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For each word in this list it is possible to change the first letter, then the second, then the third and then the fourth to make a new word each time. The final words in each case are related and in alphabetical order. What are they?

LAND, SLOT, SHIP, SHOW, WILD, KILT, ITEM, WHAM, CHOP, HAVE

Source: The GCHQ Puzzle book

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    $\begingroup$ Anush, these GCHQ puzzle book puzzles are good puzzles (of course) but I don't think it is proper to be posting so many of them here. At the rate you're going, soon the entire book will be on PSE, and the authors and publishers might reasonably object :-). $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan
    Sep 14, 2018 at 10:38
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    $\begingroup$ That is a very reasonable point! $\endgroup$
    – Simd
    Sep 14, 2018 at 10:39

5 Answers 5

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Thanks to @Helix for the inspiration; go upvote their answer! They found that

All of the final words are animals, in alphabetical order.

LAND

BAND, BEND, BEAD, BEAR (thanks, @Helix!)

SLOT

BLOT, BOOT, BOAT, BOAR (thanks, @Helix!)

SHIP

CHIP, CLIP, CLAP, CLAM (thanks, @Omega Krypton!)

SHOW

CHOW, CROW, CRAW, CRAB

WILD

GILD, GOLD, GOAD, GOAT

KILT

HILT, HALT, HART, HARE

ITEM

STEM, SEEM, SEAM, SEAL (thanks, @Helix!)

WHAM

SHAM, SLAM, SLUM, SLUG

CHOP

SHOP, SWOP, SWAP, SWAN (or SHOP, STOP, STAP, STAG).

HAVE

WAVE, WOVE, WORE, WORM (thanks, @Helix!)

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  • $\begingroup$ Wow! Real Elite as your name suggests! $\endgroup$ Sep 14, 2018 at 11:13
  • $\begingroup$ Haha you’re too funny! Thanks, @OmegaKrypton! $\endgroup$
    – El-Guest
    Sep 14, 2018 at 11:23
  • $\begingroup$ This is great although lots of people contributed to it I see. I didn't know some of the words like swop and stap. $\endgroup$
    – Simd
    Sep 14, 2018 at 21:39
  • $\begingroup$ It was definitely a team effort but credit was given where due. I believe both are English words though! How does this answer look, @Anush? $\endgroup$
    – El-Guest
    Sep 15, 2018 at 2:08
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They're related because...

All of them are animals.

LAND

BAND, BEND, BEAD, BEAR

SLOT

BLOT, BOOT, BOAT, BOAR

SHIP

CHIP, CLIP, CLAP, CLAM (Credits to Omega Krypton)

ITEM

STEM, SEEM, SEAM, SEAL

HAVE

WAVE, WOVE, WORE, WORM

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LAND

BAND, BOND, BOLD, BOLT.

SLOT

CLOT, COOT, COAT, COAL.

SHIP

CHIP, CLIP, CLOP, CLOG.

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LAND:

BAND, BOND, BOLD, BOLT. Credit to AHKieran

SLOT

BLOT, BOOT, BOLT, BOLD.

SHIP

CHIP, CLIP, CLAP, CLAM.

SHOW

CHOW, CLOW, CLAW, CLAP.

HAVE

WAVE, WOVE, WORE, WORN.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks to helix, I know this is wrong. Please see my new answer. $\endgroup$ Sep 14, 2018 at 11:05
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They're related because...

All of them are animals. (Credits to Helix)

LAND

BAND, BEND, BEAD, BEAR (Credits to Helix)

SLOT

BLOT, BOOT, BOAT, BOAR (Credits to Helix)

SHIP

CHIP, CLIP, CLAP, CLAM

SHOW

CHOW, CROW, CRAW, CRAB

ITEM

STEM, SEEM, SEAM, SEAL (Credits to Helix)

HAVE

WAVE, WOVE, WORE, WORM (Credits to Helix)

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