III

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) BOND, FACE, FRET, GIST, LACK, LYNX, MONK, ONCE, PUNT, SOUP: QUIZ

(b) ANKARA, BEIJING, BERNE, BRASILIA, CANBERRA, NEW DELHI, OTTAWA, RABAT, WASHINGTON, WELLINGTON: LONDON

(c) ACROSS, ANTEROOM, APPALLING, ARROGANT, CARRIES, CHAPLAIN, CLOTHED, FLOGGING, INCOHERENT, MALICE, PROVABLE, RAIDING, UNDULATED: AXILLARY

(d) AMBITION, DIPLOMAT, ENDORSABLE, FURTHERMORE, MANICURE, NOBLEWOMEN, ORIFICE, PIMENTO, RUMINANT, SOARING, TOEHOLD, WEATHER: SKELETON

(e) ABSTRACT, BASS, CONSOLE, INCENSE, PRESENT, REAL, REFUSE, SECOND, SEWER, SLOUGH, TEAR: QUESTION

(f) AARON, ALEXANDER, ELISABETH, EMMANUEL, FLORENCE, GERALDINE, GREGORY, LEONARD, THOMAS, TIMOTHY: ROSALIND

(g) APPEAR, BRANDISH, CLOWN, COLLAR, CORRECT, FALLOW, GROVEL, LEVER, LURE, RUSTLE: DIRECTIONAL

77.   Odd archive

An archive of film, music and literature has been catalogued by someone who wants to keep entries as short as possible. So FOURXKYRNFHE was written by Richard Curtis, RATBGR was by U2, and THEPRISONMSGXZPZUVFF was written by JK Rowling. What are the usual titles of the works recorded below:

(a) THGNOQLDOVXTMC

(b) W

(c) PREYXXALC

78.   Name

M lives in Q, and is very fond of G. He is married to J, and they have 2 children, C and V. What do the children call M?

79.   Odd one out?

ABBREVIATE, CONTEMPORANEOUS, DEGENERATIVE, FLOODWATER, FOXY, GRAPHICAL, INTERMEDIATION, JIGSAW, LIQUIDS, UNCOUTHLY, ZEKS

(a) Which word in the above list is the odd one out?

(b) Why, actually, isn’t it the odd one out?

(c) If you were to make a similar list of words, but with a different number of words in the list, how many words would it contain? (No need to make such a list, unless you want to!)

80.   Miscellaneous

(63°09’N 117°16’W 37°55’N 120°25’W 02°07’N 18°06’E 56°12’N 3°0’W) - (37°07’N 82°36’W 14°30’S 69°18’W 51°39’N 02°27’W)?

81.   Peculiar event

What is the last word in the following?

SOMETHING PECULIAR HAPPENED WHEN I SAT DOWN

RI YSW RHW RTOWQEURWE. RHW FAYLR GIR QIESW

YNRUK RGW RWXR CIYKS NIR BW EWCIFNUAWS. UR

AWWNWS RIVW XINOKWRW FIVVKWSTFIIJ.

82.   A to Z

A = T, U, T, C, P, I

B = I, M

C = P, B, A

D = E, E, S

E = C, P

F = B, L, G, S, I, M, S, A, S

G = A, M, B, T

H = A, S, U, R, S, C, S

I = F, S, A, S

J = {}

K = K, C, T, U

L = A, S Y = SA, O

M = U, R

N = N, C, C, B

O = Y, SA, ???

P = S

Q = SA

R = U, T, B, DROTC

S = A, H, C, I

T = L, A

U = B, A

V = G, B, C

W = -

X = -

Z = Z, M, SA, B

83.   Odd one out

Which of the following is the odd one out?

(a) AIR, ART, CHI, DOG, HIS, ITS, MRS, RAM, SIT, TAR

(b) BIY, FEG, FEL, FER, HOM, JEG, MED, PON, SEP, SUT

84.   Round Britain Quiz I

This style of question commemorates Round Britain Quiz on BBC Radio 4: the format is one, long, cryptic question which has six parts to it, indicated by the letters a-f. To gain full marks you should identify all six parts. This will be sufficient to answer the question.

The following individuals are arranged in approximate order of size, starting with the biggest: a fictitious Australian who moved to New York (a), a winner of 14 majors (b), John Wayne, in Oscar-winning form (c), Yusuf Islam (d), an altruistic bandit (e) and a former speaker of the House of Representatives (f). How is this?

85.   Next in sequence

(a) T, P, O, F, O, F, N, T, S, F, ?

(b) Find as many as possible of the next five terms:

6, 4, 40, 12, 70, 56, 36, 100, 33

86.   Riddle

A riddle.

My 1st is 2nd.

My 2nd is not big.

My 3rd belongs to us both, in a sense.

My 4th to itself is humdrum.

My 5th sounds unconvincing.

My 6th is in Belgium on the coast.

My 7th is yes, right.

My 8th has rotted away, you might think.

My 9th is now 21st.

What is my 10th?

87.   Quotations

Below are 6 quotations, each enciphered using a different substitution alphabet.

(a) DOKEY BR EOKEY, GUT IBPULQ BR PUBDFNQ.

(b) IHEW BP M IHHK VMED PJHBETK.

(c) D COH NRPDPQ RURNYQLDHI RXCRKQ QRGKQOQDJH.

(d) CSAQ, JBFGAJ CSAQ BGJ QTBTSQTSNQ.

(e) MLR HRF YK CYULMYRJ MLEF MLR KSGJA.

(f) NJDTB NIRPCY TGO ETMMY T HLS NPLEB.

(i) Who originated each quotation?

(ii) Encipher the first three words of the quotation which ends ‘ALL THE PEOPLE, SOME OF THE TIME’.

88.   What’s out?

If RIGHTS becomes ZONAL

APPEAR becomes PETER

YOUTH becomes MINA

TWIST becomes PEAL

DEEP becomes HIT

JUGS becomes DAY

What does OUT become?

89.   Film sums

(a) Airport × Chowringhee Lane / Men and a Girl = ?

(b) (The Private Life of Henry × Richard) + Pola - (Phase × Henry) = ?

(c) I Died (Grams False Step) = ?

(d) (Les from the Crypt × Nan the Barbarian) - (Slight × All Change) = ?

(e) (Hoes of a Summer × Fence of the Realm) + Male Vampire - Ending Your Life - Ward Scissorhands = ?

90.   Where?

Where does MUSTARD fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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91.   Letter sequence II

(a) E, D, C, F, T, ?, Y, H, N, J, I, ?

(b) T, B, O, N, T, O, E, H, T, S, H, ?

92.   Number sequence III

(a) 1, 4, 8, 13, 21, 30, 36, 45, 54, 63, 73, 85, 95, ?

(b) 4, 5, 8, 8, 9, 9, 12, 13, 13, 13, 17, 18, 21, 22, 22, 23, 26, 26, 27, ?

(c) -2, -1, -2, 0, 1, 3, 2, 3, 5, 7, 5, 6, 5, 6, 8, 9, 8, 10, 11, ?

93.   Identify the following

(a) LG=SJAG

(f) JR=JMyH-J

(b) MH=MGZM

(g) JW=JWPLBH

(c) AR=HAFO’B

(h) KB=CIEMIdF

(d) HL=HCAKzS

(i) RV=RARPFGdVd’A

(e) JF=JdBdH

(j) EQ=FD&MBL=DN&EBL

94.   Where?

Where does SWINEHERD fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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95.   Missing series

Which series are missing from the following sequences?

(a) OR, ALLY, STRESS, BLED, LACE, TENT, THE, ZEN

(b) 1, 4, 9, 6, 25, 6, 49, 4, 81, 0

(c) BATE, ADDRESS, CENT, PROD, NOBLE, PATH, UNIFORMED, NOSE, ACTION, BEFIT, DOTING

(d) DIAL, NOSE, STERN, CHINE, ICE, USAGE, GENTLY, STING

(e) DOOR, HOST, CHAT, RENT, HATE, ANER, SEED, RUAY

(f) PANT, SEER, MAIM, TIED, SETS, CARE, BOBS

(g) ONTO, EAT, OUT, ENUFF, ROOF, EYES, XIS, NURSE, TRAIN, EAST

There are 2 possible series missing from this sequence. Find both.

(h) HER, LOVE, RAT, TAN, AM, PEA, ASTER, LOT, AT, STARLING, VALE, NET, EN

96.   Who are they?

(a) J. S. Brook

(e) Henry Churches

(b) Bernard Long

(f) Beautiful King

(c) Francis Jackdaw

(g) Jacob Newhouse

(d) Joseph Green

(h) Boris Parsnip

97.   Properties IV

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) ANIMAL, DELIVER, DIAPER, LAGER, REBUT, SPACER, STRAW, SUNG, WARDER: LEPERS

(b) ALARM, ANGLE, DROVE, IDEAS, LEASE, LOYAL, PASTA, RAISE, SONAR, TOUGH, VERSE: AIMED

(c) CLONE, COFFIN, COLLAR, CLEMENT, CURIOUS, CREASE, CARRIAGE, CARTRIDGE, CRANIUM, CRINKLE: CONTEST

(d) FLOWING, GOLDEN, HEAVY, HIDDEN, INACTIVE, MOON, NEW, STENCH, STONE, STRANGER, VIOLET: ELEMENTARY

(e) ARISE, COIN, DERIVE, DIED, IRATE, LIT, RALE, SAID, SHOED, STILE, TAMER, TILE: VOLUME

98.   In the archive

Whilst delving in the Kwiz archive we found a piece of squared paper on which someone had written out a set of letters several times in slightly different ways. A number of 3-letter words were highlighted: three animals (EMU, FOX and GNU) and a girl’s name. What name was it?

99.   63 words II

The 63 words below can be divided into 21 sets of 3, with the 3 words in each set being linked in some way. Of these 21 sets, 20 of them can be paired into 10 pairs by means of a connection between the sets - perhaps a common theme, or the sets have been formed in the same way, or the links themselves are connected in some way. Having removed these 60 words, which 3 words are left, and what is the link between them?

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100. Idiomatic journeys

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101. Odd one out

Which word is the odd one out?

CHAT, CHESS, CORNETIST, EON, PEST, RIDE, RIOTS, SINE, THUNDER, UNFIXED, ZONE

102. Where?

Where does CASTLE fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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103. Cheltenham Tennis Festival

The Cheltenham Tennis Festival attracts some big names, and some odd ones. Games are best of three sets, and for this year the first-round results are below. A feature which was noticed in the scores continued through to the final. Who beat whom in the final, and what was the score?

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104. Bowling

I had a strange game of ten-pin bowling. I knocked down more pins than my opponent: indeed, my first bowl knocked down more than his, and my second, and my third, and so on for each bowl I sent down; yet I lost. What’s the most I could have lost by?

105. Where am I?

My first is in Finland but not in Finnish

My second is in Estonia but not in Estonian

My third is in Albania but not in Albanian

My fourth is in Sweden but not in Swedish

My fifth is in Germany but not in German

My sixth is in Iceland but not in Icelandic

My last is in Wales but not in Welsh

My whole is in England but not in English

Where am I?

106. Complete the sequence

What word completes:

EMANATION, ALGA, MESSAGE, LYCHEE, SECRET, INCH, ARMLESS, ONSET, TEETER, RAPING, ?

107. Cities

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Which city is missing?

108. Word sequence IV

(a) ENOUGH, WORTHY, REHEAT, FURROW, VERIFY, EXISTS, ?

(b) INSECURE, WIZENED, REDISTRIBUTE, VERIFY, NUFFIELD, CHESSBOARD, BIENSEANCE, CHATTERBOX, ?

(c) CHAPLAINS, ABLATIVE, MAMMOGRAM, UNRELATED, RESPONSIBLE, ZEALOTRY, ELEVATE, THREATENS, RATIONED, ?

109. Drawing - lots

B was drawn by P

C was drawn by W D

C was drawn by L

D was drawn by S

J was drawn by P

N was drawn by S-H

P was drawn by B H

S was drawn by S H

V was drawn by D

110. Round Britain Quiz II

This style of question commemorates Round Britain Quiz on BBC Radio 4: the format is one, long, cryptic question which has six parts to it, indicated by the letters a-f. To gain full marks you should identify all six parts. This will be sufficient to answer the question.

A former UK Home Secretary known to the French as King John the fifteenth (a), Melchester Rovers’ best known player (b) and a reference to Bosworth Field that has quite another purpose (c), each or all provide the end of a ribbed velvety cotton fabric (d), the city most associated with Heinrich Schliemann (e), and 2 of a set of 18 islands (f). How is this?

111. One word

What word links: David Harris-Jones, a Hindu goddess, handle with care, Hungarian rhapsodies, hire-purchase, Microsoft Windows, Cassius Clay, the first note of the tonic solfa scale and footwear?

112. Play detective

Associate words; divide into three groups; solve the mystery.

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113. Crossword

Complete the crossword. No clues have been provided for 1, 3, 4 and 6 down.

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114. What is the highest?

In English there are 42 of which the highest is 88. In German there are only 12 and the highest is 80. In French there are a lot more. What is the highest?

115. Solve ALL clues

Solve all clues. The number of letters in the answer to each clue is the same as the length of the first word in that clue.

Nighties change direction in the Thatcher era
Author does at end of chapter
Fight following article, roughly
Hole-dwelling blemish
Auden initially, before questioning a location
Denmark, say, put right into Devon, say
Starts, for example, in containers for rubbish

116. Name dropping

The following words used to contain some famous names, before they became stars.

For example: *et cho*ol = Mark Lester (MARKet choLESTERol)

(a) c*bis af*

(TV)

(b) bi*ar des*

(dictator)

(c) *ot f*e

(dictator)

(d) es*o be*r

(music)

(e) ch* *ate

(music)

(f) ro*ud *rce

(sport)

(g) b*ce pos*

(scientist)

(h) ca*r ch*ge

(comedy)

(i) la*or s*le

(actor)

(j) p**

(1960s TV actor)

117. Sums

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118. Whose parcel?

The parcel arrived exactly on time, a week before Christmas. The paper was patterned with squares forming a simple grid, each square containing a single letter. The letters in each row spelt out a brief repeating message, and every row contained the same message. One column contained the letters ITYAYRHH repeated several times; the next-but-one column along contained the letters TDAHIHAA similarly repeated. Who was the recipient of the parcel?

119. Word sequence V

What word could follow?

(a) FUN, ABLE, OUR, BIER, BRAVE, COIN, RUDE, SEAT

(b) NIL, DEMO, DAY, NAME, SPILL, UP, READ

120. Properties V

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) AGE, BREATH, DOUBT, END, FACE, GROUND, HOPE: CLAY

(b) AS, END, ON, PER, PISH, PITY, RISE, ROOT: POUR

(c) BET, DIN, DIODE, GRATE, MINOR, ONION, PEAT, SLIM, TIN, URN: QUEUE

(d) BLADDER, CANDLE, EARTH, GINGER, IVORY, LOCK, MONKEY, PIG, SLEEVE, WING: FALSE

121. Underground

What follows?

MORDEN, MILE END, MOORGATE, MONUMENT, MAIDA VALE, MANOR HOUSE, MOOR PARK, MANSION HOUSE, MARYLEBONE, MILL HILL EAST, MARBLE ARCH, ?

122. Character actors

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123. Apposite phrase

Solve, giving the apposite phrase. Spaces are omitted.

(a) RESURRECTION, UNFINISHED, WAGNER, ANTARCTICA, LITTLE, 1917, ORGAN, ITALIAN, REFORMATION, SPRING

(b) 1553, 1760, 1216, 1461, 1189, 1625, 1660, 1413: 1558, 1216, 1714, 1830, 1689, 1216, 1547

(c) 1364, 1380, 1422, 922, 877, 1270, 1422, 1515, 1589, 893, 1574, 481, 893, 936, 986

(d) 1/12, 1/8, 7/1, 1/9, 4/10, 1/2, 4/9, 5/3, 7/11, 4/7, 4/6, 2/5, 3/3

(e) 1, 3, 2, 15, 3, 21, 4, 14, 5, 20, 6, 4, 7, 18, 8, 1, 9, 3, 10, 21, 11, 12, 12, 1

124. Complete the table

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125. Number sequence IV

(a) 7, 8, 5, 5, 3, 4, 4, ?

(b) 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 2, 3, ?

(c) 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, ?

126. Interpretation

O3 K8 S3 F8 W6 N2 V5 H7 W4 B3 I6 O5 K3 V6 C6 H6 P4

127. … and in French?

In English it’s (910, 911, 912). In German it’s (511, 512, 513). What is it in French?

128. Word division

Divide the following 281 words into 26 sets. Each set contains between 7 and 15 words.

A×4 ACROSS AGAIN ALL×3 AM×2 AN×2 AND×4 ANGEL ANOTHER×2 ANSWER AS×2 AT×2 AWAY BEGGING BETTER×3 BEWARE BIRMINGHAM BURDEN BUT BY×2 CALL CAME CAN’T CAR CARE×2 CHALK CHILD CHORD CLOSE CLUB COLD CONTEMPLATE ‘CROSS DARED DARK DAVID DID DO×4 DOES DON’T×2 DOOR DOWN×2 EASY EVIL’S FAR FATE FEEL×2 FOREIGN FUNNY GET GETTING GO×3 GONNA HANGS HAVE HEAD HEARD HEARTS HEAVEN HER×2 HERE HOME HOW×2 I×13 ICE IF×2 I’M IMAGINE IN×6 IS×2 IT×5 IT’S×2 I’VE JOLENE×4 JUST×2 KNOCKING KNOW×4 LIES LIFE LIGHT LIKE LONDON LOOK LORD LOVE×2 LOWLY LURKING MAN ME×2 MELTING MET MIDNIGHT MUCH×2 MY×7 MYSELF NAPOLEON NEIGHBORHOOD NEVER×3 NIGHT 1965 NO×2 NOBODY OF×4 OLD ON×4 OR OUT PAIN PANIC×2 PASSED PLACE PLAYED PLAYGROUND PLEASE PLEASED QUESTIONS RAINING RELAX REMEMBER×2 SAFEST SAILING×2 SAME SAW SEA SECRET SEEMED×2 SIT SLOWLY SO SOHO SOMETHING×2 SOMETIMES SOUNDS STAND STRANGE STREETS×2 SURRENDER TAKE×2 TAKEN TELL THAT×3 THE×12 THERE THERE’S×2 TO×5 TROUBLES TRY VIETNAM WAIT WALL WANT WAR WAS WATER WATERLOO WE×2 WELL WE’RE WHEN×2 WHERE WHO WHY WINDOW WITH YESTERDAY YOU×10 YOU’D YOUR×2

129. Film sums

(a) THX - (Dalmatians × Weeks in a Balloon) = ?

(b) Missione Hydra = ?

(c) Acacia Avenue + (Charing Cross Road × Weddings and a Funeral) = ?

(d) A Space Odyssey + FBI Code - River Street = ?

(e) Catch × (Fahrenheit + Big Red) / Rifles = ?

130. ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANS

The historian, aware of the sensitivity of the treatise he had just completed, decided to encipher it: but, knowing that a simple substitution offered little protection to such a long text, he came up with a scheme which he thought would defeat any would-be codebreaker. His enciphered text began HD LPPCLFXKFJXPKC LCGUN RFO CGNW KBFJSRWBYCKVF HA ISSYKDL EN … Some time later, he reached the last word of his text, only to find that it enciphered to itself - ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANS!

(a) What was the plaintext corresponding to LCGUN?

(b) What phrase did he use to generate the cipher alphabet?

131. Ode code

Here are some lines from Keats’ ‘Ode to Autumn’:

SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS, CLOSE BOSOM-FRIEND OF THE MATURING SUN

(a) Explain how the first line of this enciphers as LOSFLL WA WLLEE NUL LFNELF USRCISDSFOFT,

Here are some more lines (from different people), similarly enciphered. Decipher them.

(b) EE, IU TM V TTRS NEHIHGMLIEI MUARSM;

(c) ES OBNRA HOTAN ER DNM NDDA -

(d) EVSE JSX ITRTI?TW’W SU LES IEREI,

(e) EET NTLT TR TNRA TEOF LIN, EET ITET RG EEOM ENRN,

(f) GA LSR B ILADYE DDAI NYT DO PWELS,

(g) THH, HOLD! ITTI YGUHB RNRWIRI EKKIDH AKTREL EDTKSE?

132. Which?

The following list of 55 words can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10 words, one set of 9 words, one set of 8 words etc. What is the word in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

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133. Identify the following

(a) London football team

(b) Boundary between military powers

(c) Soviet intelligence

(d) Swindon band

(e) Radio band

(f) Boy band

(g) Facility in Aldermaston

(h) Promissory note

(i) What city is left over?

134. Odd one out

Identify the odd one out.

(a) ACCEDE, BAMBOO, BANTAM, BARLEY, CURDLE, DAMSEL, DECODE, DEMURE, FIESTA, FIGURE

(b) BEHIND, CYMBAL, EXPIRY, FROZEN, INJECT, POWDER, SQUASH, UPWARD, WINTER, ZITHER

135. In the archive again

Mooching about in the ever expanding Kwiz archive we came across a table of letters. In the table 4 pairs of letters were highlighted (as shown below). Three of these were notes from the tonic sol-fa scale - DO, RE and FA. The 4th was a Greek letter (shown as ?? below). Which letter?

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136. Where?

Where does YULE fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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137. Word sequence VI

(a) MILDRED, VIOLA, ELLEN, MONA, JOCELYN, SHEILA, ULRICA, ?

(b) OTHER, UTTER, PITFALL, CHUFFING, PROOFS, CONCESSION, SURPRISED, COMPREHEND, ?

(c) FREE, CHICK, TOWN, BOX, DUMPS, CLOVER, QUAY, CRAZY, ?

138. Where?

Where does ANIMAL fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

139. Kwestion I

Solve the following: ‘In this sentence there are six. This kwestion contains twenty-two. How many are to be found in this sentence?’

140. A to Z

For each letter, we haven’t provided the full list, but a selection of items, given in the correct order.

DQ, KMKY, MMM

IAS4U, O, INAGNYAW, ILR‘N’R

TBIB, YSS, DLTSGDOM

OYH, TSOTC, LA(IBIL), DYWM

SNA, IJDKWTDWM, THBTB

F, FF, IWYS(P1&2)

TBITB, G, DOTSOHS, YCCMA

H, SOTSA, V-2S, TSLOA

I, JG, GST, HDYS?

P, LY, C, M

NS, DI, NYT, M

NWNC, CYBL, BS, RS, E

ES, SBT, NEM, OWAM

SLTS, IB, CAYA, L

OPO, OPT, OH

G&B, P, TTE, TIAL

TRM, IO, BB, LROM

T, ER, HTAE, YS, TNK

W, SYBT, 2B1, WDYTYA

WBSS, T, BI, BJ

CWTAE, STCFTHOTS, SSOSFAGTIACAGWAP

WIME, PJ, ETS, POT

SBS, NYD, THBAO

2H, IMA, TO, AIS, W

YSMR(LAR), ITD, LCBTM

E, D, Z, W, Z, B-BC

141. Kwestion II

Solve the following: ‘In this sentence there are nine. This kwestion contains twenty-one. How many are to be found in this sentence?’

142. Sequences

What word might fit in the following sequences?

(a) OOLITHS, ?, ASSURES, PROOFED, DISLIKE, SLEEVES, EXISTED, ISOLATE, KETCHUP, EVENING, BLIGHTY

(b) HUNDRED, ?, PLEBIAN, CONCERT, AFFABLE, ANEMONE, MUSTARD, GALILEE, INSECTS, CHIPSET

(c) OFFICER, SUMMARY, ICEFLOE, CAHOOTS, BETIDES, COMFORT, ? PLINTHS, BAYONET

and with a slight difference

(d) ANKLES, BUNKER, ?, WITHER, WEIGHS, OUTAGE

Which word listed in part (b) above would fit in:

(e) HEARTHS, SENORAS, TWINSET, ?, ACHTUNG

Which number would fit in:

(f) 016, ?, 484, 529, 676, 289

143. Christmas movies

(a) I A OEU IE

(b) IAE O I-OU EE

(c) OIA I

(d) EU O E I OE IA

(e) EO OOO

(f) E UE IA AO

(g) OE AUA

(h) E IAE EOE IA

(i) E OA

(j) IE A E A

(k) E OA EE

(l) E OU IE A

144. Kwestion III

Solve the following: ‘In this sentence there are three. This kwestion contains eight. How many are to be found in this sentence?’

145. What connects?

Stewart Chail, Richard Heskit, Will Manby, Janis Borne, Jake McRigg

146. Which number?

The answer to each of the 4 parts of this question consists of just 2 letters. When you have solved each part, write the answers above each other in order to form a 4×2 grid of letters. With what 4-digit number can this grid be associated?

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) BIN, BOWLS, LATE, LIE, RAINED: EXAMPLE

What word follows:

(b) WITHOUT, SATNAV, UPPER, QUIT, SAP, ?

What connects:

(c) GUSTED, MASTICATE, EIGHT, AWARE, MODERN, STITCH, RAGOUT, HURLED?

(d) BAD FEELING, TARANTINO FILM, LONDON THOROUGHFARE, CONFUSED, MUSTER?

147. Literary links

There follows a list of the surnames of various writers, then a list of numbers. Match each name with one of the numbers. What name could be associated with the remaining number?

BATES, BURROUGHS, CLARKE, GARDNER, HEINLEIN, JAMES, LEWIS, SHELLEY, WELLS, WOOLF

2, 23, 33, 46, 55, 68, 80, 82, 88, 89, 99

148. Squares

What property do the squares 81, 100 and 576 have, which no other square does?

149. Exception

The following words can be divided into 2 sets, with one exception. Which word is the exception?

ARTFORM, AVERAGE, BIRD, CLOWN, DITCH, DOG, EXECUTIONER, FATHER, FORBIDDANCE, GOODBYE, GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, SENILE, STUNNER, TOY

150. Properties VI

The words to the left of the colon all have a (non-trivial) property that the word to the right of the colon doesn’t have. What is that property?

(a) CALL, CHORE, HYMN, OMEN, RAN, RAT: AMUSE

(b) ASK, EGO, HIRE, LAW, SOUR, TUCK: NIT

151. Which?

The following list of 55 words can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10 words, one set of 9 words, one set of 8 words etc. What is the word in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

image

152. Follow the directions

Find the odd 2 out. Also, one entry in the list is worth two others combined - explain this.

08°42’N 05°58’W, 30°10’S 23°08’E, 32°04’N 100°41’W,

32°16’N 98°50’W, 34°33’N 96°59’W, 35°25’N 114°11’W,

36°40’N 115°59’W, 41°58’N 02°47’E, 44°21’N 103°46’W,

47°24’N 79°41’W, 58°59’N 161°48’W, 61°57’N 128°12’W

153. Number sequence V

(a) 8, 7, 1, 3, 3, 12, 13, 17, 21, ?

(b) 9, 1, 9, 20, 7, 11, 15, 13, 17, ?

(c) 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 40, 46, 60, 61, 64, 80, 84, ?

154. Banned bands

A number of bands have been banned from the following radio playlist

(e.g. pu*le *ic = puZZle TOPic = ZZ Top):

(a) ad*ced napht*e

(b) hon* en*ce

(c) e*ore

(d) flam*d *e

(e) c*ge

(f) e*h ma*ap

(g) fi*an

(h) b*g s*ler

(i) si*y b*s

(j) e*y *al

(k) e** no*

(l) re*e 3.1* …

155. Location, location, location

Put the following items into order:

13° 24’ N 98° 31’ E, 18° 20’ N 74° 22’ E, 32° 10’ N 48° 15’ E,

37° 48’ N 01° 34’ W, 41° 31’ N 00° 21’ E, 50° 40’ N 03° 27’ W,

50° 57’ N 01° 51’ E, 53° 34’ N 08° 16’ E, 55° 01’ N 08° 26’ E

156. Wordbox

A wordbox is a rectangle of letters in which a set of words can be read by starting at one letter and moving to an adjacent letter in a row or column, not diagonally, and not staying still. Retracing steps and reusing letters is allowed. Thus a wordbox might be:

image

which contains DODO, DOG, FROG, STOAT, TIGER and TIT, but doesn’t contain GOAT or GEESE. This wordbox is of size 12, ie 3 (rows) ✕ 4 (columns).

What is the smallest wordbox which contains the names of all the seven dwarfs: BASHFUL, DOC, DOPEY, GRUMPY, HAPPY, SLEEPY, SNEEZY?

157. Where?

Where does SOFT fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

158. Which?

The following list of 55 words can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10 words, one set of 9 words, one set of 8 words etc. What is the word in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

image

159. Telephone numbers

In the UK telephone numbers have 11 digits, starting with a nought. Some of these numbers are personalised, perhaps incorporating the first digit, perhaps not. Whose numbers might these belong to (if they happened to live in the UK, and in some cases were still alive!)?

(a) 01123 581 321

(b) 04931 151 419

(c) 04367 432 874

(d) 05660 787 718

(e) 01198 149 128

160. Girl’s name

Which 6-letter girl’s name could begin the following list?

?, HAD, INLAND, RAN, MAN, PAIN

161. First and last

The following sets contain the first and last letters of members of groups. For example if the group was FLOPSY, MOPSY, COTTONTAIL, PETER, the set of letters would be CFLMPRYY. What are the groups?

(a) BCDDGHLSSYYYYY

(b) EJKLMMNW

(c) AAACCEEEEEEMOOPTTU

(d) ABFFGGILMMNNOPRSSY

(e) AADNPSSS

162. Sum clue

Miller’s lover and bed artist on American naval vessel number nine (4,5,3) = ?

163. Concerned amateur

An amateur cryptographer and scientist enciphered a 3 word phrase by using a key consisting of the initial letters of the phrase, repeated as required. What is the phrase?

XIUSM KMLUAV FATOULHD

164. Round Britain Quiz III

This style of question commemorates Round Britain Quiz on BBC Radio 4: the format is one, long, cryptic question which has six parts to it, indicated by the letters a-f. To gain full marks you should identify all six parts. This will be sufficient to answer the question.

If the originators of Dupin (a), ‘he would, wouldn’t he’ (b) and prandial nudity (c) were partially confused, they would lead to someone (d) whose most famous creation (e) was later connected to a world record for the 100 metres, set by (f). How is this?

165. Bizarre Pokémon

If (JB,2005) + (JB,2005) = (IM,1978), complete the following:

(a) (JB,19??) = ?

(b) (????, ????) = ?????? ??? ??????

166. Language

Explain the following: falkun, homem de guerra, kock, lavoro, moed, mosca, raccordement, schäfer, stobhach, tre, zevk

167. Divide into pairs

BICKER, BUSK, CAMEL, CURRY, GAUNTLET, MALLET, MARTYR, QUEEN, STALLING, WORTHY

168. What’s the point?

Identify the twelve items in the following list:

image

169. Shapes

Reorganize these shapes to make an appropriate picture. Some may need to be rotated, but none needs to be reflected or scaled in size.

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

Solutions to these puzzles can be found in the Answers section at the back of the book, here.

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170. Wordgrid

Reconstruct the 16×16 grid and work out which one of the 13 is missing.

image

171. Transformations

(a) How does:

S become H  C become I  B become J L become K

B become M K become O E become T

(b) How does:

NF become C FS become D A become E C become G

B become L  A become Y  R become Z  UV become BF

172. Letter sequence III

(a) A, T, G, C, L, V, L, S, S, C, A, ?

(b) A, E, A, P, A, U, U, U, E, C, O, ?

(c) E, O, R, U, V, X, V, G, N, ?

(d) C, U, T, S, I, U, N, ?

(e) N, S, U, O, K, E, S, E, N, I, O, I, ?

173. Chains

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174. Word sequence VII

(a) EMPTY, CELLS, THEFT, STREW, ?

(b) CROW, ROBIN, OSTRICH, SPARROW, PEEWIT, EAGLE, ALBATROSS, ?

(c) COMA, BATCH, DANCER, WARRANTED, SCARE, INFEST, GARDEN, ?

(d) SLAB, CRIB, CARD, SLED, LEAF, GOLF, HUNG, DISH, JILT, JACK, ?

(e) JACKAL, MILKED, MEANLY, YEOMAN, SPOONS, ?

175. What comes next?

(a) B, SB, M, C, Q, SQ, ?, ?

(b) O, C4, O2, C2, O, C, O3, C6, O, C, ?, …

(c) TF, F, T, S, W, ?

176. Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing, also known as Dancing with the Stars, is a television dancing competition. Professional dancers are paired with celebrities (of different sex), and each week they are marked by a set of judges, and then by an audience phone vote. The lowest scoring couple overall is eliminated from the competition. At one stage in a recent run there were just 5 couples left, and it was at the stage in the programme that only the judges had marked them. Each couple had got a different score.

Anna was pleased with second place as it made her the highest placed female professional dancer. However, Greg was disappointed with his position, particularly as Nigel and his professional partner had beaten him. The model burst into tears because the reporter finished higher up the table. Teresa was delighted to have done so well, as was her professional partner, especially as he finished ahead of his wife Lilia (interestingly the 5 professional dancers included 2 married couples). I noticed a couple of other things too - the winning celebrity had the same name as the 4th placed professional dancer, who partnered the businessman; and that if you read in order from highest to lowest score, the initial letters of the names of the professional dancers, the initial letters of the names of the celebrities, and the initial letters of the celebrities’ real professions, all spelt words.

Suggest a name for the last placed professional dancer (his name does not appear above).

177. What’s the film?

HAND, LONE, TWO, WHOLE; LADY, LIFE, SUCH, WORKMAN; BAND, DIG, ORB, PULP; EARS, GUNS, MUGS, SNAPS.

178. Lists

The following list is in order. Explain why.

OM, JT, UM, VT, SA, IS, BE, TB, OI, MG

179. Alphabetic groupings

Explain the following alphabetic groupings.

(a) EGKLMPXZ / ABDHIORT / JQSVY / CFUW / N

(b) ET / AIMN / DGKORSUW / BCFHJLPQVXYZ

(c) A / BCEIK / DFHJLMOSU / GNPRTVWXZ / QY

(d) BCEGKMQSW / ADFHIJLNOPRTUVXYZ

180. Where?

Where does CHANCE fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

181. Next in sequence

In, The, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, ?

182. What connects?

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183. Which?

The following list of 55 words can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10 words, one set of 9 words, one set of 8 words etc. What is the word in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

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184. Series sums

What is the next number in the following series, each of which has been formed by adding 2 other series together?

(a) 2, 6, 13, 24, 41, 68, ?

(b) 3, 4, 7, 10, 16, 21, 30, 40, ?

(c) 5, 8, 5, 9, 7, 17, 3, 14, ?

(d) 4, 5, 8, 8, 9, 9, 12, 13, 13, 13, ?

(e) 6, 8, 9, 10, 8, 8, 10, 8, 8, 7, 7, 10, ?

(f) 4, 8, 11, 11, 15, 16, 15, 17, 13, 13, 20, 24, 24, 25, 28, 30, ?

185. Which animal?

A town in southern England has something in common with two cities in Italy, one in Greece, one in Lebanon and an animal. Which animal?

186. Coldplay V

image

Across

2 Larry at the seaside? (5,2,1,7)

9 Levitate sulphur: two gallons is a minute amount (8)

10 Controls voltage as the rot mutates (8)

12 Abhors confusion, makes my little pony (6)

14 Most depressed dad sets puzzle (7)

15 Look at squashed roses - they’re ugly (8)

16 Stood beer for Kane mystery (7)

17 Stop him holding gouty nodules (5)

22 Writes music (5)

23 Gandhi’s not right where she governed (5)

24 In hollow roll that is containing uranium confused with song bird (4,5)

28 Former political subversive group (left left) to be best (5)

29 I link cattle disease to northern playwright (5)

30 Avoid trouble with a handkerchief (4,4,4,5)

Down

1 Strange effect - thank boater in the wilderness (3,3,6,5)

2 Heavy seas? Not even in Hillingdon (5)

3 Ramp up with creole? Not in this time; in the mouth (8)

4 Caustic Capone with Hindu goddess (6)

5 Thomas author loses daughter, that’s not right (4)

6 Tip: one hears chest muscles (4)

7 Is erred, odd, confused, mixed-up (10)

8 Egg is first of various avians (3)

11 Frantic alarm; noted title in shreds (15)

13 Listens to insects (4)

18 Unpoetic mess - keep it for later (3,2,3)

19 All the vowels without us left Ian to the winds (7)

20 After Ireland, Nicaragua begins promoting peace (7)

21 English feline caught by obligation. That’ll teach him (7)

25 Nothing follows orchestra up in Scandanavia (4)

26 Editor is climbing face (4)

27 Takes advantage of purposes (4)

187. Odd one out

In each of the following lists, all but one of the words share a strong common property. Which is the odd one out?

(a) ABSURDITY, BACTERIUM, CUSTODIAN, DEFOLIANT, EQUITABLY, FLYWEIGHT, GERANIUMS, HESITANCY, INCUBATOR, JURYWOMAN

(b) AUTHORISED, BIVOUACKED, COEQUALITY, DISCOURAGE, EXHAUSTION, FAVOURITES, GLAUCONITE, HOSPITABLE, INOCULATED, JOURNALISE

(c) ADVENTURISM, CENTRIFUGAL, DISTURBANCE, DISGRACEFUL, FINGERHOLDS, GOLDFINCHES, IMPORTUNELY, OBTRUSIVELY, PALINDROMES, QUESTIONARY, SWITCHBLADE,UNSCRAMBLED

188. The killer was …

One of our colleagues, who is no longer with us, left the following clue to his killer:

SNLOU IAIRO SCSCN OLCIO IOIMM NVPAU OOORE CCCTN OISLP

Identify the killer.

189. Missing from the list

Which other US state should also be in the following list?

ASTATINE, ELEPHANT, EPSILON, ROMANIA, SUSANNAH, WALTER, WEST VIRGINIA

190. Number sequence VI

(a) 3, 8, 18, 9, 19, 20, 13, 1, ?

(b) 9, 14, 11, 8, 16, 7, 19, 3, 17, 2, 15, ?

191. Sums

IFOF - IFOG - IFOW + ILAG + WHFAL = ?

192. A to Z

= EYAWTKAS*BWATA, AH, M, HAHS

= BJ, ES, EW, POTA

= TT, A, TL, T

= C, TU, BOTV, M:I

= PMFM, U, TBOMC, MR

= TGOW, HGWMV, TS, TMWSLV

= MPATHG, TB, B, TM

= TLV, TMWKTM, NBN, P

=  HAD, ARWAV, ROTD, HE

=  BT, HC, LOTR, KK

= POG, DSO:HILTSWALTB, ACO, TS

=  KFM, TBB, AAWIL, CTA

= M, TLOTM, H, MV

=  M, I, BB, TP

=  TDC, TMTM, LSOH, TSW

=  C-D-S, RB, C, TP

=  BBAC, TWOSW, SATSG, HTMYW

=  TIST, SBM, WHMS, M

=  J, ROTLA, JP, SL

=  RD, PF, JB, DP

=  T, CS, MJY, TAOPN

=  TR, BI, ST, HM

= TSYI, WFTP, SLIH, TPLOSH

=  GSXDHH, ZHDGZ, QLSZS, BLY

=  DN, FRWL, T, WUD

=  BTTF, WFRR, FG, CA

193. How many U’s

The square of letters below has had most of the letters replaced by dots. 7 letters, one each of N, O, P, Q, R, S, T are shown. How many U’s are there in the completed square?

image

194. Last word

What is the last word (unenciphered!) in the following sentence?

NO OO OO TON NO OO NOTN TR NOO OOB-BOOTRO

195. Film censorship

Identify the films that have been censored from the following list.

For example, ki*orie c*ot (1983) = kilocalorie cheroot = LOCAL HERO.

(a) dispa* e*ient

(1980)

(b) para*logy

(1960)

(c) ar* af* ma*

(1964)

(d) po*e cli*

(1979)

(e) a*u orc*

(1988)

(f) s*e f*y

(1997)

(g) t*re

(1995)

(h) *ch c*ch

(2016)

(i) s*t

(1979)

(j) *o ba*d

(1960)

196. Features

In each of the following lists, a number of the words share a common feature, and the same number share a different, but related, feature. The remaining word shares neither feature - or in one case, both!

(a) BEGIN, OILED, ADEPT, POLKA, TRIED, BELOW, SOLID, TONIC, SPOKE, FIRST, GIPSY, WRONG, FORTY

(b) EERIE, CLASH, CHASM, SIEGE, NAVAL, TEPEE, SHANK, GLASS, PIPER, QUITE, WRITE

(c) FACED, CUBED, BEING, FIGHT, VAPID, ORGAN, LEMON, WRECK, FOCUS, EXTRA, SQUID, BURST, TORUS

(d) LADLE, CLEAN, CIGAR, BAILS, GAMES, HOARD, DAILY, AURAL, WINED, CANNY, SMILE, MANOR, LYRIC, WILES, BYTES

(e) LACED, ANGLE, LEASE, MINED, SPEED, ZEBRA, ELBOW, DEPOT, LEVER, ALLOY, MERIT, REBUT, VERSE

Which are the ‘odd ones out’? What rule governs the ordering of the words?

197. Incomplete codeword

Some British newspapers contain a kind of crossword in which each non-blank square contains one of the numbers 1 through 26. Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Reading from top left to bottom right, the first letter that occurs is number 1, the next different letter that occurs is number 2 and so on. Kontestants will not be surprised to learn that the ubiquitous koffee kup has obliterated most of the first two rows …

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What are 1 across and 1 down?

198. Intercepted message

The following message was intercepted:

AFSDI VFTLJ FQXJB NXFHR XIHSX

The recipient obviously could not decrypt it, as the originator resent it as follows:

QXSTG VFXZB XILTB BNTFV VUHWB

(a) What did the message say?

(b) How was the key generated?

199. Christmas message

An unusual email was forwarded to the Kwiz office, which would seem to have a Christmas theme. It read:

Dear Julius,

I have done what you suggested and it worked! We both re-engineered and reconstructed the thing, and all of our efforts were rewarded. But, just to see if I’ve been a fool and missed something vital, we spent this evening taking the sleigh to bits, and rebuilding it, yet again. I never thought it would take so long, but the night ended happily. Hoorah!

With much gratitude

Santa Claus

Our correspondent felt that Santa had indeed missed something - but we were able to show that he hadn’t.

(a) What did our correspondent think had been missed?

(b) How did we reassure him?

200. Properties

Each of the following lists contains a number of words which have a strong common property, and one which has a similar, but distinctively different property. Which are the odd ones out?

(a) AVENUE, BINDER, COURAGE, FORTUNE, LEMUR, MERCHANT, NONPLUS, TRESPASSER

(b) CLAPPER, CLUMPS, DELUGING, DEPART, DOLMENS, HANDSOME, SMILED, STEADY, TELEGRAPHIC, TRACTORS

(c) DEMERGE, EMANATE, GRATIN, HUNTERS, MALAR, OVERS, RAMBLE, SPOTTER, TRIO, WANE

(d) APPEARS, COMATOSE, ECLIPSE, EFFETE, JEOPARDISE, NECROMANCY, PURISTS, RICHEST, URCHIN, VENOSE

(e) ALLIANCE, BARGAINED, CROUPIER, ENGAGES, PRICKLE, PROTOPLASM, SHANTIES, SITUATION, STINGING, THANKLESS

201. Where?

Where does FORTUNE fit into the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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202. What error?

My 3-year-old daughter and I were making up funny sentences. I said to her, ‘The octopus wore a hat as she ate an apple by the volcano.’ She said to me, ‘A penguin lives in a cave, but a bee lives in a wigwam.’ What mistake did my daughter make?

203. Complete the set

Bedazzlement, Highjack, Quantify, Unveiled, Yokewood, ?

204. The states

The following US states have a particular property:

ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA,
NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, TENNESSEE, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WYOMING

RHODE ISLAND has the property twice. What is the property?

205. Missing member

The following is an encoded set of 26 entities. What is the missing item?

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206. I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue

With acknowledgements (apologies) to ISIHAC, here’s a round of ‘one song encrypted by the key of another’. Each pair of songs is connected. What are the pair of songs?

(a) (K IPH’S LTS HJ) RPSKRBPISKJH; LISJR SR, CDIAB

(b) NIUHQU NIUHQU KU; CSY FUAS

(c) QNA PSLLAY VDQN QNA RLDGMA IG QIJ; KWU RTDOUD TPS KWU EAQOTP

(d) XGQ IFGU CX FACH; YGHQANL TYX QH KEN

207. Is it some education?

(a) Norman the Robot

(b) Avoid Guernsey beer

(c) Some wistful Earthmen

(d) Defrost hard blockage

(e) Thy diabolic fever

208. Word sequence VIII

(a) ME, ROW, MAIL, SWOON, JACKAL, PRONOUN, AMICABLE, PROTOZOON, ?

(b) WE, CITY, NOTICE, ELECTRON, PROVOCABLE, ?

(c) AMAZED, BRAYING, CRUXES, DROWNED, ELEVEN, FLOUTED, GRATES, HESSIAN, INURED, ?

(d) CHAIN, RIBBON, PRECIPICE, ADEQUATE, EAR, REFUSE, WEIGHTY, SHRUGGED, ACHIEVE, BEJEWELLED, PICKAXE, SMELLY, ?

209. Answer the question

74 1 85, 53 16, 8 10, 15 71 16, 28 10?

210. Which?

The following list of 55 words can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10 words, one set of 9 words, one set of 8 words etc. What is the word in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

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211. Be precise

Identify, precisely, the sets:

(a) BEKMQJ, EJP, LMPLQB, NCDJ, QEJJM, WLBCJH, YJCCBO

(b) ABHHZY, ASHHUY, EKUUY, JCN, JCUHY, MKAEOWS, PLWTUY

(c) AYLCVD, BISSRQCLRF, GLUGDAVD, GQSBIGUGVD, KGSGFCVD, SGUABCFRSCVD, SRPYFIKCD

212. Sums

(a) David Van Day + Thereza Bazar - Curtis Jackson = ?

(b) McKern + Portman + Cargill = ?

(c) (Fiedler × Sweeney) - Voskovec = ?

(d) ((Prince + Paul Hardcastle + Frankie Vaughan - Sea Level) × UB40) - The Bystanders = ?

213. Film censorship

A number of films have been censored from the following list. Identify them.

For example, ki*orie c*ot (1983) = kiLOCALorie cHEROot = LOCAL HERO.

(a) u*ia bur*dy

(1986)

(b) porc*ine

(2009)

(c) cu*d *hip

(1977)

(d) le*de pa*de

(1986)

(e) qu* st*

(1969)

(f) ca*e ca*e

(1962)

(g) p*r p*ic

(1977)

(h) a*s c*d

(1995)

(i) p*lu*

(1961)

(j) *ey 2.7*8 …

(1985)

214. 6 sets of 6

The following set of digits represents 36 entities, in alphabetical order:

1, 1, 6, 6, 5, 4, 5, 2, 2, 6, 6, 6, 3, 1, 5, 5, 1, 4, 6, 2, 2, 4, 5, 3, 3, 4, 3, 1, 2, 2, 4, 3, 5, 3, 1, 4

Two of the 2’s are associated with all of the 6’s. Explain!

215. Unalike words

Unalike words are pairs of words which have no repeated letters either within them or between them (e.g. UNALIKE and WORDS). Find the unalike words which maximize the product of their lengths.

216. Letters

Many letters of the alphabet can represent certain entities, and some of these entities can form ‘sets’ - for example, CFK can represent temperature scales (Centigrade/Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin) and consitute a set of 3.

(a) Identify the set BCFHIKNOPSUVWY

(b) Identify the four sets - one of 7, two of 4 and one of 2 in ACDEFIJKLMNPQSVWX

217. Odd word out

Another odd-word-out question: the themes in the following words are identical, but totally different! Which is the odd word out in each case?

(a) ANGLE, BRING, CLAMP, DIRTY, EXACT, FIELD, GRASS, HEART, IMAGE, JAUNT

(b) ABBEY, BURST, COURT, DRINK, ENJOY, FOUND, GIANT, HARMS, IDIOT, JUMPY

218. Fill in the gap

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219. US state

(a) The following digraphs are a complete set. Why?

AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, LA, MD, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, PA, SC

(b) Which US State, associated with number (9), completes the set:

MONTANA (1), NEW HAMPSHIRE (1), OHIO (1), SOUTH CAROLINA (1), UTAH (1)

220. Which word is left?

From the list:

ALGAE, BULBS, COUCH, DEPTH, EASEL, FJORD, GENII, HOPED, JAMMY, KNIFE, LABEL, MAIMS, NIECE, ORGAN, PATHS, QUOTE, SEATS, TITHE, UPSET, VERVE, WASTE, WEAVE, WHIRL, WORTH, WRONG, YACHT

Eliminate 5 words which have a common property associated with their 1st letter;

then eliminate 5 words which have a common property associated with their 2nd letter;

then eliminate 5 words which have a common property associated with their 3rd letter;

then eliminate 5 words which have a common property associated with their 4th letter;

then eliminate 5 words which have a common property associated with their 5th letter.

Which word is left?

221. Number sequence VII

(a) 1, 2, 5, 13, 34, 89, 233, 610, 1597, ?

(b) 1, 1, 0, -1, 0, 7, 28, 79, 192, ?

(c) 1, 2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, ?

(d) 0, 5, 2, 6, 3, 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 4, ?

(e) ?, 30, 42, 54, 66, 78, 90, 144, 259

222. What comes next?

What is the next number in the series below? We will accept either of two possible answers. (As a hint, finding the next-but-one number will certainly prove difficult, if not impossible.)

6, 11, 23, 124, ?

223. A wordsearch fit for a knight

The grid below contains a number of words with a strong common theme, written into the grid using Knight moves. Thus, starting from the top-left, a possible word might be B-O-Y (Row 1 Col 1, Row 2 Col 3, Row 4 Col 2). Sadly, BOY is not an answer! Consecutive letters must come from different cells, but a cell can be used more than once in a word. Find as many words as you can.

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224. Where?

Where does SYSTEM fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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225. Rugby

In a rugby union tournament a team gets 4 points for a win, 0 for a loss - plus 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries in a match or for losing by not more than 7. Here is a group table:

image

(Here, the F and A columns represent the points scored for and against each team in their three matches: 5 points for a try, 3 for a penalty/drop goal and 2 for a conversion following a try). If there were no drop goals, how many penalties did Dewbius score?

226. Fill in the gaps

(a) ?, M, ?, D, ?, M, ?, D, ?, M

(b) 11, 19, 26, 47, 50, 51, 74, 79, ?, ?

227. Miscellaneous

If CND = 1, NRA = 47, CIA = 86 and CPU = 357, then what is RSI?

228. Identify the following

(a) Song by Blur

(b) Character in ‘Lolita’ and ‘Ada, or Ardor’

(c) BBC TV series that debuted in 2006

(d) Comic book character, played on screen by Thora Birch

(e) Band who had a no.9 single in the UK charts in 2004

229. Which?

The following list of 55 words can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10 words, one set of 9 words etc. What is the word in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

image

230. Missing

The following set is in alphabetical order, but the ever-unstable kwiz koffee kup has obliterated the penultimate member. All we know is that it had 4 letters. What was it?

JSYV, KNAJ, MQOPB, POF, VYQ, WKUHH, WRWN, YOD, ****, ZLCLU

231. Opposites

The following list consists of pairs of words which are in some sense ‘opposites’ - and an odd word out. What are the pairs, and which is the odd word out?

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232. 5 sets of 5

The words below divide into 5 sets of 5. What are they, and what is missing?

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233. Crosswords

image

What is the sum of 1 down?

234. Word sequence IX

(a) NOT, LAD, EGG, THE, DEW, HIM, WHO, KEY, JOG, WHY, ?

(b) SO, DIE, MAUL, VOICE, QUIVER, BEEHIVE, SAUCEPAN, HOUSEHOLD, COELACANTH, ?

(c) FOAL, HERD, DRAM, SIDE, TALE, FOND, BLUE, ?

(d) ADDS, ICE, CROP, PECAN, DON, MILLS, LATEX, SULK, ?

(e) ABUT, DANK, CALM, BARK, AGED, SIDE, SHUT, TOTE, VASE, SILT, ?

235. Odd one out

Which is the odd one out: February 2nd, April 4th, June 6th, August 8th, October 10th or December 12th?

236. Cipher

Solve the following (all using the same cipher alphabet, but in various ways):

1. ATGNWC ODC

2. JGL IGQQGACPMHFJ

3. ?

4. VJGN ELUMBAKW

5. VOEMYN ZYNYT PY GKYIION

6. ?

7. ZJKQ HDDHD

8. XUB SV-EKKB

What are 3 and 6?

237. Which name?

If 1=Lash, 2=Captain, 4=League, 5=Neck, 10=Plain and 11=Ted then 6=a proper name beginning with W. Which name?

238. Kwiz kwestion

Various answers to a kwiz kwestion are INDIA (NATO phonetic alphabet), KENT (UK Counties), RHO (Greek alphabet) and TEN (names of cardinal numbers). What’s the kwestion?

239. Sums

image

(d) If Neon + Iron = Silicon and Cobalt + Ruthenium = Titanium, then:

i. Bromine + Krypton = ?

ii. Zinc + Magnesium - Technetium = ?

(e) If Francois Mitterrand = Harold Wilson then who, allegedly, is the following?

image

240. Identify

(a) GGNKBDMMPPODPPOSWLSCNWSSNWD
DSDGDDSBNTNNPINPNGNBSND

(b) GJTJJJAMWJJZMFJAAHRJCSBSWTWTWJHFHDJLRLJRG
WGB

(c) GOCWIKTCEPIPEWNMBCMVFSCFTFLCWPGROCBLC
PSM

(d) VNSFCFTDFGHTDWPPBTFSLFISRMHBFFS

(e) DFGTYODLTTMFOATLGTTDCQSS

241. What follows?

What follows (and completes)?

(a) AIRSTOP, BOWLDER, CADENZA, DOUGHTY, EQUATOR, FOREVER, GABIONS, HEXAGON, IMPAINT, JESUITS, KAOLINE, LECTURE, MIDWIFE, ?

(b) HELIUM, BORON, CARBON, SODIUM, PHOSPHORUS, CALCIUM, IRIDIUM, GOLD, ?

(c) 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 19, 20, 23, 29, 40, 42, 52, 90, ?

242. Name dropping

The following words used to contain some famous names, before they became stars.

For example: *et cho*ol = Mark Lester (MARKet choLESTERol)

(a) pla*c *isk

(pop star)

(b) fl*l ava*

(author)

(c) *ign la*e

(actor)

(d) *ine to*t

(author)

(e) *id b*er

(actor)

(f) s*et sp*l

(artist)

(g) *ce *o

(actor)

(h) *ty *mp

(actor)

(i) *t s*

(pop star)

(j) *t g*

(pop star)

243. Possibilities

There are multiple possibilities for the numbers omitted (i.e. marked with ‘?’) from each of the following sequences. What are the smallest and largest possibilities?

(a) 1, 51, 550, 502, 600, 900, 153, 1400, 557, 1008, 656, 2007, ?

(b) -, -, 1, 9, -, 2, 4, 7, 11, 5, ?, 20, 99

(c) 7, ?, 5, 1, 2, 82, 100, 97, 54, -, 40, 114

244. Missing scores I

Here are a selection of results from the Krosby International Tournament, sponsored by Koffee Kups UK (slogan: ‘you drink, we spill’). Can you supply the missing scores?

image

245. Chains

image

246. A to Z

= AF, AL, BA, BU

= GH, JL, PM, RS

= EC, GB, JB

= JD, JM, RK, RM

= AL, DS

= LH, PM, WJ

= MR, PC, PG, SH, TB

= CH, JH, ZH

= AF, GB, JF, KP, MH, TF

= BF, PW, RB

= AF, GS, PC, PS

= AH, RC, RJ, RL, SC

= CF, CS, DW, GM, LT, MB, MB

= DG, KC, KN

= LG, NG, PA, PM, TM

= CD, JC, NB, RS, SM

= BM, FM, JD, RT

= BB, MM, MS, PB

= CD, GL, GT, HK, JB

= DR, EK, MF, PW, OW

= AC, DE, LM, PH

= NM, PS, RA, SJ

= JE, KM, PT, RD

= AP, BA, CM, TC

= AM, VC

= AH, BC, DM, RP, SP

247. Where?

Where does DEN fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

248. Which?

The following list of 55 can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10, one set of 9 etc. What is in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

image

249. Name that tune

Explain how the following pieces of music were produced.

image

250. Missing scores II

What are the missing scores?

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251. Elements

Among the elements, what unique property do each of

(a) BERYLLIUM

(b) ALUMINIUM

have? What property is shared by

(c) IRON, LEAD

and no other elements? What property does

(d) TIN

have more than any other element? Finally, what property is exhibited by

(e) LEAD (least, uniquely), PROTACTINIUM (most, uniquely)?

252. Seasonal greeting

The following clue leads to 7 4-letter words - but what is the real (two-word) message?

Weaponry thought to damage, left on boat, dictates that I conquered German river.

253. Number sequence VIII

(a) 441, 961, 691, 522, 652, 982, 423, ?

(b) 2, 5, 8, 10, 13, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 29, 32, 34, 37, 40, 41, 45, ?

254. Sums

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255. Quelle lettre manque?

Pourquoi?

(a) V, I, V, I, M, V, I, L, M, I, I, I, L, L, M, C, V, M, ?, C, M

(b) V, D, M, I, I, M, I, I, M, I, I, V, L, V, I, V, M, I, L, L, L, I, I, L, M, I, D, M, I, D, ?, I, D

256. Explain the order

2018, 2024, 2087, 2076, 2016, 2021, 2019, 2023, 2020, 2017, 2025, 2022

257. Identify (precisely)

(a) FJTEPA, GSEO, PJAAE, RBNA, RJFWE, YABBFW

(b) BDCE IPID, ECWWDK, KDTHBTDK, KHID, MICGGDK, UCGEBDMQPUS

(c) CICCIA, GLJJY, HBJBGIJ, KTG, NLWBNTK, OJBFB, TJTWBJA, WIGNI, WTAFTNO

(d) IHN KTHEMNE DHE BIMQX BITM, QKRMQNNH, QVNGUN, QVNHQX

258. Scrambled lists

Each of the following is a complete set. The number of items in each set is given.

image

259. Word sequence X

What word could follow:

(a) AIR, ART, ABILITY, AVER, ANGLE, AMBER, ACRE, AT, ACTOR, ?

(b) DRY, LIE, HIT, RYE, ROB, BAR, GET, YEN, NIL, ONE, ?

(c) LAP, ROB, AIL, LAD, HOE, TOO, FOG, LET, DIN, LIE, ?

(d) AFT, BEL, COX, DRY, EMU, FIR, GNU, HIM, IMP, JOY, ?

260. Next?

What (cipher and plain text) will follow:

KGEL, QGBWG, FYVDOH ODRW, FSGDLA, FHGRNYXE, FHQOHU, EHQ XGPYEYQ, NLGRC, VXKOYCGFX, XQCXFQX, NWOFLW, XQPLFN, IYDBDGP, EHGYHG, ?

261. Kinema

Inspired by a trip to the Kinema, the Setters set some Krossword Klues:

(a) B (3, 5, 7)

(b) £6000 (6, 7)

Can you identify the films?

262. Next in sequence

Identify the items marked with a ‘?’. Note that ‘…’ represents further entries that you are not expected to provide. The values are exact.

.349, 9.3, 529, 5.433, .974, ?, ?, …

263. Miscellaneous

(a) Explain the following:

i. TB/SBM, SK

ii. SA/SL, TK

iii. NL/TGC, PP

iv. RD/M, TH

v. CFTD/TDA, JLC

vi. DADOES/BR, PKD

(b) If AB=dispute, HP=trickery and NP=insipid, then what are:

i. FD

ii. WN

iii. pudding

iv. musical instrument

(c) Pair up these first names:

Barbara, Basil, Dale, Doug, Jane, Nick, Oscar, Patti, Roxy, Tamzin

with these surnames:

Adams, Bond, Cooper, Donnelly, Ellis, Gentry, Norman, Oldfield, O’Neill, Vernon

264. Next term

In the following sequence, what might be the - perhaps inappropriate - 5-letter 11th term?

AMUSING, EXODUS, HISTORY, EQUATOR, QUICKEN, SPHINX, OPPOSITE, AZIMUTH, EFFLUENT, INDEX, ?

265. A hard question?

Here’s a harder kwestion. Identify and place the following in the correct order:

BWXIH, FDOFLWH, FUFYNYJ, IARUWO, JPYSVMXI, LXADWMDV, NSKWYXN, UBMD, UXZNUIRGYK LKRJYVGX, XBHYAG

266. Elementary crossword

image

Across

2 Intersection of 16 across and 17 down (7)

6 Device for raising the pitch of a guitar (4)

7 Axed cabinet minister, we hear (4)

8 England footballer or chief banker (6)

9 Dee, or Katharine, or Audrey (7)

10 Invented by Da Vinci, allegedly (10)

14 Employer of 15 down (3)

16 Britpop band (5)

19 Way of speaking (8)

21 Supernatural dramatic device (3 or 5)

Down

1 Alpha gorilla (10)

2 Obscure (6)

3 Indian soldier (5)

4 ‘Save the __, save the world’ (11)

5 Hellfire (7)

9 20p or 50p (8)

11 Tennis player (2,2)

12 What happens in Vegas (and Miami, and New York) (3)

13 Greek letter - sounds easy (2)

15 Employee of 14 across (3)

17 Rise (6)

18 Prava, or Simva, or Atorva (6)

20 Landlocked country (4)

267. Number sequence IX

(a) 16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 31, 100, 121, ?

(b) 1, 4, 10, 17, 27, 40, 54, 71, 100, ?

(c) 1, 4, 9, 10, 19, 24, 31, 40, 51, 64, 79, 90, ?

(d) 1906, 772, 304, 130, 82, 52, 34, 22, 16, ?

(e) 1010001, 100111, 21301, 20141, 15041, …, (14642nd element)

268. Sums

(a) √(CleekCleek+MashieCleek+Mashie-Niblick) = ?

(b) -----.---.. + ..... = ?

269. Which words?

Each of the following sets leads to a word. In each set one member suggests the first letter of the word, two members suggest the second letter, three members suggest the third letter (etc. for the bigger sets). What are the words in each case?

(a) CLAUDIUS, DRONE, DUBZ, HONEY, ROBOT, STING

(b) GARDEN, PAD, POD, SPLIT, SWEET, ZULU

(c) AL, APSE, ATE, BOW, CHEPSTOW, EVEN, EVIAN, FIN, GAR, HAY, HEREFORD, IDE, MONMOUTH, PERRIER, ROSS

(d) BAG, BLACK, BRIGHT, CHICK, COSY, CUP, DEAR, EVIL, LEAF, LENGTH, NO, POT, PRIVATE, SHORT, STIFF

(e) BAY, BOAT, COLI, CRIME, GOVERNMENT, HORSE, LION, MAIL, OBSERVE, OGLE, SHORE, TURN, VIEW, WALKING, WEED

(f) ATTEND, AUTHOR, BELL, COUNT, DUB, EWE, GIANT, JOY, LESS, PRIEST

(g) A, BONEY, DOVE, EMCEE, FISH, FOR, IN, LOTS, MARKS, MINUS, MORE, OF, OF, ONE, SPOT, SQUARED, SQUAREROOT, THE, THE, THE, WINGS

(h) AGE, AGEISM, BET, BIT, DEATH, DECAY, ENGLAND, EVACUATE, GUATEMALA, GUINEA, IMAGES, LABOUR, LESION, MAGICS, MALE, NUMERIC, PARTICLE, PONIES, RADIATION, RHYTHM, SCINTILLA, SMIDGEON, SPECK, SQUAT, STIGMA, WHIT, YEAR, YORK

270. Oetfn ciameld

It is oetfn ciameld taht a snteecne or prshae is utdsaednlnrbae eevn if olny the fsrit and lsat ltetres of ecah wrod are in the rghit pcale and the rset jbumeld. u ah ubo eh h rsi n sa retet r sinsi n h se lit mbuel? ah re h wollnio ingillar?

(a) n w reh uo vi

(b) deiaxlirisceupupitiolcriciafgalo

(c) o va u cioaur eue

(d) tn ca fi mo ia su la

(e) l o n n n o l

(f)  o

271. Answer the question

OPEN, FEATHERS, TABLES, LEGS, SIGN OF THE, CARD TRICK, FOURS, QUESTIONS, CLOSE, A COMMON LANGUAGE, IT TAKES, FIRST AMONG, ?

272. Identify the following

(a) Lyman FB

(b) Manoj NS

(c) Joseph AR

(d) Lafayette RH

(e) George GL

(f) Fahrid MA

(g) Francis SF

(h) Robot DO

273. Which number

Which well-known number is described here?

WII SFCKU TI YPN JRUEXUJKTKRFH WI C JRWCNM BS JCZ EOJPNCHY

274. Where?

Where does ENTRY fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

image

275. Sort out the characters

Identify the ten people in the following list:

image

276. Which?

The following list of 55 can be divided into 10 sets, all of different lengths. Put another way, there is one set of 10, one set of 9 etc. What is in the set of 1? See here for explanation.

image

277. Divide into sets

image

(a) Divide the words above into sets

(b) Which bird?

278. Identify the following

Note that ‘…’ is used to indicate that we have provided only the start of a longer sequence of words.

(a) WHEN ARAGORN PIPPIN

(b) MR NOT HARRY THE THE IT THE

(c) THIS ONCE THIS ONCE THERE IT IN

(d) THE THERE THE WITH THE PUNCTUALLY JAMES …

(e) I HE’S MOMMY

(f) THE LANDSCAPE-TONES AS THE

(g) IN THE THIS THIS THERE THE NOTHING THIS THE WATCH THE THIS …

(h) IMAGINE THE IN HITLER

(i) WHETHER DR IT THE IT NO

(j) THE THE ONCE WE CROSSING ALBERT SNOW WHEN TOWARDS REVERTING THE DUCK

279. Word sequence XI

(a) EXACT, DHOBI, ANGLE, RANCH, GIVEN, INGLE, THEIR, NEIGH, EXTRA, ?

(b) BLAZER, WILLOW, LOCULI, HAMPER, ASKING, INDIGO, CRUNCH, TARTAN, KNIGHT, ?

(c) WANDER, BREATH, LYRIC, NAIAD, GRADE, FARED, REGARD, THREES, ?

(d) REMERCY, SEVEN, TRACE, RAMP, PICTURE, HAUNTS, UNSURE, ?

(e) MAGNUM, SABBATICAL, ICELANDIC, HEADBOARD, MALEVOLENT, FRATERNAL, GASSED, PHANTOM, DELICATE, ?

280. Sequences

Please identify the elements marked by ?. Sequences (c) and (d) are endless.

(a) T, T, S, S, RM, PM, ?, ?

(b) A, A, A, A, A, E, J, A, ?, ?, ?, ?

(c) E, O, E, F, E, I, E, ?, ?, ?, …

(d) O, E, E, E, …, E, E, E, A, A, A, A, …

Sequence (d) starts with a single O, then has a run of E’s of moderate length (between 10 and 100), after which the sequence consists entirely of A’s. Exactly how long is the run of E’s?

281. Next triangle

(1,2,3), (8,9,10), (10,11,12), (11,12,13), (?,?,?),

(a) What is the next triangle (consecutive integers only)?

(b) In like manner, what is the first quadrilateral (consecutive positive integers only)?

282. The Coronet

On yet another hunt through the kwiz archive for possible ideas for kwestions the setters came across a 7×7 grid. The words THE and CORONET had been picked out in the grid.

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(a) What is the missing 5-letter word and where does it appear in the grid?

(b) Why is the grid an appropriate size given its contents?

283. Simple substitution

The kwiz setters enjoy using simplw suhstitution eokws rn quwstrons. Rn tsrs wxtypow, stk rt hwwu uwewsstry, wsres owttwl wguok stvw hwwu dbwk igl Z?

284. A to Z

= VDT

= TTOP

= AWGAXFAE

= KNNPOAKG

= IKGAGAG

= EWDIDBY

= TBAMCG

= RTPOBCR

= SFASP

= DDIDI

= HABHAK

= BIWI

= AMADHYWRAP

= JDI

= TFBTFO

= PPPPUAP

= IALLBTAH

= DYLAETGTYLR

= SYKW

= YOGAOWT

= MATSOB

= IOEILWARAAV

= EOOTCPI

= TDC

= LYFDTW

= TAOS

285. Two 3s, two 5s

There is a well known puzzle in which you are required to construct as many integers as possible using just four 4s and the operators + - × /, together with brackets, decimal points, factorials, roots, exponents and recurring decimals. Thus:

12 = ((4! - 4) × .4) + 4

32 = sqrt(.4) × (44 + 4)

And 63 = (44 - 4) / 4

In this version you have all the same rules, but the only digits used must be 3, 3, 5 and 5. So for example:

10 = (35 - 5) / 3 or 35 / 3.5

Construct all the numbers from 180 to 189 inclusive. It is acceptable not to use all four digits, should it be possible.

286. Some sums

Although at first glance the equation 2+3+6+9 = 1+4+7+8 doesn’t seem particularly exciting, it is slightly more interesting than your average sum. 2+3+10+11 = 1+5+8+12 is a little more interesting, and 2+3+9+13+16+20 = 1+5+8+12+18+19 is yet a little bit more interesting.

Find a similar equation that is even more interesting. (You shouldn’t need to use any number bigger than 35).

287. Cherchez le mot

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288. The Tree of Partial Knowledge

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289. Sums

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290. Word sequence XII

(a) STRONG, HEARTY, POPULAR, INTELLIGENT, OVERAMBITIOUS, ?

(b) SPRY, STRONG, HEARTY, POPULAR, INTELLIGENT, AMBITIOUS, ?

(c) LOT, CHE, CAT, SHE, LAR, SAY, ESS, LEE, ASP, RED, CIT, REE, ?

(d) SQUELCH, PARTING, TUMBLED, MARXIST, EMPTILY, SPLAYED, DETAILS, INSTEAD, ?

291. Quelle est la prochaine?

MLC, RVM, QCNSS, EKSN, BFVA, QFW, QAVAK, AECDR, LGLA, SBM, ?

292. Wordsearch

Here is a wordsearch, beginning (4, 7, 6, 4, 9, 7). Actually it’s a letter-search - but which letter?

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293. Miscellaneous

(a) If Taurus = Mail, Sagittarius = Deer and Pisces = Mary, then Cancer = ?

(b) If A - A = M, S - S = J, C - U = P, HB - M = N, EB - U = D, E - WR = C, B - WC = V, then:

i. B - H = ?

ii. B - W = ?

iii. (E+C) - (H+W) = ?

294. Easy question

Now an easy question. What property do all the following words have in common?

BACON, BOWLS, BURNT, CANDID, CORPORAL, GALLON, LAND, POT, QUALITY, QUIT, RATIONAL, RED, SILICON, SLIGHT, SPY, SWINGING, TRADING, TWIN

295. Kwiz krossword klues

Here are 24 crossword clues. But what is the answer to the missing 25th clue?

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296. Missing person

Identify the missing person (description in parentheses). The lists aren’t complete.

(a) T, NG, TTT, TNTT, COONU, TFTNGT, TOUNDCD, TYVOFNDO, TCNTOFVNC, NTONYNDCOT (author, full name)

(b) DO, OD, OOK, OOY, VDD, HUDB, DODOV, OHJYV, OUWHOV, HWHHODU (author, full name)

(c) D, SY, CCK, GLY, NAK, THY, QMFS, TMWV, UDBLL, FYUYSNLY (unclued actor, full name)

297. Where?

Where does 507 fit in the following list? (Read left to right, top to bottom.) See here for explanation.

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298. Identify

Identify, giving the appropriate phrase. (‘-’ is used for a string containing no characters).

(a) BLZ, C, COM, CUP, H, O, PC, VX

(b) -, A, AA, ADA, AM, BM, D, M, MY

299. Final word

What is the final (sixth) word in these sequences?

(a) CLOUTS, OBERON, DANGER, PEOPLE, BEMOCK

(b) BARBED, SCHUSS, AGENCY, HOVERS, TERROR

(c) PREFAB, ARTFUL, KEEPER, INCITE, MANIOC

(d) MILLED, ONWARD, STANDS, WAIVES, ALINES

Too straightforward? Try these.

(e) CLUMSY, BUCKET, BROKEN, JARGON, DIADEM

(f) ATRIUM, RENTAL, GLANCE, TRIPOD, SUNDAE

(g) KOSHER, OOMIAK, ENDING, ORPHAN, MISHIT

300. Pentanomes

What’s the next 5-digit group?

(a) 11213 12415 12361 71248 13912
51011 11234 61211 31271 41351
51248 16117 12369 18119 ?????

(b) 11111 11555 15115 11111 01010
11011 10111 10151 05105 11051
11051 11101 10101 01010 ?????

(c) 20213 94356 62728 78910 61091
28135 15115 91701 84193 ?????

301. Fractions

Here’s a complete set of fractions in ascending order (with ‘*’ denoting fractions that have been reduced to their simplest form, e.g. 400/250 would become 8/5, 400/200 would become 2). What’s the missing fraction?

1/17(*), 3/50(*), ?, 23/220 (*), 8/75(*), 17/150, 3/25(*), 23/5, 53(*)

302. What’s the common property?

CARDINALS:

THIRTY ONE

COUNTRIES:

MOZAMBIQUE

ELEMENTS:

SILVER

NATO ALPHABET:

CHARLIE

US STATES:

MAINE

303. One more

Below are enciphered 16 members of a set of 17. The first letters of all 17 (unenciphered) can be arranged to form ‘EGG MAKERS FLY? MARCH!’ What is the enciphered form of the missing 17th member?

DXTTRF-XDXS, IRDMT, IRYOVRKKXI, LMWXTTMAHY,

LMYMIRAH, MCIHYMA, MSXTHX, NAMIXN, OHAW,

THGGTX, VULZRTSG, WMTMKMWRN, WXAGRR, XIXYG-

YIXNGXS, XLKXIRI, YVHANGIMK

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Codebooks are a way of managing lists of words and phrases, and the codes that represent them. They are normally printed on paper and bound as books. This unusual ‘Coderoll’ from 1820 has been transcribed on to cloth so that it could be hung on a wall and used simultaneously by several clerks if necessary.

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A codewheel used by Royal Navy ships to encipher and decipher tactical messages in 1917.

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A WWI cipher machine designed by James St Vincent Pletts.

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The charter issued in 1914 by Winston Churchill (then the First Sea Lord) for ‘Room 40’, an early predecessor to GCHQ, and the crypto-analytic unit of the British Admiralty in WWI.

© Crown Copyright

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Sergeant Swanborough, pictured front left, stationed in Kabul in 1920, where he was tasked with intercepting Soviet signals. Swanborough went on to become Wing Commander and Commanding Officer of the sigint station at RAF Cheadle during WWII. He was in charge of the station as an officer and a civilian for a record 37 years.

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This is the earliest photograph of members of a British Signals Intelligence (sigint) Unit, and shows staff who worked at Leiston, Suffolk. Among them was William Swanborough who joined the Signals Service of the Royal Engineers in 1918.

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A German message intercepted by a British operator stationed at Basra in 1918. The note at the bottom says that 2 letters were missed due to the machine jamming.

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The elegant Kryha Machine, used for encryption and decryption from the 1920s to the 1950s.

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This Enigma, A320, was the first obtained by GC&CS (the Government Code and Cypher School, GCHQ’s name from 1919-1946). It was purchased in Berlin by the Deputy Head for £30 in 1926.

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Hagelin was a Swedish company that produced cipher machines. The B-211 (detail above) is the oldest Hagelin machine in GCHQ’s collection.

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In 1937, GC&CS began to think about how to recruit a new sort of cryptanalyst and, in collaboration with WWI veterans, drew up lists which contain some of the greats who would work at Bletchley Park during WWII.

© The National Archives UK

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J. R. R. Tolkien was identified as a potential cryptanalyst in 1939 and took part in a couple of training weeks. In March 1939 it was noted that he was keen on the work but in the event was not selected for Bletchley Park, where the need at the outbreak of war was for mathematicians rather than linguists.

© The National Archives UK

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RAF Cheadle, a British sigint ‘Y-station’, during WWII. Staff at this site, mainly women, intercepted enemy communications.

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‘Headlines’ were a quick way of getting short pieces of intelligence to military commands. This one, timed 11:10 on the 6th June 1944, records a German officer informing his headquarters of the capture of the Bénouville (Pegasus) Bridge on the morning of D-Day.

© Crown Copyright

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Sensitive material was often printed on to silk, so that it could be easily scrunched up and concealed by agents sent into occupied Europe.

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The famous Bletchley Park was run by GC&CS during WWII as a site for codebreaking.

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‘Morrison Walls’ were a way to map enemy radio networks. They showed the location of transmitters, the way they communicated with each other, and the type of traffic they sent.

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Alan Turing was a mathematician employed by Bletchley Park at the outbreak of WWII.

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He pioneered the use of ‘bombe’ machines to decipher German messages sent through Enigma machines on a mass-scale. This breakthrough saved countless allied lives.

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Part of a calculation by Alan Turing.

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The factory in Letchworth where bombes were manufactured for code-breaking. These bombes were located at outstations such as Stanmore and Eastcote and given codenames based on places in the British Empire and beyond.

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They were then controlled from this room at Bletchley Park.

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Working aids were notes or equipment used to speed up complex tasks, particularly for working on Enigma decryption. They were often makeshift, such as the one above, created from a typewriter platen.

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Card indexing was an important part of the analytical process at Bletchley Park. This card references intercepted messages to Canaris, the Head of the Abwehr (German Intelligence), and cross-refers to his codename Guillermo.

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Bletchley Park worked at the cutting-edge of technological design, and a large number of pieces of equipment were designed and built from scratch to support cryptanalysis during the war.

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A page from a codebook used to encrypt messages between King George VI and Pakistani Governor Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1947-48. Each number sequence has several words that it could relate to, which would become clear in the context once decoded.

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The Hagelin CD-57 pocket machine was a very portable encryption device designed in 1957 so that users could encrypt messages when on the move.

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One of two ‘NOREEN’ cipher machines used on board Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia from the 1960s.

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The modern day face of British sigint is GCHQ, based at ‘The Doughnut’ building in Cheltenham.

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GCHQ’s mission is to keep Britain safe and secure, working with MI5, MI6 and law enforcement. Its headquarters is based in Cheltenham, with regional hubs in Scarborough, Bude (pictured), Harrogate and Manchester.

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Inside GCHQ’s main building in Cheltenham.