+ B3C – BSEB Cryptic Crossword Contest 2020 You ask, we answer Our response to the FAQs + What are crosswords? Crosswords, in their primary form, are nothing but ‘word-meaning’exercises, where ‘words/phrases’ form the ‘clues’, while their ‘meanings’ form the ‘solutions’, which have to be inserted in the blank portions of the grid. + Who can solve a crossword? Any person, with a simple knowledge of English language, can solve crosswords. As a matter of fact, anyone who is capable of giving the meaning/synonym of a word, is fit enough to attempt a crossword. + What are the types of crosswords? There are broadly two types—simple and cryptic. Simple crosswords have direct clues with no element of puzzle or hidden hint embedded in them. Cryptic crosswords are more complex, in which the direct clues are camouflaged in a longer word chain, which also comprises an additional hint, which is in the form of a puzzle. + How did it all begin? The first published crossword was created by Arthur Wynne, a journalist from Liverpool, in the December 21st issue of New York World in 1913. Originally Word-Cross, it was renamed Cross-Word, which later lost its hyphen. The first book on crosswords was a collection of New York World puzzles. The crosswords reached the UK where it gradually became more difficult, evolving into ‘cryptic crossword’. + Isn’t Crossword an elitist pastime? That has been because crosswords clues carried British-centric references and remained confined to elite newspapers till recently. All that is changing now. There has been a growing awareness among the teaching and the student communities that the mind game can be leveraged as an excellent learning tool. To make Crosswords relevant for them is what Extra-C aims at. + Does it help improve language? Studies suggest that an average individual uses only 40 per cent of her vocabulary in day-to-day communication. Crosswords by inculcating lateral thinking tend to make the latent words in your sub consciousness come alive leading to a robust communication skill, both spoken and written. You also learn the ropes of creative writing through crosswords. + Why crossword for BSEB students? A majority of BSEB school students come from rural backgrounds. Though bright and hard- working, they lack required proficiency in the English language. In a competitive job market, this proves to be their Achilles’ heel. Crosswords would provoke them into building a good functional vocabulary. It will add tremendously to their soft-skills and confidence, putting them on a par with private public school students. + How CCCC, ACAD and IXL help? They serve as competitive platforms for a unique pursuit for learning and fun. These aren’t mere events, but a mechanism for imparting language education to people of all age-groups and strata. A determination to excel, a sense of achievement and a sense of being part of a fraternity driven by a common passion are some of the obvious benefits that the events bring for their participants. + Are there perceived benefits so far? Since 2013, Extra-C has created a sizeable database of stakeholders – principals, teachers, students and parents. We solicit their feedback regularly. According to them, the crossword events have inculcated a sense of interest in the English language and could be a great enabler for students particularly, in the hinterland, in an age when communication is the key to success. + Any long-term benefit for students? A self-confident and bright BSEB student on a par with his/her city-bred public-school counterpart is what we envisage in the long run. Out of school, in the admission queue of a top college or at the threshold of taking a professional plunge, a BSEB student must not lose out just because she could not express her hard-earned knowledge. She must have the right communication skill at her command. That is what we seek to achieve. + THANK YOU B3C 2020 BSEB Cryptic Crossword Contest 2020 The why and how of Cryptic Crosswords Why crosswords? 1. Enhances vocabulary 2. Improves language 3. Sharpens analytical skills 4. Promotes lateral thinking 5. Checks Alzheimer’s disease 6. Prevents boredom How to begin and move ahead? 1. Buy a book on understanding crosswords 2. Go through it slowly and patiently 3. Start solving crymple (cryptic-simple) crosswords 4. Do a daily newspaper cryptic crossword 5. Go through the solutions the following day 6. Understand the logic behind the solutions 7. Persevere and practice What are crosswords? Crosswords, in their primary form, are nothing but a 'word-meaning' exercise. ‘Words/phrases’ form the 'clues' while their respective ‘meanings’ form the 'solutions’. Solutions have to be inserted in the blank portions of the grid. In ‘word-meaning format’ The question would be something like this:- Find the meaning of the following words, having the number of letters mentioned in the brackets 1. Ship (5) 2. Dehydrated (5) 3. Razor (5) 4. Our country (5) 5. Honour (5) In ‘crossword format’, the poser could be 1 2 3 4 5 CLUES: Across Down 4. Ship (5) 1. Razor (5) 5. Dehydrated (5) 2. Our country (5) 3. Honour (5) Solutions: In ‘Word- Meaning’ format 1. Ship (5) - Liner 2. Dehydrated (5)- Dried 3. Razor (5)- Blade 4. Our country (5)- India 5. Honour (5)- Pride In ‘Crossword’ format 1 2 3 CLUES: 1B 2I 3P Across 4 4. Ship (5) 4L I N E R 5. Dehydrated (5) A D I Down 5 1. Razor (5) 5D R I E D 2. Our country (5) 3. Honour (5) E A E What constitutes a cryptic clue? The cryptic clue, normally, has two distinct parts: Direct clue Indirect hint Clue may read like this – Land heart-broken (5) The solution given is Earth… How ? Explanation EARTH is a synonym for land – Land is the direct clue HEART when broken becomes EARTH! – ‘heart-broken’ is the indirect hint ‘MAIN TYPES OF CRYPTIC CLUES’ ANAGRAMS DOUBLE MEANING HIDDEN WORDS HOMOPHONES FIRST AND LAST/ODD AND EVEN LETTERS LETTERS IN REVERSE ORDER DELETIONS CHARADE CONTAINER ANAGRAMS Anagrams are jumbled words. Some examples are: broken vase = save out there = three/ether stewed meat = tame/mate Example of an Anagram Clue Animal art damaged (3) Anagram Clue: Animal art damaged (3) Solution RAT RAT is an animal ART when damaged (jumbled) becomes RAT DOUBLE MEANING Many words in English have entirely different meanings when read in different contexts. For example the word ‘spot’ can mean (a) to identify and (b) a dot. Example of a Double Meaning Clue College file (9) Double Meaning Clue College file (9) Solution INSTITUTE 9 letter synonym common to both, COLLEGE and FILE HIDDEN WORDS In this kind of a clue, the solution is hidden in some of the contiguous letters given in the clue. Favourite hiding in Begumpet (3) PET, meaning favourite is hidden in BegumPET Example of a Hidden Word Clue Cap worn by Kanha tourists (6) Hidden Word Clue Cap worn by Kanha tourists (3) Solution HAT Hidden inside ‘KanHA Tourists’ HOMOPHONES A homophone is a word which sounds the same as another word Some pairs of homophones are as follows:- Bold-bowled Main-mane Peak-peek Deer-dear Plane-plain Bare-bear Soul-sole Meat-meet Blue-blew Example of a Homophone Clue Festival’s sacred, we hear (4) Homophone Clue Festival’s sacred, we hear (4) Solution HOLI HOLI sounds like HOLY (sacred) FIRST AND LAST/ODD AND EVEN - LETTERS The first or the last letter of the words of the clue can be joined together to form the solution, or just a part of it. Huge/bed is grand/at the outset (3) The solution is 'big' Example of First letter Clue Britain’s artificial turf initially used in cricket (6) First letter Clue Britain’s artificial turf initially used in cricket (3) Solution BAT FIRST LETTERS (initials) of Britain’s artificial turf – BAT - is used in cricket LETTERS IN REVERSE Reversals are words formed when the letters of the original words are reversed. For example when the letters of the word 'ban' is reversed, it becomes 'nab'. Example of Reversal Clue Hundred not coming back (3) Reversal Clue Hundred not coming back (3) Solution TON Reversal of letters of NOT is TON, which means hundred DELETIONS Many a time, when a letter or more than one letter is deleted from a word, a new letter is formed. The letters from a word can either be removed from the front, middle or end. Examples of words formed by deletions are: 'fair' becomes 'air', when its first letter is deleted Example of Deletion Clue Cut head out, jump (3) Deletion Clue Cut head out, jump (3) Solution HOP CHOP = cut, minus the first letter, becomes HOP = jump CHARADE CLUES Two words can be joined together to form a third word. This is called a Charade. For example, CAR + PET = CARPET COT + TON = COTTON Example of Charade Clue Ban profit to get a good deal (7) Charade Clue Ban profit to get a good deal (7) Solution BARGAIN BAR = ban GAIN = profit BARGAIN means to get a good deal CONTAINER CLUES One word when fully contained inside another word can form a third word. It is called a Container. For example: PORT inside SING becomes S(PORT)ING LINK inside BED becomes B(LINK)ED Example of Container Clue Bet to have everyone for dance (6) Container Clue Bet to have everyone for dance (6) Solution BALLET ALL inside BET makes BALLET BALLET is a form of dance Other clue types Cryptic definitions – witty and unusual hints in full & lit – self contained clue Spoonerism – two words with interchanged initials Complex clues – combination of all types Note: We are not discussing them now as we don’t want to give you an overdose at this juncture.