The Star Rewards Word Puzzle 2005

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Puzzle 3

Keeping plants watered can help to prevent their flowers from (DRO_P_N_)
Drooping, dropping.
A hard blow on the ankle can make one (L_M_)
Limp, lame.
A (SP__R) may enable a hunter to get his prey
Spoor, spear.
Fabric is liable to be (_AR_ED) permanently by a cigarette burn
Marked, harmed, marred.
A difficult job is likely to be (_A__LED) confidently by an expert
Tackled, handled.
A plan for a new major road may be halted by (L__AL) action
Local, legal.
(_S__M) is a word that brings a religion to mind
Psalm, Islam.
To many women a (STR_N_) of fine pearls would be a welcome gift
String, strand.
Old friends may recall with pleasure some (T__ES) of their younger days
Tales, times, tapes???
It is reasonable to (APPR____) a new and unfamiliar idea with an open mind
Appraise, approach.

Comments

6 first choice, 4 second choice. At least there were no complete misses!

Puzzle 4

At harvest time farmers (GA___R) their crops
Gather, garner.
Golf offers some of the (_IG__ST) prizes in professional sports
Biggest, highest.
People may choose to (_U_) small cars partly to economise on petrol costs
Run, buy.
Old-fashioned companies can be slow to (AD__T) new management methods
Adopt, adapt, admit?
A person who is disloyal to colleagues may be (S_U__ED) by them
Snubbed, shunned, spurned.
The (E__E_) is a bird whose feathers are valued commercially
Eider, egret.
A (_EAS__ED) presentation of a case can have a specially persuasive impact
Reasoned, measured.
In a canning factory food should be (T_ST_D) regularly for quality
Tested, tasted.
A (L_N_) may serve as a means to connect two places
Lane, line, link??
A sudden sharp noise may cause someone to (__A_T) visibly in surprise
Start, react.

Comments

8 first choice, 2 second choice. It may not be prize winning, but I'm pretty pleased to get this many right!

Puzzle 5

Tempers may be lost when people (DIS_U__) political issues
Dispute, discuss.
The hinterland is the area immediately (IN_A__) behind the coast
Inland, inward.
An unusual and interesting (T_L_) can hold an audience's attention
Tale, talk.
In fairytales an ogre may be portrayed as a man-eating (_I_N_)
Giant, fiend, jinni??
There may be a disaster if you (_R_P) a fragile object carelessly
Drop, grip, wrap?
In a well-managed company customers orders are attended to (S___TLY)
Swiftly, smartly.
One may have to (UN_I_) an article of clothing before one can remove it
Unzip, untie, unpin, unrig? unfix? unfit?
To (_RU_GE) is to be engaged in laborious and wearisome activity
Drudge, trudge.
A very costly scheme may have to be (VET_E_) by a company's board
Vetoed, vetted.
One may think of a (KN__E) as being sharp
Knife, knave.

Comments

8 first choice, 2 second choice, again. I'd like to think I was getting the hang of this, but I think I've just been lucky these last two weeks.

Puzzle 6

If one feels (P_E_S_D) to give help, one may do so more promptly
Pleased, pressed.
Usually when a formal debate (C__SE_), a vote is taken
Closes, ceases.
Blue is a colour commonly associated with the (S__)
Sky, sea.
An object for sale may be handed over in exchange for a (C_I_)
Coin, chit, chip??
A mother's presence can help to allay an unhappy child's (_EAR_)
Tears, fears, heart?
A (_O_E) may be drilled into the earth in a search for water
Bore, hole.
For many people a holiday begins and ends with a journey by (__R)
Car, air.
In moments of a great peril, people may (INV__E) divine help
Invoke, invite.
(_AR_E_S) play an important part in providing people with food
Farmers, gardens, markets?
Sycophants are people who use flattery to (WOR_) their way into other's favour
Worm, work.

Comments

9 first choice, 1 second choice. This is a result I'm really very pleased with. However, they do say "pride goeth before a fall"!

Puzzle 7

One may associate (S___LES) with race horses
Stables, saddles.
Someone who is (F__LY) rewarded for his efforts should feel satisfied
Fully, fatly.
A politician knows he may have to face some critical (A_T_C__) in the press
Article, attacks.
An old master painting may be citied as a work of particularly great (_E_UT_)
Repute, beauty.
It makes sense to tackle the day's (_AR_ES_) jobs while one is still fresh
Hardest, largest.
(_US_LES) bring to mind the use of physical strength
Muscles, tussles.
Pessimists are people habitually ready to (_E_R) the worst
Fear, hear.
It is hard not to smile if a person who has (B_A__ED) of his ability is defeated
Boasted, bragged.
A strong (ST__K) can prevent a flower on a plant from being blown down
Stalk, stick.
A good plan can be fatally (__ECK_D) by carelessness in carrying it out
Wrecked, checked.

Comments

8 first choice, 2 second choice. I may be managing better than average (at the moment) but if I ever get 10 out of 10 it will be by luck and not skill!

Puzzle 8

A bolt may be (S___RED) by violent impact
Sheared, severed.
A company may ask its bank to (A__AN_E) a loan to finance its expansion
Advance, arrange.
A (_R__TY) response implies that a suggestion has not been well received
Frosty, crusty, grotty?
A girl may diet in order to achieve a (T_I_) figure
Trim, thin.
People may lose large sums of money as a result of (_O__ERY)
Robbery, forgery, roguery.
Strife in a community can cause such disturbance (_IO__N_)
Rioting, violent.
A football crowd often (_RE_T_) a referee's supposed mistake with derision
Greets, treats.
It can sometimes take a while to become accustomed to another country's (C_I___E)
Coinage, cuisine, climate.
A (_H_ME) may feature a simple melody
Chime, rhyme.
Extreme views can prompt forceful expressions of (DIS___T)
Dissent, disgust.

Comments

3 first choice, 5 second choice, 1 third choice and 1 complete miss! Well, I've been proud of my results for the last four weeks, so it was time for a fall. I have no arguement with any of the answers. In my opinion this just emphasises the random element in this competition - it is luck that gets you the correct answers, not skill. However, I am annoyed with myself with failing to find 'roguery', though in my defence I'll say it is a word you never hear in common usage here in England.

PS. My commisserations for the appalling pollution / smog / haze that has been afficting your country for the last week or so. I hope things improve soon.
Bernard, 14/08/2005.

Puzzle 9

Lack of money can cause worrying (STR_I_S) within a family
Strains, straits.
A trident is a spear that has three (P__N_S)
Prongs, points.
An expert’s skill may lie in his possessing a practised (E__)
Eye, ear.
Riding harness provides the (_E_NS) by which a horseman can control his mount
Reins, means.
A new project sometimes (_OES) well as a result of good publicity
Does, goes.
The bomber has an attacking role in (__R) operations
Air, war.
Felled tree trunks may be (S__N) at a timber mill
Sawn, seen.
Real bargains in a sale are likely to be snapped up (R____LY) by shoppers
Rapidly, readily.
An (IN_P_) proposal for solving a problem is no help at all
Inept, inapt.
A good reporter is not put off by an initial (SN__) in making his enquiries
Snub, snag.

Comments

5 first choice, 5 second choice. Exactly what random chance would get (on average)!

Puzzle 10

Such a person may have worked for a long time to achieve his expertise. (S___L__)
Scholar, skilled.
This may be used to keep out would-be intruders. (F__CE)
Fence, force.
Being wrongly (A___SED) can leave a person with a justifiable complaint
Accused, advised.
A cool (_E_PER) can be a great asset in times of crisis
Helper, temper.
A (L_A_) can sometimes become an oppression burden
Load, loan.
A (_U__AN_) is a dried grape commonly used in fruit cakes
Currant, sultana.
(H__D) is a word used in the context of a number of cattle
Herd, hand? head.
Workers have sometimes to strike in order to (ASS_R_) their rights
Assert, assure.
One may feel (_EA_Y) at the end of a hot and humid day's work
Weary, heavy.
Carelessness can be the cause of something being badly (__N_LED)
Handled, bungled, tangled, mangled.

Comments

6 first choice, 3 second choice and 1 complete miss! No excuses this time, 'head' is a perfectly good answer, a word that I considered and then rejected, but would have my first choice had I just remembered that it could be used in this context. I'm particularly annoyed in that I knew 'hand' was a very poor alternative answer and, therefore, should have known to keep looking. I pledge to do better in the future.

Puzzle 11

Famous performers can draw large numbers of people to see (_P_R_S)
Operas, sports.
(_AND__S) show no regard for those to whom their actions cause distress
Vandals, bandits.
(__I_E) is a personal trait in people that makes them difficult to trust
Guile, spite.
Before making a decision one should consider the effect of each possible (__TIO_)
Action, option.
A kick on the leg can leave a painful bruise on the (S_IN)
Shin, skin.
(P_I__) is something one can derive from personal success
Pride, poise? prize?
Such a gesture may be made to indicate personal respect. (__L_TE)
Salute, polite.
A landscape gardener will (PLA__) scrubs where they can be seen to best effect
Plant, place.
A case of (C_I_I_AL) neglect may give rise to an action for damages
Clinical, criminal, critical?
Some flowers can be identified by their distinctive (S_E__)
Scent, smell.

Comments

7 first choice, 3 second choice. Improving....

Puzzle 12

(__TCH_RS) have specialised roles in baseball teams
Pitchers, catchers.
Saturday can be one of the (B_S_) days of the week for a supermarket
Best, busy.
Statistical errors in an official (RE__R_) can lead people to draw false conclusions
Report, record, return?
A filing system helps to prevent papers from becoming (_U__LED) and out of order
Muddled, jumbled.
It is not unknown for a thief to (S_EA_) into a house while people watch TV
Sneak, steal.
Starters, main courses and desserts are normal features of restaurant (ME__S)
Menus, meals.
A hat trick is a (TR__LE) success
Triple, treble.
(S__T_) is an unwelcome characteristic in a colleague at work
Sloth, spite.
One may use one's hands to (GR__) an object
Grip, grab.
A (_E_SIB_E) suggestion for solving a problem merits serious consideration
Feasible, sensible.

Comments

7 first choice, 3 second choice. Staying ahead of average, but not close to prize-winning!

Puzzle 13

One may find a stone in such fruit (P_U__)
Plums, prune.
Certain breeds of dogs are trained to take part in (S_O_TIN_) activities
Shooting, sporting, scouting? spotting?
A motel is a place where road travellers can (S_E__) the night
Spend, sleep.
A speech full of (F_R_) can rouse a crowd's emotions
Fire, fury.
This can have a soothing effect (_ALM)
Balm, calm.
Misers tend to (__ARD) their money obsessively
Hoard, guard.
An embezzler may (__TER) sums in a ledger to deceive auditors
Alter, enter.
Gatecrashers may try to (__R_E) their way into a meeting
Force, barge.
Some people keep a dog (P_R_LY) for security reasons
Partly, purely.
A (M__E) is an animal that may be used for personal transport
Mule, mare.

Comments

4 first choice, 6 second choice.

Puzzle 14

Property may be irreparably (S_A_H_D) in an act of vandalism
Smashed, slashed.
A (L_C_) may be used to fasten something securely
Lace, lock.
If something is missing, one tries to think where one may have (L__T) it
Left, lost, lent?
One may (RE_U__) someone who makes an impertinent request
Refuse, rebuke, rebuff.
Higher (_A_ES) can have a significant effect on the general cost of living
Wages, taxes, rates, fares??
It is humiliating to have one's failure (__R_DED) in public
Paraded, derided.
The dungeons in medieval castles were (DA_K) places
Dank, dark.
To (_A_E) important decisions on sketchy evidence can be to court disaster
Base, make, take, face??
A ford is a point in a river where the depth of water is normally (S_ALL__)
Shallow, smaller.
If a company makes this, the dividend to shareholders may be cut. (L_SS)
Less, loss.

Comments

6 first choice, 3 second choice and 1 fourth choice! As frustrating as ever!

Puzzle 15

A warning can serve to (A_A__) people
Alarm, awake, abash, amaze?
A refreshing drink can be made from juice of such fruit (L_M__)
Limes, lemon.
If he comes to a winding (D_R_) road, a driver may have to reduce speed
Dirt, dark, dire?
When things (PAL_), they may be said to lose some of their importance
Pall, pale.
During elections party (POL__I_S) can provoke bitter controversy
Polemics, policies, politics.
Events in the modern world can make older people (_I_H) for the good old days
Wish, sigh.
Being (__GED) on can make a person do things he would not otherwise do
Egged, urged.
A controversial biography can (__USE) fresh interest in its subject
Cause, rouse.
A piece of china that is dropped may (S_A_TE_) in pieces across the floor
Shatter, scatter
A (RIN_) is a sports venue where events may be decided on points
Ring, rink.

Comments

3 first choice, 6 second choice and 1 third choice.

Puzzle 16

A false alarm can sometimes involve people in unnecessary (H_S_LE)
Hassle, hustle.
All involved in a plan should have a chance to express their (__E_S) about it
Views, ideas, needs??
A person's (D_E_S) will often reveal facets of his character
Dress, deeds.
A (S_L_Y) response to constructive criticism invites a rebuke
Sulky, silly.
A series of costly mistakes (_A_SES) doubt about a man's fitness for his job
Raises, causes.
Certain animals may (R__R) as a response to a perceived threat
Roar, rear.
In court one may (S_E) people who have defaulted on their obligations
Sue, see.
People who have (D___TED) much of their wealth to charity are philanthropists
Donated, devoted.
A (VER_I__) can represent a purely personal interpretation of a situation
Version, verdict.
Such a person may require special care and attention (IN_AN_)
Infant, insane.

Comments

6 first choice, 4 second choice.

Puzzle 17

Ambiguous comments make it hard to (_ATH__) just what the speaker meant
Gather, fathom.
(_O_SES) are often involved in exciting chases in Western films
Horses, posses, nooses? noises?? losses???
(_A_BLE_) may be small shiny objects put to decorative use
Baubles, marbles.
Local residents may (__I_E) objections to a new highway through their area
Raise, voice, write, noise?? waive????!
The sight of a snake can render some people (_UMB) with fear
Numb, dumb.
Stirring events may be witnessed in (__E_AS)
Arenas, operas.
Air raids on cities may produce widespread (_E_R__)
Terror, debris, regret??
To pessimists problems tend to (L_O_) larger than they really are
Look, loom.
A sincere apology can help to (RED___) any harm done by a mistake
Redeem, reduce.
A (__OKER) may produce glowing heat
Cooker, smoker? stoker?

Comments

4 first choice, 5 second choice, 1 third choice. Another annoying week. For nos. 1, 2, 7 and 8 I had initially put my first two choices the other way round and then changed my mind. On the other hand, I very nearly didn't include 'stoker' for no. 10, so it balances out to some extent. At least I'm fairly successful at avoiding complete misses. (And will I regret that claim in the next week or three?)

Puzzle 18

A bad mistake at a fence in showjumping can make a horse (L__E)
Lose, lame.
Conciliatory gestures can enable people to (RE_AI_) friends after a quarrel
Remain, regain, retain.
The claws of even a small (C__) can cause painful scratches
Cat, cub.
Jealousy may prompt people to make (_E_TY) comments
Petty, testy.
Machinery may become less efficient with increasing (__E)
Age, use.
A lawyer's (A_R__T) change of tone may disconcert a difficult witness
Abrupt, adroit.
(S__E) is a word that is readily associated with the foot
Shoe, sole, sore??
Pressure (__E_TED) by public opinion can make governments change their policies
Exerted, created.
There are times when, despite (E__R_) precaution, mishaps will occur
Every, extra.
The thought of watching surgery performed might make squeamish people (_L__CH)
Blanch, flinch.

Comments

6 first choice, 4 second choice.

Puzzle 19

When people (___ITAT_) they are deep in thought
Cogitate, hesitate, meditate??
A (_UB_) is a shape which one can identify readily
Cude, tube.
An administrative (_U__LE) in government can be costly for taxpayers.
Bungle, muddle, fumble, bumble?
In a football stadium's rooms one may see photographs of past (_L__E_S)
Players, elevens.
Clearing out a long-neglected attic can be a (D__TY) job
Dirty, dusty.
A (_I_) is told with the intention of deceiving someone
Lie, fib.
Such a person may reveal his level of ability by the way he tackles a task (_D__T)
Adept, idiot, adult?
Such a wound may not require treatment by a doctor (S_R__C_)
Scratch, surface.
A drawbridge over a moat could be pulled up to prevent raiders getting (AC__SS)
Across, access.
A vehicle's wheels may cut deeply into such ground. (M__S_)
Marsh, moist, mossy, messy?

Comments

7 first choice, 3 second choice. My best for a while. Just one last chance (this year) of hitting the jackpot.

Puzzle 20

The atmosphere in negotiations can be (_ARR_D) by personal remarks
Marred, jarred.
The olympic games offer events in which contestants are (R__I_G) against each other
Racing, rowing, riding.
(_E_LIN_) is a major activity in a market trader's work
Selling, dealing.
(_OW_) may be the mothers of young animals seen on a farm
Cows, fowl?
A (CAR_O_) is a container in which liquid may be stored
Carboy, carton.
Overheating can cause damage to a (M_T__)
Moter, meter.
Any form of untruth may be condemned by people who have (STR___) moral values
Strict, strong.
Before a big match sportswriters are likely to (PRE_I__) the prospects
Preview, predict.
It is hard to (_D_I_E) someone who thinks he knows all the answers
Advise, admire.
Confidence tricksters often try to exploit people's (GR_E_)
Greed, grief.

Comments

6 first choice, 4 second choice. A mediocre finish to the competition. Still, there's always next year!

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