Someone help!
My niece was given the trivia question of: "What 4 letter word comes before sand, light and war?"
None of us can think of the answer and it is slowly driving me to drink...ok I was already there but still...
Anyone out there that can crack this for me?

No, but thanks, I am at the booze cupboard now...

The teacher that assigned it refuses to give the correct answer until a student guesses it. Thank god for vodka, hope I didn't start you obsessing!

What subject/class was this riddle assigned in?

How about cold?

Cold Sand - "Soils in Jinyun Mt. are divided into yellow earth and paddy soil, there is little fragmentary distributed purple earth. Yellow soil can be divided into yellow soil and yellow earth double subdivisions. Double ones belong to cold yellow sand soil and cold earth respectively. There are six types in cold sand soil and four cold sand earths." I have no idea what it all means!

Cold Light - "people had been playing about with various forms of cold light since Alexandre E. Becquerel investigated fluorescence back in 1857" Again, no clue!

Cold War - Self explanatory

This this could fill the bill? Or is it just too obscure? Make sure you let us know what the real answer is -- it would be interesting to hear about it.

Since it is a riddle, it's probably something very easy and I'm just making it too hard!

The question was in their role call (homeroom) so ages 12 -17.

We suggested "cold" but with your great skill and knowledge Jar we may make her teacher agree that we were right to begin with!

Thank you all...this is why I love forums.

Keep you posted...and let suggestions keep rollin..

Let's do some brainstorming. Could the "letters" actually be something like written letters? Could sand, light and war actually be part of the word? e.g. not two words? C'mon folks, let's get the old gray matter working.

Talk through it -- maybe some discussion will ring a bell leading to the answer.

I asked what subject/class this was asked in because one word came to mind for me, and I wondered if the answer might be related to the subject --- I'm guessing the answer has no bearing to the subject/class as it was asked in homeroom (unless it relates to the subject/class the homeroom teacher teaches)

Anyway, the first thought I had was ...

STAR


STARsand --- Starsand is a 65ft ketch rigged luxury yacht in Western Australia

STARlight --- pretty much self explanatory / the light of the stars

STARwar --- is a 2D space shooting game similar to xsoldier


... probably not the right answer

The teacher is away for a week so no answers as of yet, but thanks for the effort guys, esp Jar & Elf, it's been great and truly apreciated.

just read this riddle and its going to really bother me know! someone figure it out!

I just read this, so now I'm on the case. If I find out I will let you know.

Did the teacher come back with the answer yet?

I'm new here and have just seen this, but it's going to drive me mad now!

This will sound pretty weird, but I think the answer is actually "Bude".
Look up Bude on wikipedia and you'll see what I mean. I think.

hi all
an interesting set of "bude" type facts combine the three words sand, light, war--and that is that the sand island light house in mobile bay, alabama, was fought over in the civil war.
so if the question came up in alabama...

my own choice of explanation follows that of jar re: cold.

No, Dr. I was referring to Bude as in the town in Cornwall, England.

Guys thank you all for your amazing help.

The teacher had to admit that these were all correct, however he originally had the idea of "STAR" as the yacht had recently been featured on the news.

This has been a brilliant mind boggler...thanks again for everything!

Will send congratulatory lollipops to Elf, Jar, Tim & DrBob...mind you I think I may enjoy them myself and then just describe them to you all
xx

Can I have an orange one, please?

I thought star seemed to make the most sense to me, anyway. :P Maybe it just sounds prettier? XD