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An ugly summer storm blew through our area yesterday, and a glance outside the window at our backyard revealed a stark contrast between the green grass and the near-black of the clouds in the sky. As a further example of how life imitates Brain Games (or vice versa):
By changing only one letter at a time,
and leaving all others in their existing order,
create a word ladder that changes
the word “GREEN” into the word “BLACK.”
We did it in seven steps, and HERE is our answer. If you find another answer (shorter or not), please post it in the comments.
Comments (17)
Comment
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Green
Greek
Gleek
Bleek
Bleck
Black
I know those middle three are probably questionable. (i.e., is that how you spell gleek or bleak, I think not. Also, I think Bleck only counts if you are Charles Schulz.) :)
posted by Gary on 9-4-2008 at 8:15 am
Gary: …as the noise Lucy made after getting kissed on the lips by Snoopy, eh?
posted by Sandy on 9-4-2008 at 8:40 am
I always thought that was spelled BLECH!
Germs! Disease! Infection! AAAH!
posted by Heather Dawn on 9-4-2008 at 8:47 am
Green
Greek
Creek
Crack
Clack
Black
posted by Tadhg on 9-4-2008 at 9:16 am
I got it by:
Green
Greek
Creek
Creak
Break
bleck
black
And I checked, bleck is a word.
posted by dave on 9-4-2008 at 9:26 am
mine is longer, but
Green
Greek
Creek
Creak
Croak
Cloak
Clock
Block
Black
posted by Jamie on 9-4-2008 at 9:48 am
took the long way around
green
gleen
glean
clean
cleat
bleat
bleak
bleck
black
posted by D on 9-4-2008 at 9:52 am
Well, if ‘bleck’ can be used..
Green
Greed
Breed
Bread
Break
Bleak
Bleck
Black
posted by Melissa on 9-4-2008 at 11:21 am
BLECK ACTUALLY MEANS TO BLACKEN OR DEFILE.
posted by JACOB on 9-4-2008 at 11:38 am
GREEN
GREEK
CREEK
CHEEK
CHECK
CHICK
CLICK
CLACK
BLACK
posted by Alex on 9-4-2008 at 1:02 pm
Green
Greed
Breed
Bleed
Bleek
Bleck
Black
posted by Will on 9-4-2008 at 2:08 pm
I did it the same way as Alex, except the word chack (to not broadcast a medal-winning or otherwise memorable or crucial figure skating performance) saves the chick/click steps.
posted by Will on 9-4-2008 at 2:43 pm
My results are the same as ones “posted by dave on 9-4-2008 at 9:26 am”. Point is I, too, learned bleck is a word.
posted by Char on 9-4-2008 at 2:50 pm
If bleck counts,
GREEN
GREEK
CREEK
CREAK
BREAK
BLEAK
BLECK
BLACK
posted by Rebecca on 9-4-2008 at 3:09 pm
If we can use bleck,
GREEN
GREEK
CREEK
CREAK
BREAK
BLEAK
BLECK
BLACK
posted by Rebecca on 9-4-2008 at 3:13 pm
6 steps:
green
greek
gleek (gibe or joke)
cleek (a large hook as for a pot over a fire)
cleck (to hatch)
clack (make a clatter)
black (a really dark color :-)
posted by Craig on 9-4-2008 at 4:23 pm
green
greek
creek
creak
break
bleak
black
posted by shannon on 9-7-2008 at 9:27 pm