Insert a letter

Here one letter is missing from two pairs of words. The same letter must finish the first word and start the second word in BOTH pairs - so it has to work four times.

What is tested

Finding a letter that ends one word and begins the next
Checking the same letter works for both pairs
Vocabulary and spelling

Worked example

Which one letter completes all four words? car ( ? ) ear tha ( ? ) ake

Letters that finish 'car': d (card), e (care), p (carp), t (cart).
Which of those also start '_ear'? d (dear), p (pear) and t (tear); e does not.
Test d, p and t in the second pair: thad/dake (no), thap/pake (no), that/take (yes).
Only t works in all four places.

Answer: t (cart, tear, that, take)

Exam-day checklist

List every letter that finishes the first word.
Cross out any that do not start the second word.
Test the survivors in the second pair.
Say all four words to check they are real.

Common mistakes

Choosing a letter that works for only one pair.
Accepting a non-word because it looks familiar.
Forgetting the letter must END one word and START the next.

Try it yourself

1. Which one letter completes all four words? han ( ? ) oor win ( ? ) ish

Show answer

hand, door, wind, dish.

2. Which one letter completes all four words? tra ( ? ) ail see ( ? ) ose

Show answer

trap, pail, seep, pose.

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