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Workings

Hint
The 2^nd word begins with the letter B.

Answers
a-a-e = amaze (MZ) --ave = brave (BR) -uie- = quiet (QT) --gon = wagon (WA) p--ot = pivot (IV) vi-e- = vixen (XN) -ac-t = yacht (YH) --met = comet (CO) b--ep = bleep (LE) -u-ge = judge (JD) -lan- = flank (FK) -ra-e = grape (GP) bon-- = bonus (US)
This puzzle isn't guaranteed to have a unique answer, can you find another?

Workings

Hint
A little algebra might help.

Answers
Drew is 7 years old. Glen is 4 years old.
Answer #1
The first question involves Drew (D) and Alex (A).

Drew is currently one fifth of Alex's age, so:

(1)      A = D x 5

In 21 years, Alex will be twice their age, so:

(2) A + 21 = (D + 21) x 2

Using (1) in (2) gives:

  A + 21 = (D + 21) x 2

 5D + 21 = (D + 21) x 2

 5D + 21 = 2D + 42

      3D = 21

       D = 7

So Drew is 7 (and Alex is 35).

Answer #2
The second question involves Glen (G) and Billie (B).

Billie is exactly seven times the age of Glen:

(3)     B = G x 7

In 8 years, Billie will be three times the age of Glen, so:

(4) B + 8 = (G + 8) x 3

Using (3) in (4) gives:

  B + 8 = (G + 8) x 3

 7G + 8 = (G + 8) x 3

 7G + 8 = 3G + 24

     4G = 16

      G = 4

So Glen is 4 (and Billie is 28).

Workings

Hints
taper = p… (10 letters) heals = s… (9 letters) brows = b… (7 letters) often = f… (8 letters) farce = c… (8 letters) yowls = s… (6 letters) satin = a… (10 letters) awful = l… (6 letters) iotas = t… (10 letters) quiet = e… (9 letters) foils = f… (7 letters) score = s… (11 letters)

Answers
taper = perpetrate (10 letters) heals = seashells (9 letters) brows = borrows (7 letters) often = footnote (8 letters) farce = carefree (8 letters) yowls = slowly (6 letters) satin = assistants (10 letters) awful = lawful (6 letters) iotas = tattooists (10 letters) quiet = etiquette (9 letters) foils = fossils (7 letters) score = sorceresses (11 letters)

Workings

Hint
The word MARCH appears 46 times.

Answer
The word MARCH appears 46 times.