Sunday Puzzle: Pardon My French

On-air challenge: I've brought a game of categories based on the word MAROC — the French way to say Morocco. For each category, name something in it starting with each of the letters M-A-R-O-C. For example, if the category were "Two-Syllable Girls' Names," you might say Mary, Amy, Rachel, Opal, and Carly. Here are the categories:

1. U.S. PRESIDENTS

2. FOREIGN MAKES OF CARS

3. THINGS FOUND ON A BOAT

Last week's challenge: This challenge came from listener Tyler Lipscomb of Hamden, Conn. If five = four, six = nine, and seven = five, what does twelve equal?

Challenge answer: 55. Consecutive letters in each number represent a number in Roman numerals: f(IV)e, s(IX), se(V)en, twe(LV)e

Winner: Adam Boyette of Fort Worth, Texas

This week's challenge: This is a two-week challenge from Lee Zion, of Lafayette, Minn. It may sound impossible, but it's not. You wake up trapped in a round room with six doors. A voice over a loudspeaker tells you that five of the doors are booby-trapped and will bring instant death if you try to open them. Only one door provides an opening that will get you out safely. The doors are evenly spaced around the room. They look exactly alike. Your only clue is that on the wall between each pair of doors is a large letter of the alphabet. Going clockwise, the letters are H, I, J, K, L and M. Which is the correct door that will get you out ... and why?

Submit Your Answer

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 by Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. ET. [Copyright 2019 NPR]