With His Help 1 (Original Word Game)

By Dr E J Yeaman

All the answers contain the letters H-I-S in that order. Easy? Try it and see. Then have a tussle with HAL, KEN, LOU, RON and TIM. Enjoy the quiz, enhance your vocabulary and test your literacy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Jul 23, 2020

Dr E J Yeaman

I retired (early) and started a new career as a writer. I wrote short stories and articles. Some were published; some won prizes; some sank without trace.Having heard my stories, two friends suggested I should write for children. I’d never thought of that, although I’d spent my first career communicating with young people – as a Chemistry teacher, and running clubs for badminton, chess, table tennis and hillwalking.I tried writing for young people – and I loved it. It became my main occupation. I sent samples to publishers. One asked to see a complete story. In excitement, I sent it off. Then nothing. After four months, I rang, and was told the manuscript was being considered: I would be notified. Then more nothing. Now, after eight years, I no longer rush to the door when the letter box rattles.But I kept writing the stories because I enjoyed it so much. Until, in late 2013, I learned I could publish my stories and games as e-books. Since then, I’ve been polishing and issuing some of them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.Check out the series:C: Charades – party game – a new twist to the traditional game.D: Diagags – party game – gags written as plays for two people.M: My Story – novels – classical stories, told by the heroes.O: One-Offs – party game – guess the titles, not quite the classical ones.P: Pop Tales – short stories – inspired by 60s and 70s hit songs.Q: Quote-Outs – word games – can you deduce the missing words?S: Inside Story – novels – a boy’s adventures inside classical stories.T: Troubleshooters – novels – space adventures for young people.

Book preview

1

X

(Super 7, Game 3.)

An entertaining word game for solo player or party.

The Super 7 are the letters A, E, I, N, O, S and T. Remember ESTONIA. They’re the most commonly used letters in English. In a typical piece of writing, they account for 5 of every 9 letters.

The answers to these puzzles are words containing the Super 7 plus the guest letter, X. Every mystery word contains the X plus at least three of the Super 7. No letter may be used more than once.

For an entertaining party game, read the puzzles aloud, replacing the mystery word by the number of letters in it, shown in brackets. The first person to call a correct answer scores a point. If they’re wrong, they lose a point, and are not allowed to try that item again.

First puzzle on next page.

1.

This word has an interesting history. Its use began about the time of Shakespeare, solely as a stage direction in Latin, meaning ‘he or she goes out’. Many characters, from Hamlet to Snagglepuss, have followed the direction: ‘(4), stage left.’

The word has since widened its meaning, so now you see it lit up in theatres and cinemas.

Answer on next page.

1.

Answer

exit

2.

These are motor cars which are licensed to take paying passengers. (5)

Answer on next page.

2.

Answer

taxis

3.

This is what a plane does on the runway before it starts to take off, and after it completes its landing. (5 or 6) The alternative answers are homophones – two words which are pronounced the same but spelled differently.

Answer on next page.

3.

Answer

taxi(e)s

4.

Guess what. More homophones in the last verse of Faithless Sally Brown by the punning Victorian author, Thomas Hood. It gives the fate of Sally’s poor victim. The same word is missing twice.

And then he tried to sing, All’s well,

But could not though he tried.

His head was turned, and so he chewed

His pigtail till he died.

His death, which happened in his berth,

At forty-odd befell.

They went and told the (6),

And the (6) tolled the bell.

Answer on next page.

4.

Answer

sexton

5.

from The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:

Mr Waldron is very wrong in supposing that, because he himself has not seen a so-called prehistoric animal, therefore these creatures no longer (5).

Answer on next page.

5.

Answer

exist

6.

This state was part of Mexico until 1836, when it seceded and declared itself a republic. However, ten years later, it became the 28th of the United States. Its capital is Austin. (5)

Answer on next page.

6.

Answer

Texas

7.

Back in the old days, this was my barber’s war cry. He called it as a preamble to his battle against my thick locks.

Let me explain. One side of the shop had three barbers’ chairs, and the other had a row of hard chairs – the queue. You joined the end nearest the door and shuffled forward as those at the front were called.

When a barber had removed appropriate amounts of hair and money from a customer, he would shake out his cloth and give his war cry, ‘(4)’, to summon the victim from the front