Cracking the Code: “Third-Last Country, Alphabetically”
This week’s crossword clue has us reaching for our atlases and brushing up on our geography. The challenge? “Third-Last Country, Alphabetically.”
It’s a deceptively simple clue, but it requires a bit of lateral thinking. We’re not looking for the country that’s geographically third from last (whatever that means!), but rather the country that comes third from the end of the alphabetical list of nations.
This is a great example of a clue that tests both your knowledge and your ability to think outside the box. It’s not about memorizing the order of countries, but rather understanding the mechanics of alphabetical lists and how they can be manipulated.
So, how do we tackle this cryptic challenge?
Let’s break down the steps:
1.
Visualize the Alphabet:
Imagine a long list of countries, ordered from A to Z.
2.
Consider the “Last”
: The “last” country in this alphabetical list would be “Z” – a good starting point!
3.
Count Backwards
: From “Z”, we need to count back three places to find the “third-last” country.
4.
The Answer is…
: We’re almost there! The third country from the end of the alphabet, after “Z,” will be our answer.
Ready to dive in and find the answer? This clue is a great reminder that even the most seemingly straightforward crossword puzzles can hide unexpected twists and turns. So grab your pencil and get to solving!
Available Answers:
YEMEN.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Universal Crossword July 02, 2024