Sunday Puzzle: Two Consonants

On-air challenge: Every answer today is a word, name, or phrase in which the only consonants are R and C, repeated as often as necessary. All the other letters are vowels.

Ex. To happen --> OCCUR[5 letters:]1. Capital of Ghana2. About, as before a date that's uncertain3. One spreading news in colonial times[6 letters:]4. Occupation5. Elaborately ornamental style5. Journalist Katie7. Ancient Roman statesman and orator[7 letters:]8. One who transports documents9. Partner of Ives in old lithography10. Verizon or AT&T11. Native of Rio de Janeiro12. Vehicle in the Indianapolis 500 (2 words)

Last week's challenge: Last week's challenge comes from Todd McClary, who's a member of the National Puzzlers' League. Think of a place where a plant might grow, in two words. Spoonerize it — that is, switch the initial consonant or consonants of the two words. The result will name another place where a plant might grow, and a plant that might grow in either place.

Challenge answer: FLOWER BOX --> BOWER --> PHLOX

Winner: Harry Phillips of Solon, Iowa.

This week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Peter Collins, of Ann Arbor, Mich. Think of a country. Embedded in consecutive letters is a well-known brand name. The first, second, eighth and ninth letters of the country, in order, spell a former competitor of that brand. Name the country and the brands.

Submit Your Answer

If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here by Thursday, July 15, at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you. [Copyright 2021 NPR]