On-air challenge: For the following words starting with the letters S, E and P — as in September — find a word that can precede each to complete a familiar two-word phrase.
For example: system, eclipse, power --> SOLAR (solar system, solar eclipse, solar power).
Last week's challenge: This week's challenge is a spinoff of the on-air puzzle. Think of a well-known category with exactly 7 things in it. Alphabetize the things from their ending letters, and the last letter alphabetically will be E. In other words, no thing in this category ends in a letter after E in the alphabet. It's a category and set of 7 things that everyone knows. What is it?
Answer: Continents.
Winner: Haig Donabedian of Toledo, Ohio.
Next week's challenge, from listener Justine Tilley of Vancouver: Think of a familiar three-word phrase in the form "___ and ___." Drop the "and." Then move the last word to the front to form a single word that means the opposite of the original phrase.
Here's a hint: The ending word has seven letters. What is it?
If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m. ET.
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