A man is trapped in a room. The room has only two possible exits: two doors. Through the first door, there is a room constructed from magnifying glass. The blazing hot sun instantly fries anything or anyone that enters. Through the second door, there is a fire-breathing dragon. How does the man escape?
Think about the time of day...
He waits until night time and then goes through the first door.
A businesswoman named Coraline was at her place of work when a young man entered. "You look like a Clark to me," said Coraline in greeting him. The man responded, "You are exactly right," and he exchanged something with her and then left. A second man entered and said, "I'm really hungry, and am looking for the nearest fast-food place." "I suggest you take 5th Avenue," answered Coraline. He then exchanged something with her and left. A rather heavy-set woman then came through the door and Coraline said, "You are definitely a chunky person!" Seemingly unaffected by the comment, the woman said, "I certainly have to agree with you," and she then exchanged something with Coraline and then departed. A policewoman then entered and said in a serious voice, "I received a tip that one of the Peanuts gang was hiding in here, and I came to take her in. "She is here," replied Coraline, and she turned her over to the officer in exchange for something. Finally, a shady-looking character came slinking in, carrying a black briefcase. "Why are you here?" asked Coraline. "It's not payday again, is it?" "You got it, Sweetie!" he replied, and he exchanged something with her and then left. What in the world was going on here, and what kind of business was Coraline operating?
Here's a hint: Think about the names and phrases used in the conversations, and how they might relate to a specific type of business or product that Coraline is dealing with. Pay attention to the words and phrases that seem out of place or unusual in a normal conversation.
Coraline was the owner and operator of a candy shop. Most of her customers were repeat customers, and she was very familiar with their specific requests before they ever stated them. In order of their entry into her store, she offered them: A Clark bar, a 5th Avenue candy bar, a Chunky square, a Peppermint Patty, and a Payday bar. Each customer simply paid for their selection and left with their favorite candy.
Mrs. Fortini has been married for 10 years. For her 10th wedding anniversary, she got a pair of beautiful diamond earrings. Mrs. Fortini also has two daughters–Beatrice and Ivy–who always touch her stuff. One day, Mrs. Fortini was going to put on the earrings, when she found out that they had been stolen. She concluded that it must have been one of her daughters, so she asked them, "I've told you two so many times to not take my things! Who took my jewelry this time?". Beatrice said, "I never touch your jewelry box!". Ivy also denied taking her mom's stuff; "I don't wear earrings!", she said. Who stole the earrings?
Think about what each daughter said, and how it might relate to their actions...
It was Ivy who stole the earrings. Her mother didn't specify which piece of jewelry was missing.
Mrs. Nimbus left some money for her eldest son, Garrett, to go grocery shopping. When Garrett went to take the money, he didn't find it. Mrs. Nimbus suspected that one of her two younger kids-either Abby or Rick–had stolen it, so she questioned them. Abby said that she had put the money underneath a book so that it wouldn't fly away. Rick said that he had put the money inside the book between pages 51 and 52. Who's the thief?
Think about the name "Mrs. Nimbus"... what does it imply about the environment in which the story takes place?
Rick is the thief. Books normally have their odd-numbered pages on the right, while the even-numbered pages are on the left. Pages 51 and 52 are on two sides of the same sheet, so Rick couldn't have put the money between those two pages.
When Eric and his friends returned to school after the summer break, they each told each other how their summers went. Eric boasted about the months he spent in Chile and how hot it had been. Eric's friends called him a liar. Why?
Think about the timing of Eric's summer break and the location he claimed to have visited...
Assuming that these friends live in the United States, if it's summer in the U.S (which is in North America), it's winter in Chile because Chile is in South America. It can't possibly be hot during the winter. Therefore, Eric lied about being in Chile.
Karma is the most popular girl at her school. At the school's ball, four guys claim to be Karma's boyfriend. Keeping in mind that only the boyfriend tells the truth, can you guess who the boyfriend is if these are the four statements from the guys? 1) Guy #4 is the boyfriend. 2) I am the boyfriend. 3) Guy #1 is the boyfriend. 4) I am the boyfriend.
Think about who would say what if they were the boyfriend, and who would say what if they were not...
Guy #2 is the boyfriend. Only the boyfriend tells the truth, so he will say, "I am the boyfriend,"; therefore, either the second guy or the fourth guy is Karma's boyfriend. If the fourth guy was the boyfriend, then both he and the first guy would be telling the truth, which is against the conditions. Therefore, Guy #2 is Karma's boyfriend.
Hidden in the poem below, a manly name you'll seek; just read and listen to the rhyme, but please, don't take a week! MYSTERY POEM: I do not mind addition; I'll tolerate subtraction; but try not to increase my stress, by tossing in those fractions. I'll multiply and then divide, and figure out those sums; but modern math --- the math you use, just makes me want some Tums. What is the man's name you hear in the rhyme?
Pay attention to the words that sound like a name when read aloud, especially in the last line of the poem.
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.
There were five men going to church and it started to rain. The four that ran got wet and the one that stood still stayed dry. How did the one stay dry?
Think about the situation where someone is more likely to be already "prepared" for the rain...
The marathon man timed himself and found out that if he wore a bright white outfit he ran 20 miles in 80 minutes, but when he wore a dark outfit, he ran 20 miles in one hour and twenty minutes. What does this mean for his next race?
Think about how the marathon man's outfit might be affecting his running time, and it's not because of the physical properties of the outfit itself...
Absolutely nothing, as 80 minutes equals an hour and twenty minutes.
Such a slim little stripe in a shiny, round coat! How it grows in the warm sun's bright rays! But its jacket still fits, and it's worthy of note That it isn't so, tall on cool days. Hint: It's not a fishing pole.
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and how it changes appearance depending on the temperature...
Whether old Homer tippled wine or beer, Julep or cider, history is not clear; But plain it is-the bard, though want to roam, But for one liquid, never had left home.
What is it?
Think about something Homer, the ancient Greek poet, would always have with him, no matter where he went, and it's not a drink...
Upon my top there is a golden shop wherein a dollar can't be spent. Along my sides stretch nature's slides which will never relent. At my feet where people meet full of ire, dread and lament. What am I?
Think about a place where people often gather, but not for happy reasons...
A mountain. On the top one can find clarity and make memories that a conventional shop can't sell. Nature's slides are rivers. At my feet or foot of the mountain is the first step and place everyone has to be to begin the climb, which will be difficult (ire, dread and lament)
A great banquet was prepared for a Roman emperor and his courtiers. 22 Dormice, 40 Larks' Tongues, 30 Flamingos and 40 Roast Parrots were served.
How many portions of Boiled Ostrich were served?
Think about the common thread among the dishes served... they all have something in common that might just give away the answer!
42. Each vowel is worth 2 and each consonant 4, so Dormice gives 22, ect.
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...
A man who lived on the top floor of a twenty story building had to go up and down daily for work, and of course, for food and the other necessities. On most days he could only ride the elevator to the fifteenth story, and he would have to walk the rest of the way. When it rained, however, he could ride all the way up to the twentieth story. Why?
Think about the man's physical ability to use the elevator...
The man wasn't tall enough to reach the button for the 20th floor. He could only reach the 15th story button on the elevator. When it rained, he brought his umbrella, and used it to press the 20th story button on the elevator.
It is hard for me to live, but easy to die. I am only present when I am not given away. Many people know about me but not what I am. You can keep me, but it is hard. What am I?
Think about something that is often desired, but its existence is fleeting...
I am a food that explodes. But long before I explode, I am already dead. I can be small, I can be big, and I can be fragrant. My name is literal. What am I?
Think about a type of food that is often associated with a strong, pungent smell, and whose name is a literal description of its eventual fate...
The rich people want me, the poor people have me, if you eat me you die. What am I?
Think about something that's often associated with wealth and luxury, yet is also commonly found among those who are less fortunate. And be careful what you "consume" - it might just be deadly!
You bury me when I'm alive, and dig me up when I die. What am I?
Think about something that's often planted or buried in the ground when it's "alive" or growing, but is later unearthed or dug up when it's "dead" or no longer useful...
My three brothers, my cousin, and I are stood in a line. I am the shortest of all my brothers and I am at one end of the line. At the other end of the line is my cousin, who is the fattest out of all of us. My tallest brother is in the middle of the line. We cannot move away from where we stand and yet we are very flexible. We are very useful; people would struggle without us. What are we?
Think about the objects you use every day, and how they come in different sizes and are often arranged in a specific order...
I'm the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, I'm always there but you choose to ignore me, cross your eyes and you will see me. What am I?
I have no mind or a soul. I've been eternally attached since man's dawn. My kind disappear on and off, to everyone I accompany them to their death, and buried with them, then I hide away when the casket shuts. What am I?
Think about something that has been a part of human history and tradition for centuries, often associated with mourning and loss...
My first is twice in apple but not once in tart. My second is in liver but not in heart. My third is in giant and also in ghost. Whole I'm best when I am roast. What am I?
Think about the words "apple", "tart", "liver", "heart", "giant", and "ghost"... What do they all have in common? They're all nouns, and they all relate to a specific category of things. The answer is something you might find in these things...
I am served at a table, In gatherings of two or four. Served small, white and round. You'll love some, And that's part of the fun.
What am I?
Think about a common food item that's often served at social gatherings, like parties or meals with friends and family. The key word to focus on is "some" in the last line of the riddle...
Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
Think about the veggies you often find in grandma's backyard, and the ones that come back year after year without needing to be replanted...
One of the four words does not belong with the other three. Which word does not belong? What is it that the others have in common?
1. Green, yellow, red, blue. 2. April, December, November, June. 3. Cirrus, calculus, cumulus, stratus. 4. Carrots, radishes, potatoes, cabbages. 5. Fork, comb, rake, shovel.
Think about the categories that each group of words belongs to, and look for the one word in each group that doesn't fit the common theme or characteristic shared by the other three words.
1. Green. Yellow, red and blue are primary colors, green is not.
2. December. The other months have only 30 days.
3. Calculus. The others are cloud types.
4. Cabbage. The others are vegetables that grow underground.
5. Shovel. The others have prongs.
Pregnant every time you see her, yet she never will give birth. What is it?
Think about a common, everyday situation where you might see a "her" that's always "pregnant" but never actually gives birth... It's not a living thing!
I dig out tiny caves and store gold and silver in them. I also build bridges of silver and make crowns of gold. They are the smallest you could imagine. Sooner or later everybody needs my help, yet many people are afraid to let me help them. Who am I?
Think about a profession that involves working with precious metals and is often associated with a mixture of fear and necessity...