1. (a) N-V, (b) I-V, (c) S-A, (d) A-T.
2. Some possibilities are K T (Katie), L C (Elsie), and L N (Ellen). If this is too easy, try sets of three letters: M L E, L N R . . .
3. R U O K.
4.(a) P N E (peony); (b) N T T (entity); (c) N M E (enemy); (d) N R G (energy).
5.(a) B 4 (before); (b) D V 8 (deviate; (c) X 10 U 8 (extenuate).
6. OXFORD (O + the Roman numeral X for ten + three-fifths of FORty + the Roman numeral D for 500).
7. The Seven Seas; Tripoli (or the Andes).
8. Q (which sounds like thank you).
9. All for one and one for all; damper sand (D + ampersand); bingo (B in GO); to cut a long story short (War and Peace shortened); appendectomy (append E C to M Y); beaten (B + the Roman numeral for ten); wined and dined (W in E D and D in ED); head in the sand.
10. Possibilities are E N T U R Y and E P O H (century and epoch without the ‘C’).
11. Deep in the Heart of Texas (which is the location of the letter ‘X’).
12. Possible answers (there may be thousands of others):
A = the second of JanuAry (or the sixth of FebruAry, or the second of MArch . . .)
D = dauntless aunt (i.e. Daunt less aunt).
S = leiSure centre.
V = the centre of graVity.
R = the bitteR end.