On-air challenge:
I'm going to give you clues for some 5-letter words. Switch the 2nd and 4th letters to make a new word that answers the second clue.
Ex. Wager / Glide on ice --> STAKE, SKATE
1. Christmas song / Reef material
2. No longer fresh / Roof material
3. Versions in the testing stage / Motel in "Psycho"
4. Sheets, pillowcases, etc. / First leader of the Soviet Union
5. Song in the Bible / Blood component
6. Tree secretion / Up
7. Trail left by a snail / Grin
8. Male singing voice / Cartridge contents
9. Marsh bird / Backbone
10. Group of experts / Word before code or colony
11. Temperamental sorts / ___ Cup
12. Home / Material for a Southwest home
Last week's challenge: From listener Tyler Lipscomb of Athens, Georgia. Think of a common girl's name. Write it in all capital letters. Rotate one of these letters 90 degrees and another of the letters 180 degrees. The result will name a make of a car. What is it?
Answer: Wanda, Mazda
Winner: Joan Lysaght of Toledo, Ohio
Next week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from Martin Eiger of Montville, NJ. He's a member of the National Puzzlers' League, which is holding its 178th convention in Boston this weekend. Take a certain 7-letter word. Remove the first letter and you get a 6-letter synonym of that word. And the letter you removed is an abbreviation for the opposite of both words. What words are these?
If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you at 3 p.m., ET, on Thursday, July 13.
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