LAST SUNDAY’S ANSWERS

ACROSS

4. BEACH not bench. The clue word “sat” is unnecessary with bench. BEACH is a better choice.

5. GOWN not town. An “ugly” spot (e.g., location) in a town needs further qualification as to its size and purpose. For example, if very few people have reason to go there, it could easily be ignored. However, covering up “one or two ugly spots” on a GOWN could be daunting if not impossible and can certainly “spoil a” dress.

6. LOYAL not local. LOYAL is apt. The reference to “community” makes local redundant.

8. RAIL not mail. Sending a package by RAIL is a logical answer. But mail needs more explanation, since posting via the internet doesn’t involve packing at all.

10. TRUCK not trunk. It would take more than one “pair of very capable hands to maneuver a large” trunk, but a skilled driver might well “maneuver a” TRUCK.

12. FULL not dull. FULL is best. An “excessively routine workload” makes dull superfluous.

13. KEEN not been. KEEN is best. If he’s been training on the “company’s latest equipment,” it probably means that the applicant has already been “hired.”

16. PATENT not parent. PATENT makes a good answer. Elderly parents often need the “protection” of their adult children.

18. STOOPING not stopping. The “jogger” might have simply stopped and looked around while momentarily catching “her breath.” It would be when she STOOPED over that she’d probably notice her untied “shoelaces.” DOWN

1. WONDERS not ponders. The fact that she’s WONDERING what recipe to use indicates her uncertainty, which fits well with her need to scroll “through multiple” “recipes.” If she was pondering, she would be more likely to spend time mulling over a particular recipe or two.

2. INN not ink. An INN might become “a lifelong favorite,” but it would be the type or brand of ink that would be favored, since the initial supply of ink would run out with new orders being made routinely throughout the writer’s life.

3. DECAY not delay. The clue word “unnecessary” fits DECAY best. It might be necessary for a “food” shipment to be delayed for safety or health’s sake, for instance.

4. BELL not bull. A BELL is often associated with “cattle” in Switzerland, but bulls are “cattle,” not merely associated with them.

7. LEAKING not leading. If the leading “car” is well ahead of the others or it’s only a minor issue that needs to be dealt with, a quick stop might not jeopardize his “chance of winning.” A “car” that’s LEAKING might well need time-consuming “repairs.”

9. LANES not lines. “Shipping” LANES fits the clue’s context regarding the “flow of marine traffic.” But many “shipping” companies (i.e., lines) are land or air based, not nautical.

11. PLOT not blot. A blot is a stain, which is, in itself, a “mess,” making “mess” unnecessary in the clue. PLOT is apt.

14. FACT not tact. A vital FACT “at just the right moment” could “win” over the audience. However, tact should be used at all times during a debate.