Quiz Guy Greg Pliska reprises his game called Initiarithmetic. The object is to guess a set of items associated with certain numbers, as in “There are 12 m__________ in the y___________.” Here’s another: “76 t___________ in the b__________ p____________.” If you missed the first Initiarithmetic game, it’s here. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Initiarithmetic Game”
You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette. And we’re joined now by our quiz guy, Greg Pliska. Hi, Greg.
Hello, Martha. Hello, Grant.
Hello.
Hi, Greg. What do you got for us today? You got some quizzes, some puzzles, money?
I’ve got quizzes and puzzles.
All right.
And actually, this week, we’re going to revisit one of my favorite puzzles, something that I call initi arithmetic.
Init arithmetic.
Init arithmetic, okay.
Okay.
Yeah, it’s easy for you to say.
I’ll give you a clue to a set of items for which there are a particular number.
But some of the words will be replaced with just their initials.
So I might say there are 12 M in the Y.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
12 months in the year, right.
Yeah, exactly.
12 months in the year.
You have to come up with the words that go in place of those initials to make it true.
All right, then.
Let’s play.
All right.
Here’s your first one.
Eight D-A-W according to the B.
Eight days a week according to the Beatles.
Oh, very good.
Very nice.
Yeah.
Eight days a week.
That’s Paul McCartney’s first band, right?
Yeah.
28D in the M of F, except in LY.
Right.
28 days in the month except for?
In the month of February, except for leap year.
Except in LY, leap years.
Yes, very good.
How about 76T in the BP?
We’re talking trombones here.
Yes, we are.
In the big parade.
76 trombones.
Oh, I don’t know that.
I’ve never heard that before.
Grant, the music man.
I’ve never seen it.
We’ve got trouble right here in River City.
Oh, I know that only because, okay.
I know, before your time, I know.
Here’s another one for you.
Five PM of the UNSC.
Five prime ministers of the United Nations Security Council?
So close.
So close.
Five putting members.
Permanent members.
Five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Yes, very good.
PM is a little misdirection makes you think of prime ministers.
And I went right for it.
I just went right down that rattle.
You got the UN Security Council.
No problem.
All right.
This is an easy one.
5,280 F in a M.
Oh, feet in a mile.
Yeah.
I mean, that’s too easy.
How about 16, the record number of AAN received by MS?
Whoa.
The record number of what?
A?
A.
AAN received by MS.
M.S.
I have no idea.
I don’t really know.
What’s the domain of this?
The domain is film.
Oh, Academy Award nominations received by?
Meryl Streep.
Yes, sir.
Yes, ma’am.
Of course.
16, the record number of Academy Award nominations received by Meryl Streep.
Of course.
How about one more, Greg?
One more.
All right.
How about 3A in the EL, including A, A, and T?
3A in the EL, including A, A, and T.
3A in the European League.
3A in the electric light.
3A in the…
Okay, what’s the domain?
The domain is your domain.
English language.
Three adjectives.
No, three.
Three A in the E-L, including A, A, and T.
Articles.
Articles, right?
Oh, yeah.
In English language, including A, N, and V.
Very good.
Thanks for the help, Greg.
You’re welcome.
Thank you for the puzzle.
My pleasure.
I have to go lie down now.
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