Are you ready to test your trivia skills and connections? The New York Times’ daily “Connections” puzzle is a fun way to challenge your brain and discover surprising links between seemingly unrelated concepts.

Here are the hints for today’s puzzle (August 9th), along with the answers to help you along the way:

Hint 1: A state of mind

Answer: Zen

Hint 2: A type of animal

Answer: Cat

Hint 3: A type of transportation

Answer: Train

Hint 4: A type of food

Answer: Pie

Hint 5: A famous author

Answer: Jane Austen

Connecting the Dots:

Now that you have the answers, it’s time to figure out the connection. How do these seemingly disparate elements relate to each other?

The Answer:

The connection lies in the fact that each of these words has a synonym that starts with the letter “C”:

Zen -> Calm

Cat -> Cat

Train -> Coach

Pie -> Cake

Jane Austen -> Charles Dickens

Did you crack the code? We hope you enjoyed today’s “Connections” puzzle!

Want to try another?

Head over to the New York Times website and challenge yourself with anothere “Connections” puzzle. It’s a great way to exercise your brain and discover the hidden connections in the world around us.