The Long and the Short of It Trivia Quiz

Answer:

LIONESSES scores 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9. ELEPHANTS is the same length but scores 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 14. The much shorter word, LYNX, has the same score - 1 + 4 + 1 + 8 = 14.

KING scores 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 9. QUEEN never stood a chance of coming in at nine, with the Q taking it over that score before adding the other letters - 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 14. They might live in a CASTLE (3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8) or a PALACE (3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 10).

APPLE scores 1 + 3 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 9. The longer word, ORANGE, scores 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 7, which is less. FIG, which is much shorter, also scores 4 + 1 + 2 = 7.

COUSINS scores 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9. BROTHERS has a much higher score - 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 13, while SISTERS would be a bit lower - 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 7.

TRIANGLE scores 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 9. CIRCLE is shorter but scores more - 3 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 10. Despite the high-scoring K, KITE is lower at 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8.

DAISY scores 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 9. The longer BUTTERCUP does score more - 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 = 15. And the much shorter ROSE is as low as it could be for its length - 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4.

AX scores 1 + 8 = 9; it is one of the shortest words that can score nine. If it were spelt the British English way it would have an E on the end and score ten. SAW is quite short and has a lower score - 1 + 1 + 4 = 6. The much longer SCREWDRIVER has a much higher score - 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 20.

BOWL scores 3 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 9. DISH is the same length but has a slightly lower score - 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 8. PLATE is a longer word but the score is lower again - 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 7.

CARROTS scores 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9. PEAS is much shorter but doesn't score a lot less - 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 6. CABBAGE is as long as the carrots but scores quite a lot more - 3 + 1 + 3 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 14.

VIOLIN scores 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9. The shorter FLUTE scores a little less - 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8. XYLOPHONE is considerably longer and accordingly scores quite a lot more - 8 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 24.

For a bit of fun why not try and makes words which score two, three, four, five, etc. points. I don't suggest one point because, with the possible exception of making the indefinite article 'a' as the first word in the game, all Scrabble words are at least two letters long, and we aren't using the zero-scoring blank tiles for this game.

I found IT (1 + 1) for two points. Then I had SUN (1 + 1 + 1) and GO (2 + 1) for three points. SALE (1 + 1 + 1 + 1), GIN (2 + 1 + 1) and UP (1 + 3) are all good for four points. Next I found LOOSE (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1), NEED (1 + 1 + 1 + 2), DOG (2 + 1 + 2), PIN (3 + 1 + 1) and OH (1 + 4) for five points. After that I fell asleep.

I thought I might have found a cure for insomnia, and confirmed it the following night when I didn't get any further than a few words which scored six points. RAISIN (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1), GROSS (2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1), MINE (3 + 1 + 1 + 1), HAT (4 + 1 + 1), POD (3 + 1 + 2), are all good, but I don't think OK (1 + 5) counts.