PRIZE WEEK PUZZLE
ACROSS
5. ENGAGED not enraged. The “young women” could have reacted emotionally and “become” ENGAGED while on the rebound after “being jilted” by former boyfriends. However, the clue words “emotional reaction” are superfluous for enraged.
6. RESTS not tests. The “employees may” be given the “experience” of occasional RESTS “at certain intervals,” but grammatically speaking, the workers would take tests rather than “experience” them.
7. PORTS not parts. PORTS makes a solid answer. Parts is redundant due to the clue words “in certain areas of.”
10. TOY not top. TOY “designers need imagination,” but the best (i.e., top) “designers” have “imagination.”
12. VANES not vines. Vines is too vague since it’s not uncommon to grow vines indoors, keeping them away from any “storm” exposure. Weather VANES that are exposed to the elements make a better answer. 13. NATIONS not rations. While NATIONS could “become noticeably poor” because of the “severe constraints of war,” in regards to rations, “severe constraints” “could mean” no rations at all.
16. HAD not hid. HAD is apt. The clue word “smuggled” makes hid superfluous.
18. LAGERS not wagers. Grammatically speaking, one places or makes a wager; whereas, a person might well “have a few” LAGERS “with friends.”
DOWN
1. CHEST not cheat. The words “if troublesome” are unnecessary with cheat. CHEST is a good answer.
2. BAT not bet. Many people, not just those involved with sports, would be irritated if they lost a bet. It would be “a sportsman” (defined as: a man who participates in sports) in particular who would be annoyed if he lost a BAT.
3. VAST not fast. The idea of VAST “profits” might well hook an “investor.” Simply because the “profits” are made quickly (i.e., fast) doesn’t ensure they’re in any way substantial and, ultimately, worth the investment. 4. MEN not ten. MEN is best. The clue is vague as to what is meant by ten since, being a “workshop training” session, ten could apply to pieces of equipment, for example.
7. PLANE not plans. The great-grandfather’s “first” PLANE might have been designed “with mass production in mind.” Plans is unnecessary due to the clue’s reference to “design work.”
8. SONG not sons. A SONG “could help to carry on a” “tradition.” The mere fact that they are sons could mean that they do, in actual fact, “carry on a family tradition” simply by being members of the “family.” They don’t “help” to do so.
9. TASTED not wasted. The clue word “just” has more relevance when paired with TASTED in regards to the “guests’” indifference to the food. “Just” is unnecessary with wasted.
14. INSURE not injure. The hopeful acquisition of “money” links up best with INSURE. Regarding a fake injury, it is usually through INSURANCE that a con artist could get “money.”
15. CHILD not chill. The clue phrase “to be able to” implies a certain ability, which applies to a person (i.e., CHILD) rather than a condition or a symptom such as a chill.