LAST SUNDAY’S ANSWERS

ACROSS

4. STARS not start. A “display of anger” would originate from a person or people, which links up well with STARS. Start is too vague since there is no indication of who is showing “anger” when referring to the start of the “celebrity event.”

5. WORD not wood. The fact that the “furniture maker” would give his WORD that the “furniture” “quality” was very good could be important to a “consumer” and would cause disgruntlement if the customer was deceived. When making a big purchase such as “furniture,” aside from wood, the “consumer” would probably want to “count on” “quality” in terms of comfort and durability.

8. NUN not pun. There might well be a “proper approach” to the etiquette expected at “social gatherings” involving religious representatives (e.g. NUN). Puns are so short that, although there could be rules about whether or not they should be told, having a “proper approach” to them lacks logic.

13. LOVELY not lively. There’s no information in the clue regarding the age and fitness level of the “retired couple” or of their “neighbors”; therefore, LOVELY is a better fit than lively since there’s no guarantee the couples are athletic (e.g., lively).

17. LOVES not loses. It might be hard to ascertain that “she generally” loses her “tennis” games if “she doesn’t take” “into account” the fact that she’s winning or losing. LOVES makes a more definite answer.

18. TEST not pest. Since “unnerving” is defined as something that causes a person to lose courage or confidence, it links up well with a TEST. A pest needs further explanation since a common housefly is a nuisance, perhaps, but doesn’t usually cause any fear.

DOWN

1. RAIN not raid. “Prolonged” RAINFALL “could” be devastating, especially to agriculture. Though a raid could “wipe out decades of progress,” it is usually not a “prolonged” event.

2. POLITE not police. The girlfriend’s cautionary statement “try being friendly back at him” implies that the officer is going to be “friendly” (i.e., POLITE) in the first place. But there’s no guarantee that an approaching police officer will be amiable.

3. DETAILED not detained. DETAILED is best. Detained is redundant due to the clue’s reference to her lack of “permission for an overdue leave.”

4. SEEN not sewn. The “seamstress” would want “good lighting” to sew the “clothes” properly. But she would want “her clothes” SEEN “in good lighting” either while being modeled or on display.

6. DOCKS not decks. It’s not uncommon for a deck of a ship to be empty after it’s been unloaded. But normally shipyards (i.e., DOCKS) are active.

7. GUIDE not guile. The “lead character” acting as a GUIDE in the “video” may well enhance the show. However, the clue word “clever” makes guile redundant.

10. PLANE not plans. It would be “a flaw in” the functioning PLANE that might cause a “disaster.” The PLANE couldn’t be in the planning stages; rather, it would have to be in the “air” in order for there to be a “disaster.”

11. DYE not rye. If too much food coloring (i.e., DYE) is used in the “cake,” it could have an artificial “bitter taste,” whereas traditionally, rye’s “taste” is known for natural elements of oak or fruit and has been described as peppery, grassy or spicy.

12. RETORT not report. “The average person might not be interested in a” chemist’s RETORT (defined as a glass container used in distilling liquids). But a report issued to the general public might have major significance, especially regarding a scientific discovery.

14. REST not west. “Families” might not have “visited the” REST of “the nation,” which would include the west “coast.”

16. BAN not bar. The word BAN usually applies to things (i.e., “alcohol” and “activities”). The verb to bar applies to people.