美国国家公共电台 NPR Untangle These Geographic Features

 

AILSA CHANG, HOST: 

December is in full swing. Snow, ice and freezing wind hit a lot of cities across the U.S. this week. And if you live somewhere cold, you may be wondering - is there really any reason to go outside at all? Heck no. Stay inside and play The Puzzle.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

CHANG: Of course, I'm joined by the puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

Hey there, Will.

WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE¹: Good morning, Ailsa.

CHANG: So remind us, what was last week's challenge?

SHORTZ: Yes, it came from listener Matt Jones of Portland, Ore. I said think of a two-word phrase commonly seen on signs and at new businesses, nine letters in all. Change the sixth letter to an N and read the resulting letters in order. You'll get a new two-word phrase sometimes seen on humorous signs in classrooms and offices. What signs are these? Well, the first sign in new businesses is now hiring. Change the R to an N and you get no whining².

CHANG: We got over 1,200 correct answers this week. And the winner is David Jernigan of San Antonio, Texas.

Congrats, David.

DAVID JERNIGAN: Thank you very much.

CHANG: So how did you figure out the answer?

JERNIGAN: I have to say it came to me immediately because just a day or two before The Puzzle had aired, I saw that sign in a restaurant window. So I guess it was still fresh in my mind, and soon as I heard the first half of the clue, I thought, oh, now hiring - I saw that sign. And then, of course, it fit.

CHANG: So what do you do in San Antonio?

JERNIGAN: I work for a local nonprofit health insurance plan. I'm a compliance³ manager.

CHANG: OK. Do you have a question for Will?

JERNIGAN: Yes, I do. I'm wondering, Will, since you're so immersed in the world of puzzling, do you ever have any kind of anxious dreams about having to create a puzzle on a tight deadline or not being able to solve a puzzle?

SHORTZ: Well, it's a good question. And no, I never have any anxiety dreams about making puzzles or solving them.

(LAUGHTER)

SHORTZ: I'll tell you what would give me anxiety dream - if I were going on "Jeopardy⁴." That would kill me...

CHANG: Oh...

SHORTZ: ...Because people...

JERNIGAN: Yeah.

SHORTZ: ...Expect me to know everything in the world...

CHANG: That's a lot of pressure.

SHORTZ: ...And I don't. Yeah.

CHANG: That's a lot of pressure. All right, David, are you ready to play The Puzzle?

JERNIGAN: I think so.

CHANG: All right, Will, let's do this.

SHORTZ: All right, David and Ailsa, every answer today is an anagram of a geographical⁵ feature. For example, if I said pace - P-A-C-E, you would say cape⁶. Number one is kale - K-A-L-E.

CHANG: Oh.

JERNIGAN: K-A-L-E.

SHORTZ: Yeah. In this case, water.

JERNIGAN: Oh, a lake. It's a lake.

CHANG: There you go.

SHORTZ: Lake is correct. Number two is same, S-A-M-E.

JERNIGAN: Mesa.

SHORTZ: That's it.

CHANG: Perfect.

SHORTZ: Lies, L-I-E-S.

JERNIGAN: Isle⁷.

SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Spas, S-P-A-S.

JERNIGAN: Pass.

SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Allot⁸, A-L-L-O-T.

JERNIGAN: A-L-L-O-T.

SHORTZ: Yeah, something you'd see in the Pacific.

JERNIGAN: Atoll.

SHORTZ: That's it. Canoe, C-A-N-O-E.

JERNIGAN: Canoe.

SHORTZ: It's somewhere you might take a canoe if you were adventurous⁹.

JERNIGAN: If you have it, Ailsa, go for it. I'm still trying to figure it out.

CHANG: I'm still stumped¹⁰. I'm staring at the letters here. One more hint, Will.

JERNIGAN: Ocean.

CHANG: Oh.

SHORTZ: Ocean. No hint needed. Ocean, nice.

CHANG: That would not be me in the ocean in a canoe. OK.

SHORTZ: I said if you were adventurous.

CHANG: (Laughter).

SHORTZ: Softer, S-O-F-T-E-R.

JERNIGAN: Softer. Forest.

CHANG: Mm-hmm.

SHORTZ: Uh-huh. Here's a a tough one - sectional - S-E-C-T-I-O-N-A-L. It's one...

JERNIGAN: Sectional.

SHORTZ: ...Word. It starts with C. It's something...

JERNIGAN: Coastline?

SHORTZ: Coastline.

CHANG: Wow...

SHORTZ: Well done, David.

CHANG: ...You are so good at this, David.

SHORTZ: And here is your last one. Real force - R-E-A-L-F-O-R-C-E - and the answer is two words. The first word has five letters, second word has four. C is the first letter.

JERNIGAN: I think you got me on this last one.

SHORTZ: Uh-huh. What if I told you the second letter is O?

JERNIGAN: Coral reef.

SHORTZ: Coral reef is it.

CHANG: Oh, my goodness. David, you are a superstar at this. Great job.

For playing our puzzle today, you will get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin as well as puzzle books and games. And you can read all about it at npr.org/puzzle. Tell us, what's your public radio station out there? How do you listen to us?

JERNIGAN: It's KSTX, 89.1 FM, right here in San Antonio.

CHANG: All right. David Jernigan of San Antonio, Texas, thank you so much for playing The Puzzle.

JERNIGAN: Well, thanks and happy holidays to you both.

CHANG: Likewise to you, too.

All right, Will, what is the challenge for next week?

SHORTZ: Yes, it's a very elegant challenge, which comes from listener Janet McDonald of Baton¹¹ Rouge¹², La. Take the initials and last names of two opposing historical figures, add a C and mix all the letters together. You'll get the title and last name of another historical figure from approximately the same era. Who are these people? So again the initials and last names of two opposing historical figures, add a C, mix all the letters together, you get the title and last name of another historical figure from about the same era. Who are these people?

CHANG: When you have the answer, go to our website npr.org/puzzle and click on the submit your answer link. Just one entry per person, please. And our deadline for entries is Thursday, December 22, at 3 p.m. Eastern. So include a phone number where we can reach you at about that time. And if you are the winner, we'll give you a call, and you'll get to play on the air with the puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

Thank you so much, Will.

SHORTZ: Thanks a lot, Ailsa. Nice talking with you.

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1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 whining   

n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚

参考例句：

• That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
• The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着（要进来）。

3 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

4 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

5 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

6 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

7 isle   

n.小岛，岛

参考例句：

• He is from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea.他来自爱尔兰海的马恩岛。
• The boat left for the paradise isle of Bali.小船驶向天堂一般的巴厘岛。

8 allot   

v.分配；拨给；n.部分；小块菜地

参考例句：

• The government is ready to allot houses in that area.政府准备在那个地区分配住房。
• Who will she allot the easy jobs to?她把轻活儿分给谁呢？

9 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

10 stumped   

僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说

参考例句：

• Jack huffed himself up and stumped out of the room. 杰克气喘吁吁地干完活，然后很艰难地走出房间。
• He was stumped by the questions and remained tongue-tied for a good while. 他被问得张口结舌，半天说不出话来。

11 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

12 rouge   

n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红

参考例句：

• Women put rouge on their cheeks to make their faces pretty.女人往面颊上涂胭脂，使脸更漂亮。
• She didn't need any powder or lip rouge to make her pretty.她天生漂亮，不需要任何脂粉唇膏打扮自己。