A man wanted to enter an exclusive club but did not know the password that was required. He waited by the door and listened. A club member knocked on the door and the doorman said, "twelve." The member replied, "six " and was let in. A second member came to the door and the doorman said, "six." The member replied, "three" and was let in. The man thought he had heard enough and walked up to the door. The doorman said ,"ten" and the man replied, "five." But he was not let in. What should have he said?
Think about the relationship between the numbers the doorman says and the numbers the members respond with...
Three. The doorman lets in those who answer with the number of letters in the word the doorman says.
Jim and Joey were on vacation and driving along a deserted country road from the town of Kaysville to the town of Lynnville. They came to multiple forks in the road. The signpost had been knocked down and they were faced with choosing one of five different directions. Since they had left their map at the last gas station and there was no one around to ask, how could Jim and Joey find their way to Lynnville?
Think about what you can do at each fork in the road, and how you can use the process of elimination to your advantage.
They need to stand the signpost up so that the arm reading Kaysville points in the direction of Kaysville, the town they had just come from. With one arm pointing the correct way, the other arms will also point in the right direction.
One afternoon, Phoebe stopped by her favorite restaurant for lunch, but she saw a waitress and a client arguing. The waitress, Sandra, claims that the client, Dave, had ordered a breakfast special and was now refusing to pay. Dave said that he had only ordered a coffee. Phoebe knew who was lying instantly. Who was it?
Think about the time of day and what it would imply about the menu options available...
Sandra was lying. You don't order breakfast in the afternoon.
A man rode his horse to the top of a high hill. He tied his horse to a large birch tree, and removed a blanket, a flint and steel for making fire, and a small hatchet to cut down a bunch of green saplings. He then gathered a bunch of dried leaves and took them, along with the green saplings, to an open area near some smaller rocks. Using the flint and steel, he tried to start a fire with the leaves and green wood. As the fire struggled to burn, the man did something remarkable. He suddenly took his blanket and covered the fire with it. Apparently, regretting his actions, he removed the blanket from the smoldering fire; but then, a few seconds later, he placed the blanket back over the fire. Again and again he repeated his actions of throwing the blanket on and off the fire. Was this man an obsessive-compulsive pyromaniac, or was there some kind of method to his madness?
Think about the man's profession and how his actions might be related to his work...
The man was a Native American Indian in the old West who was sending smoke signals to his tribe.
Two men and two women, all carrying loaded shotguns, drove to a field where they planned to shoot as many birds as possible. The four had absolutely no desire to eat any of the birds they were planning to shoot, and they brought no dogs to retrieve any they happened to hit. Each of the four people in turn would loudly shout a one-word command, and when a bird would fly out in front of them, they would shoot to destroy it. When they were finished, the bodies of 99 birds lay mutilated in the field, as only one bird had escaped their deadly shooting skills. The two men and two women cheerfully exchanged high-fives, and congratulated each other on their excellent hour of destruction. Several onlookers, who happened to witness the onslaught, gave the four a loud round of applause for the entertainment. Why did no one report this incident to the authorities, and why was there such a calloused attitude toward the shooting of these defenseless birds?
Think outside the box: the shooters aren't hunting for food or sport, but for a very specific purpose...
The birds the four were shooting at were pigeons ——— clay pigeons. The four were at a public shooting range, and when each of them yelled “pull”, a clay pigeon was catapulted into the air for their target practice.
If someone were to write a biography about us, the following could be reported: #1 - We are always present in multiple-choice exams. #2 - Sherlock Homes kept a close eye on us after he retired. #3 - Honor students are not very fond of us. #4 - One of us was a famous aunt on T.V. #5 - The person who played the owner of the Shady Rest Hotel was, in reality, one of us. Based on the biographical information above --- Who/what are we?
Pay attention to the words and phrases used in the clues, especially the ones that seem out of place or unusual. The answer is not a person, but rather something you might find in a specific context. Think about what's common in multiple-choice exams, and how that relates to the other clues.
We are Bs, Bees, or Beas (as in Aunt Bea and actress Bea Benaderet.)
One day an alchemist brought a king a bottle holding a strange liquid. The alchemist said, "This liquid I discovered will dissolve anything it touches." How did the king know that he was lying?
Think about the alchemist's claim... how did he bring the liquid to the king?
The king knew if what he said was true the bottle would get dissolved!
A man runs along a hall with a piece of paper. When the lights flicker, he drops to his knees and begins to cry. Why?
Think about a specific activity that people often do in a hall with a piece of paper, and how the flickering lights might be a crucial part of that activity...
He is running to deliver a pardon, and the flickering lights indicate the convict to be pardoned has just been electrocuted.
Did you hear about the boy who went to his senior prom dressed in a t-shirt and jeans? He was arrested by the fashion police. What was he charged with?
What six letter word when you take one letter away there is still a word, take another letter away and you still have a word and do that until you have one letter left?
Think about a word that refers to a sequence of events or a story...
Tom walks into a room and see three monkeys. One monkey holds a banana, another monkey holds a stick, and the last monkey holds nothing. Who is the smartest primate in the room?
Think about who is observing the scene...
Assuming that Tom is a human, then he is the smartest primate in the room because humans are also primates.
Lucy went onto a game show, and she was one task away from winning the grand prize: $500,000.00. She was shown four bags; one of these bags had the cash prize inside, while the other three were empty. Lucy had only one chance to choose the bag with the money. Each bag had a statement on it, but only one statement was true. A: The money is in either Bag B or Bag C. B: The money is in either Bag A or Bag D. C: The money is in this bag. D: The money is not in this bag. Which statement is true, and which bag has the money?
"Look for the statement that, if true, would make another statement false, and vice versa..."
Statement B is true. Bag D has the money. If Bag A had the money, then statements B and D would both be true. If Bag B had the money, then statements A and D would both be true. If Bag C had the money, then statements A, C, and D would all be true. But, we only need one true statement. If Bag D had the money, then the statements on all of the bags would be false, except for that on Bag B. This matches the conditions, so the money is in Bag D.
An old parchment describes the location of buried treasure: "On the island there are only two trees, A and B, and the remains of a gallows. Start at the gallows and count the steps required to walk in a straight line to tree A. At the tree turn 90 degrees to the left and then walk forward the same number of steps. At the point where you top drive a spike into the ground. Now return to the gallows and walk in a straight line, counting your steps, to tree B. When you reach the tree, turn 90 degrees to the right and take the same number of steps forward, placing another spike at the point where you stop. Dig at the point exactly halfway between the spikes and you will find the treasure." However, our hero when he gets to the island finds the gallows missing. Is there any way he can still get to the treasure?
Think about what the instructions would have looked like from the perspective of tree A and tree B...
A simple experiment with a ruler and paper shows that any position for the gallows leads to the same point.
A woman is at her mother's funeral when suddenly she sees a man so handsome, she instantly falls in love with her. Unfortunately, she never got a chance to talk to the man. The next day, the woman kills her sister. What was the motive?
The woman was hoping to see the man again. If you got this correct on the first try, you have the mind of a psychopath.
A group of boys and girls are out after dark, stalking people in their homes in a Chicago neighborhood. The intimidation starts with the bravest of the youths ringing the bell or knocking at the door. When the homeowner answers the door, the children, in unison, begin to verbally threaten that person with a three-word threat, which often results in their demands being met. All of the boys and girls have chosen to disguise themselves so they can't be identified. It is hard to believe, but there are even a few adults who are walking along with the group, who actually encourage this brash behavior. Do these adults have no shame? Are these boys and girls being trained to be the criminals of the future? What exactly is going on here, and what is the three-word threat this group of ruffians use to intimidate people in their neighborhood?
"Think Halloween tradition..."
It is Halloween night, and this group of boys and girls, accompanied by a few adults, are out in their neighborhood seeking candy and other goodies. The three-word threat they used at each house: “Trick or treat.”
Sometimes I am born in silence, Other times, no. I am unseen, But I make my presence known. In time, I fade without a trace. I harm no one, but I am unpopular with all. What am I?
Think about something that can appear suddenly, without warning, and can be very unwelcome, yet it doesn't cause any physical harm...
Tara has $29.00 dollars. She bought 4 coloring books that cost $3.00 each, 4 boxes of Crayola crayons that cost $2.00 each. She spends the rest of her money on markers.
How much money did she spend on markers?
Think about how much money Tara spent on the coloring books and crayons, and then subtract that amount from her original $29.00 to find out how much she had left to spend on markers!
Spelled forwards I'm what you do every day, Spelled backward I'm something you hate. What am I?
Think about a common daily activity that involves a word that can be spelled forwards and backwards, and consider how the reversed spelling might evoke a strong negative emotion...
A thousand colored folds stretch toward the sky, Atop a tender strand, Rising from the land, 'Til killed by maiden's hand, Perhaps a token of love, perhaps to say goodbye. What am I?
Think delicate, think fragile, think something often associated with emotions and gestures...
I say everything I hear to others around. I'm not an animal, nor part of the human race. I will, immediately, repeat after you; But only if my tail is in place. What am I?
Think about something you often find in a public place, where people gather to share information...
I surround you but I'm not clothes. I am everywhere but I don't take up space. I'm not always here, yet you can use a man-made form of me. I can go through glass but the glass will look just the same. What am I?
Think about something that is intangible, yet omnipresent, and can be harnessed or utilized in a manufactured way...
I'm by nature solitary, scarred by spear and wounded by sword, weary of battle. I frequently see the face of war, and fight hateful enemies; yet I hold no hope of help being brought to me in the battle, before I'm eventually done to death. In the stronghold of the city sharp-edged swords, skilfully forged in the flame by smiths, bite deeply into me. I can but await a more fearsome encounter; it is not for me to discover in the city any of those doctors who heal grievous wounds with roots and herbs. The scars from sword wounds gape wider and wider; death blows are dealt to me by day and by night.
What am I?
"Think about a common object found in a city, often overlooked, yet bears the scars of battle and conflict..."
I may be right in front of you, And you will never know, But when I reveal myself your trust in me will go, And you will feel none apart from woe. What am I?
Think about something that's often hidden in plain sight, and when it's exposed, it can lead to feelings of betrayal and disappointment...
I am a contained world that you can shake but please don't drop me because I may break. What am I ?
Think about something you can hold in your hand, with contents that can be disturbed by shaking, but are fragile and might shatter if not handled carefully...
I can carry you around; you can carry me as well; not a living thing, yet, I run faster than as you do but not without your help. I have as many legs and hands as every man has; round are my legs: one before and the other behind. The cycle is never out of my name. What am I?
Think about an object that you often use for transportation, has a circular shape, and needs your help to move quickly.
I'll take you. I'll take two, once I'm taken by you. You lose. I'm chance, a devil of a dance, climbing a tree, the very next branch. I'm unforgiving, fast-lane living, quite a soul gripping. For once I have you, I won’t leave your mind. And I'm not at all kind. I'll break your home, the bank I'll comb, until you're left with nothing, all alone. The highs and the lows, the deception, and woes, why'd you bet your own toes? I’m greedy, if I’m to be believed, I'm a need that will crush you until you cannot breathe. What am I?
You're being tempted by a sly and cunning foe... Think about something that can be gambled with, and can lead to a downward spiral of losses and troubles.
Name the only sport in which the ball is always in possession of the team on defense, and the offensive team can score without touching the ball?
Think about a sport where the defensive team is responsible for protecting a specific area, and the offensive team can score by getting something past them, without necessarily physically touching the ball...
What is something you don't own but can give to anyone you meet? You only have one, but you can give it away as many times as you want without losing it. What is it?
The rich wear it, The poor sell it, Pirates bury it, Miners dig it up. What is it?
Think about something that can be worn as a symbol of wealth, but is also something that people without wealth might need to sacrifice for financial gain...
A robber comes in a house that a rich person owns and hears a voice Jesus is watching you. He goes in the kitchen and hears it even louder. Jeaus is watching you and keeps going room through room it getting even louder till he comes to the bedroom and sees a parrrot that is saying, "Jesus is watching you" The robber is freaked out when he hears something moving behind him. What is it?
Here's a hint: Think about what might be a natural companion to a parrot in a bedroom...
Some days you think I'm pretty, but some days you think I'm ugly. Some days you'll love me, but some days you'll hate me. If you think I'm not good enough, you might get rid of me. Who am I?
Think about something you look at every day, and your opinion of it can change depending on your mood and circumstances...
I'm YOU! Some days you think you're pretty, but some days you think you're ugly. Some days you'll love yourself, but some days you'll hate yourself. And if you think you are not good enough, you might get rid of yourself. Life is amazing :) Live your life to the fullest!