It's Halloween and 4 friends (Steven, James, Amy, and Ashley), that are all in high school, decide to go to a costume party. They decide they will wear matching costumes. They all use wheelchairs in their costumes. One friend is paralyzed, and the other 3 friends can walk. Steven says, "I have been paralyzed for 25 years and I need my wheelchair for mobility." James says, "I am not paralyzed, so I am just using my wheelchair for my costume." Amy says, "I have been paralyzed for 5 years. I was walking home from school and a drunk driver hit me." Ashley says, "When I was 9 years old, I fell 3 stories off the edge of my balcony and broke my C9 vertebrae." Two of the friends are telling the truth and the other two friends are lying. Which friend is paralyzed?
Here's a hint: Pay close attention to the specific details each friend provides about their past, especially the circumstances surrounding their supposed paralysis. One of the liars will have a story that is suspiciously... convenient.
Amy is paralyzed. Steven is lying because he is in high school which means he is less than 25 years old, so he couldn't have been paralyzed for 25 years. Ashley is lying because there are only 7 vertebrae in the cervical section of the spine, so she couldn't have broken her C9 vertebrae. James is telling the truth that he is not paralyzed. This means Amy must be telling the truth that she is the paralyzed friend.
Monica took part in a furiously competitive race, which she won due to her speed and agility. Despite this, she was not allowed to collect the winning trophy.
Why?
Think about the type of "race" where speed and agility are important, but a human wouldn't be able to collect a trophy...
Monica is the name of the horse that won the race.
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.
Ty has four frogs-Lily, Hoppy, Croaky, and Icky–and he needs you to identify their colors. One of the frogs is black and blue, while the other three and black and orange. Assuming that both of the following statements are true, can you guess which frog is black and blue? 1) Lily and Hoppy are of the same color. 2) Croaky isn't black and blue.
Pay attention to the statement "Lily and Hoppy are of the same color" and think about what it means if they are not black and blue...
Icky is black and blue. If Lily and Hoppy are of the same color, then both of them must be black and orange because only ONE of the frogs is black and blue. And if Croaky isn't black and blue, then he is black and orange. Therefore, Icky is the only black and blue frog among the four frogs.
Lucille had recently received her real estate license and was out evaluating a bunch of properties in a certain neighborhood. As she traveled around the area, she saw some properties which were very expensive, and others that were more affordable. The area was sprinkled with a mixture of little greenhouses, a couple of hotels, a few businesses, and she noticed there was also some access to railway travel. Some of these properties were for sale but others were not. The bizarre thing is, Lucille ended up in jail three separate times that day and had to be bailed out on each occasion! She received no traffic citations and swears she did absolutely nothing wrong, and yet, she was incarcerated three times that day. What do you suppose happened that caused her to be locked up in jail three times in one day?
Think about the activities Lucille was doing that day, and how they might relate to the properties she was evaluating... and the game she was playing.
Lucille had indeed recently received her real estate license, however, that really had little to do with the fact she was playing a game of Monopoly with some friends; and unfortunately for her, landed in jail three times during the game, and had to bail herself out so she could continue playing.
Hidden in the poem below, a female's name you'll seek; just read and listen to the rhyme, but please, don't take a week! MYSTERY POEM: A pig that is not dirty, I might just one day see; but pigs and soap suds do not mix, in bathtub history! What is the female name you hear?
Pay attention to the words that sound similar to a female name when read aloud, especially in the first and last lines of the poem.
Two dogs are sitting on a porch - a fat dog and a thin dog. The little dog is the son of the fat dog, but the fat dog is not the father of the thin dog. Can you explain?
Think about the possibilities of canine family relationships beyond just "father"!
A man went on a trip with a fox, a goose and a sack of corn. He came upon a stream which he had to cross and found a tiny boat to use to cross the stream. He could only take himself and one other - the fox, the goose, or the corn - at a time. He could not leave the fox alone with the goose or the goose alone with the corn.
How does he get all safely over the stream?
Think about the order in which the man transports each item, and how he can ensure that no combination of fox, goose, and corn is left together unsupervised at any point.
Take the goose over first and come back. Then take the fox over and bring the goose back. Now take the corn over and come back alone to get the goose. Take the goose over and the job is done!
Someone stole $20 off your desk at school. You find 4 suspects: Gina, Kelly, Peter, and Liam. You ask them all about the money: Gina: Hey, I didn't take it! Kelly: I'm pretty sure Peter took it! Peter: No way! Kelly is lying! Liam: Gina's telling the truth! One of these people is telling the truth. Who took your money?
Gina took the money. She, Kelly, and Liam are lying while Peter is telling the truth. If any of the other people had taken it, then there would be only 1 liar and 3 people telling the truth.
Two wine merchants arrive at the gates of Paris. One has 64 and the other 20 barrels of wine. Since they have not enough money to pay the custom duties, the first pays 40 francs and 5 barrels of wine. The second pays 2 barrels of wine but receives 40 francs in change.
What is the value of each barrel of wine and what is the duty payable?
"Think about the total value of goods and duties paid by each merchant, and how they relate to each other..."
The value of a barrel is 120 francs and the duty is 10 francs a barrel.
My age today is three times what it will be three years from now minus three times what my age was three years ago. How old am I?
Think about it like a math puzzle: Let your current age be "x". Then, three years from now, your age will be x+3, and three years ago, your age was x-3. Now, plug these values into the equation and see if you can solve for x!
Don't be too confused, the answer is 18 years old.
A murderer was condemned to death. He had to choose between three rooms. The first room was full of raging fires, the second room was full of assassins with loaded guns and the third room was full of lions that hadn't eaten in three years. Which room was safest for him?
Think about the phrase "hadn't eaten in three years"...
The third room. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead.
A camel travels a certain distance each day. Strangely enough, two of its legs travel 30 miles each day and the other two legs travel nearly 31 miles. It would seem that two of the camel's legs must be one mile ahead of the other two legs, but of course this can't be true.
Since the camel is normal, how is this situation possible?
Think about the direction the camel is traveling...
The camel operates a mill and travels in a circular clockwise direction. The two outside legs will travel a greater distance than the two inside legs.
I'm like a doll, But I'm not for playing; I stand up straight, but if windy I may be laying; I'm well-known and famous for having no brain; I work outside both day and night in sunshine or in rain.
What am I?
Think about something you might find in a public place, often seen but not interacted with, and is known for its "emptiness" or lack of thought...
I have a head body and arm but no blood. I have eyes but can't see a nose but can't smell. I have a stage but haven't seen anyone perform. I have arms but can not carry anything you see things with me but you can't see what I am made of. What am I?
Think about a place where people often gather, and it's not a living thing...
I am heard before I am seen. Startled and I am alive. I rumble like thunder, yet I pour like rain. I am felt before I arrive; stand with me and you won't survive. What am I?
"Think about a force of nature that can be both fierce and gentle, and is often associated with changes in the weather..."
In old age I'm lost, in trauma I'm tossed. What am I?
Think about something that's often forgotten or misplaced as people get older, and also something that can be disturbed or dislodged due to a sudden shock or accident...
I heard of an invading, vanquishing army sweeping across the land, liquid-quick; conquering everything, quelling resistance. With it came darkness, dimming the light. Humans hid in their houses, while outside spears pierced, shattering stone walls. Uncountable soldiers smashed into the ground, but each elicited life as he died; when the army had vanished, advancing northward, the land was green and growing, refreshed. What is it?
"Think about a natural phenomenon that can be destructive, yet ultimately brings new life and growth."
I am slim and tall, Many find me desirable and appealing. They touch me and I give a false good feeling. Once I shine in splendor, But only once and then no more. For many I am "to die for". What am I?
Think about something that people often crave, but can also be deceiving, and its appeal is short-lived...
I have a heart that never beats, I have a home but I never sleep. I can take a man's house and build another, And I love to play games with my many brothers. I am a king among fools. Who am I?
Think about a game where strategy and power are key, and a piece that can capture others and control the board...