A man and his wife were doing missionary work near the city of Nairobi in the country of Kenya in eastern Africa. Their housing had not yet been completed, so the man, the woman, and their six year old daughter were spending a few nights in the jungle in three small pup tents. During their third night there, the woman was awakened by the call of a hyena passing by, so she got out of her tent to see if her young daughter had been frightened by the noise. As she peered into her daughter's tent she was surprised to see the dark figures of lion, a panther, and a cheetah which were curled up next to her daughter. Seeing her daughter was asleep and unharmed, the woman slowly and quietly withdrew from the tent, and simply returned to her own tent and went back to bed. How could this child's mother leave her daughter in such a dangerous situation, and simply ignore what she had just witnessed without intervening in some way? How can such emotional coldness ever be explained; or is there something here we are missing?
Think about the purpose of the tents...
The woman was surprised to see that her daughter had talked her father into allowing her to bring her three favorite stuffed animals on the trip with her (the lion, the panther, and the cheetah).
When summer break ended, Mila told her friends about her vacation in Africa. Mila said, "Oh, it was great! But on the last day of my trip, a massive volcanic eruption happened; it didn't spoil my vacation only because I flew home that day,". Mila's friends didn't believe her. Why?
Think about what happens when a massive volcanic eruption occurs...
All flights must get canceled when a volcanic eruption occurs, so Mila couldn't have flown home on the last day of her vacation; she's lying.
Paul called his detective friend to report a theft. The man suspected his neighbor, Ms. Andrews, whom he thought stole his favorite figure. Paul said, "I was vacuum cleaning my room upstairs when I heard footsteps downstairs. I ran downstairs in time to see Ms. Andrews running away with my figure,". Ms. Andrews denied everything. Who should the detective believe?
Hint: Think about the physical act of vacuum cleaning and its implications on Paul's claim.
The detective should believe Ms. Andrews. Vacuum cleaners are usually very noisy, so Paul couldn't possibly hear anything, let alone any footsteps.
Irene and her friend Mark were walking down the street when they saw two houses. Mark wanted to play a game with Irene. He said, "One family lives in each house. And each family has two pets: either dogs or cats. The first family has a dog who likes dry food, while the other pet likes canned food. The second family has a 6-year-old dog and a newborn pet. If you can guess which family has a cat, I'll take you out for lunch." Irene manages to get the riddle right, and the two of them go out for lunch. Which family did she choose?
Pay close attention to the age of the pets...
Irene chose the first family. There are three different possibilities for the pets that the first family has: 1) an older dog and a younger cat; 2) a younger dog, and an older cat, and; 3) two dogs. Two of these options involve a cat, and all of them are equally possible, so the chance of the first family having a cat is 2/3. There are two different possibilities for the pets that the second family has: 1) a 6-year-old dog and a newborn dog, and; 2) a 6-year-old dog and a newborn cat. One of these options involves a cat, and both of them are equally possible, so the chance of the second family having a cat is 1/2. Irene's odds of winning will be higher if she chooses the first family.
A woman went to see her psychiatrist and told him about a strange dream she had just had the night before. She said she had dreamed she was eating a late supper when she suddenly saw a "jay" before her, but it wasn't blue, and it wasn't flying. Then she saw a "pea", but it wasn't green, and it wasn't in a garden. Next, she envisioned a "sea", but it had no waves or boats. A "bee" then unexpectedly appeared, but it did not sting her. Shockingly, she then encountered an "eye", but it didn't blink or wink at her. Finally, she reported to the psychiatrist, "And then I saw "you" in my dream, but "you" did not speak to me." The psychiatrist quickly analyzed the woman's story and told her, "That was no dream you had. If you want these "dreams" to stop, you've got to stop eating your favorite food so late at night!" What was the food the psychiatrist told the woman to stop eating, and what exactly was going on here?
Pay attention to the words the woman uses to describe her dream, and think about how they might relate to food...
The psychiatrist knew of the woman’s regular habit of eating a bowl of alphabet soup just before going to bed each night. This was the reason for her dreaming about the various letters of the alphabet she had seen while eating —— in this case —— the letters J, P, C, B, I, and U.
A nurse was speaking with a young doctor just prior to their entering the room where the surgery was to take place. "You know," said the nurse, "I am surprised you are going to attempt surgery on this patient again, since you have failed in all of your previous attempts. You are lucky this patient is unable to make any complaints concerning your failed surgical attempts, and sue you for malpractice! So far, you have botched his knee, ankle, heart, and rib surgeries, and now you are going to try to remove insects from this man's stomach. What's next, brain surgery?" "After today's operation, I believe I will do just that!," replied the doctor in a defiant tone, "and this time there will be no nose bleed, or a red nose of any kind during the surgery." "That'll be the day," replied the nurse. "I will be right next to you during the operation, so when you mess up, I'll have a good laugh!" What kind of twisted, warped, medical professionals are these two? Why haven't both of them been permanently banned from practicing medicine? Just what exactly is going on here?
Think outside the operating room...
While on break, several of the doctors and nurses at a hospital have been competing against one another in the classic game of Operation. This doctor, although he failed at removing the patient’s water on the knee, wrenched ankle, broken heart, and spare ribs, felt confident he could remove the butterflies from the patient’s stomach without causing the patient’s nose to light up red and trigger a buzzer sound signifying failure.
Analogies are comparisons. Complete each analogy below. Here is an example: Ear is to hearing as eye is to? Sight.
1. Cardinals is to St. Louis as Dodger is to?
2. A.M. is to before noon as P.M. is to?
3. Three is to triangle as 8 is to?
4. Tear is to tore as see is to?
5. Springfield is to Illinois as Austin is to?
Here's a hint to help you solve the analogies:
"Think about the relationships between words, and look for patterns or connections that can help you complete the comparisons."
1. Los Angeles
2. Afternoon
3. Octagon
4. Saw
5. Texas
1. Trigonometry, Geometry, Cirrus, Calculus
2. Comic book, Atlas, Novel, Brain teasers book
3. Otter, Shark, Dolphin, Sea Lion
4. Pen, Pencil, Eraser, Chalk
5. Golden Delicious, Bartlett, Granny Smith, Jonathon
Which one does not belong to each line?
Here are the hints for each line:
1. Think about the words that are not mathematical concepts.
2. Consider the types of books that are not typically found in a school.
3. Look for the one that is not a mammal.
4. Identify the writing tool that is not typically used for everyday writing.
5. Think about the fruit that is not a type of pear.
1. Cirrus because the others are all mathematics
2. Atlas because the others are all for leisure/pleasure reading
3. Shark because the others are all marine mammals
4. Chalk because the others are all desk tools
5. Bartlett because the others are types of apples
Trains travel from one town to another town all day, always on the same track, always going nonstop and at the same speed. The noon train took 80 minutes to complete the trip, but the 4 PM train took an hour and 20 minutes. Why?
Think about the timing of the trains and how it might affect the duration of their trips...
In yon vast field of cultivated space, I there am found with members of my race; Decapitate me - if you've no objection - You then will find what brings me to perfection; Take one more cut, and then you'll plainly see What Iam destined, day by day, to be. What am I?
Think about a common crop that grows in a field, and how it's often harvested and processed to become something new and useful...
Marco and Bob have been the best friends ever since they were little kids. They are also very competitive. Throughout the years they have challenged each other to do both physical and mental challenges. And they completed the challenge. But one day Marco thought of something to challenge Bob to do - something he could start but never finish. The average man could do it and so could Mark and they were both the same sex and the same size. It is a physical challenge. Can you figure out what it was?
Think about an everyday physical activity that is easy to start, but impossible to finish...
Marco challenged Bob to get a tan, but he couldn't...Bob is an albino.
My first is often at the front door. My second is found in the cereal family. My third is what most people want. My whole is one of the United States. What am I?
Think about words that can be broken down into individual letters, and consider the meanings of each letter in a specific context...
MATRIMONY (mat rye money). Which is certainly a "united state"!
There are two numbers whose product added to the sum of their squares is 109, and the difference of whose squares is 24. What are the two numbers?
Think algebraically, and consider the two numbers as x and y. You'll need to form two equations based on the given conditions, and then solve for x and y. Focus on the difference of whose squares being 24, as this might help you find a crucial relationship between x and y.
5 and 7.
(5)² = 25(7)² = 49(5x7)+25+49=10949-25=24
How can you measure nine minutes with have two hourglasses, one four minute and one seven minute?
Think about how you can use the two hourglasses in a sequence, rather than simultaneously, to measure out the desired time...
Turn over both hourglasses at once. When the four-minute hourglass runs out, turn it over. When the seven-minute hourglass runs out, turn it over. When the four-minute timer runs out this time (eight minutes have elapsed), the seven-minute hourglass has been running for one minute. Now turn over the seven minute timer back over. When the timer runs out, nine minutes have elapsed.
How many cats are in a small room if in each of the four corners a cat is sitting, and opposite each cat there sit three cats, and a each cat's tail another is sitting?
Think about the phrase "opposite each cat" very carefully...
Four cats, each near a tail of a cat in an adjacent corner.
Seven kids are in line for a carnival ride. Third, in line is Joe, and two spots ahead of him are Kylie. Seventh in line is Kate, in front of Kate is Rylie, behind Joe is Chris, Elizabeth is ahead of John in line. What is the order of the line?
1. Kylie 2. Elizabeth 3. Joe 4. Chris 5. John 6. Rylie 7. Kate.
I am useless when together but useful when I am broken apart. What am I?
Think about something that loses its purpose or functionality when its individual components are connected or united, but becomes useful or serves a purpose when those same components are separated or divided.
I'm fatherless and motherless and born without sin. Roaring when entering the world, I never speak again.
What am I?
Think about something that makes a loud noise when it's "born" or appears, but then remains silent afterwards. It's not a living thing, but it's often associated with a dramatic entrance...
When I am metal or wood, I bring you home. When I am flesh and blood, in the darkness I roam. What am I?
Think about the different modes of transportation that can bring you home, and how the phrase "flesh and blood" might be used to describe a creature that roams in the dark...
I am passed from person to person but no hands are needed. I often change in this exchange. Always changing never remaining the same. What am l?
Think about something that is shared or communicated between people, but doesn't require physical touch. It's something that can be altered or modified as it's being passed along...
I live in a really noisy place, And I only appear when my loud friend is with me. I have my house high in the air, and I cause deadly fires. What am I?
Think about a natural phenomenon that's often accompanied by thunder...
Lightning lives in a noisy place, And it doesn't appear without thunder. It has it's house high in the air, And it cause deadly fires.
I can bring power, money, connections, repute, and admiration, but I'm useless in the face of love and friendship. Treat others with me, and you'll avoid heartbreak, but you'll also gain endless loneliness. What am I?
"Think about something that can bring you prestige and advantages in life, but can also serve as a barrier to genuine relationships."
I can come alone or in a chain. Both are special in their own way. My appearance can be unexpected or expected. What am I?
Think about something that can be a singular, unique event, but also a series of connected events, and how its occurrence can be either surprising or anticipated...
In shadows it dances, in daylight, it gleams, Found in the echoes of both waking and dreams. It lingers in whispers, a secret untold, In the tapestry of tales, its threads unfold. It weaves through the chapters of joy and despair, A silent companion in the heart’s deep lair. From the mountain’s proud peak to the valley so low, It flows with the rivers that steadily grow. It’s sung in the songs of the ages gone by, A constant companion, though silent, oh my! What am I?
A kid forgot to do his homework. For the home work, he had to draw a goat on grass. When he was in class the teacher found out that he didn't finish it. The boy was smart. He said that he did and he proved it to the teacher. Then the teacher agreed and said that he finished it in an unexpected way. What did the boy say to the teacher?
Think about what's NOT being drawn...
He said: I finished it. You see, there is a goat. Goats eat grass so the goat in my picture ate the grass. Now the grass is gone. But since there is no more grass left, the goat went somewhere else to find more grass to eat. That’s why the homework is blank.
I take months to build, seconds to destroy, and years to rebuild. What am I?
Think about something that requires patience, effort, and time to create, but can be ruined in an instant, and then takes a long time to recover or restore...
As destructive as life, As healing as death; An institutioner of strife, Just as prone to bless. It is all that is good, Yet with an evil trend; As it was the beginning of things, It can also be the end. What is it?
"Think about a force that can bring both creation and destruction, and is often associated with contradictory qualities."
A man was found dead out in a field of snow. The only tracks that were left was a set of footprints between two parallel lines. Who should the police be looking for?
Think about a mode of transportation that often travels between two parallel lines, and consider how the victim might have been on it when they died...
A woman went to visit her bank manager and she took her young daughter with her. The bank manager said that the woman's daughter could stay with his secretary during the meeting. When the woman and her daughter left, the secretary turned to the other secretary and said to her, "That little girl was my daughter." How could that be?