gistfile1.rb

# encoding utf-8
 
ROWS = 2
 
words = []
maxlength = 0
 
 
File.open("words.txt", "r") do |f|
  f.each_line do |l|
 
    words << ( l =~ /^\d+$/ ? l.to_i : l.chop )
    maxlength = l.length if maxlength < l.length
  end
end

wpc = (words.length / ROWS.to_f).ceil # кол-во слов в колонке
 
words.sort! do |a,b|
  if a.class != b.class
    a = a.to_s
    b = b.to_s
  end
 
  if a == b
    0
  else
    a > b ? 1 : -1
  end
end

columns = []
ROWS.times do |i|
  columns << words[i*wpc..wpc*(i+1)-1]
end

while (blanks = columns[0].count - columns[ROWS-1].count) > 1
  (ROWS-blanks).upto ROWS-2 do |i|
    columns[i + 1].unshift columns[i].pop
  end
end
 
for i in columns.first
  columns.each do |column|
    word = column[i - 1]
    print word if word
    (maxlength - word.to_s.length + 2).times { print " " }
  end
  puts
end