Question

cross out the odd man blanket magazine maintain mattress

Answer 1

maintain is the answer. magazines and mattress were the words used in the story.

Answer 2

Maintain is the answer is the odd man here.

The items magazines and mattress are the two physical objects which are used by persons.

Maintain is a transitive verb and is different in nature of the other two.

The purpose represents to maintain in an existing state such as of repair, efficiency, or validity: preservation against failure or decline of plant machinery.

It also means to sustain against opposition or risk.