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Puzzle ZSGJ 



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A 'complete' word is a word in which every letter, in turn, can be replaced by another to form a new word.

For example, SEND is a complete word because:

   Starting with SEND we can replace the S with an L to make LEND
   Starting with SEND we can replace the E with an A to make SAND
   Starting with SEND we can replace the N with an E to make SEED
   Starting with SEND we can replace the D with a T to make SENT.

Which 2 of the following words are not complete words? Proper nouns (i.e. people's names) are not allowed.
HARD
PORT
DUCK
BUGS
BAIL
MAST
THIN
LEAN
FIRE
READ

Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone

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Answer
BUGS and LEAN.

The remaining 8 words can be changed as follows:
HARD = CARD, HERD, HAND, HARP
PORT = FORT, PART, POET, PORE
DUCK = MUCK, DECK, DUSK, DUCT
BAIL = HAIL, BOIL, BAWL, BAIT
MAST = CAST, MOST, MALT, MASK
THIN = SHIN, TWIN, THAN, THIS
FIRE = HIRE, FARE, FIVE, FIRM
READ = BEAD, ROAD, REED, REAL

You have to be able to change EVERY letter to make a new word, so from BUGS you can change B to make HUGS, the U to make BAGS, and the G to make BUYS, but you can't change the S to make a new word.

 

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