Start by solving the given clues. The answers in each column are sorted alphabetically:
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These words can be paired off by inserting one word in between to make a before-and-after phrase (a la Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune) and entered into the blanks given at the bottom. Each of the middle words can be preceded by either "fore" or "after" (e.g. AFTERPARTY). Take the letter that comes right before each "fore" word and the letter that comes right after each "after" word:
SLUMBER |
PARTY |
[P]OOPER |
FREEZER |
BURN |
[R]ATE |
ARRO[W] |
HEAD |
COLD |
MUTE |
MATH |
[E]QUATION |
YOG[I] |
BEAR |
WITNESS |
FRON[T] |
RUNNER |
BEAN |
CHURC[H] |
FATHER |
CHRISTMAS |
HEALTHY |
GLOW |
[S]TICK |
MACH[O] |
MAN |
OVERBOARD |
VIRGIN |
BIRTH |
[S]TONE |
LAW |
SCHOOL |
[U]NIFORM |
TOF[U] |
SKIN |
DEEP |
CULTURE |
SHOCK |
[R]ESISTANT |
LEF[T] |
HAND |
GRENADE |
SHELF |
LIFE |
[E]XPECTANCY |
The answer is the word that can be inserted between WITHOUT and PRESSURE to make a before-and-after phrase, which is PEER.