15. What's the common thread linking these five kanji? 氏 勺 売 一 泉


Answer: 

氏  SHI, uji - Sir, Mr., surname, family, lineage

勺  SHAKU - unit of volume

売  BAI, u(ru) - sell

一  ICHI, ITSU, hito(tsu) - One

泉  SEN, izumi - spring, fountainhead, fountain

Add 糸 (SHI, ito - thread) to make different characters:  

紙  SHI, kami - paper

約  YAKU - approximately, promise

続  ZOKU, tsuzu(ku) - continue

系  KEI - system, lineage, group

線  SEN - line