You and Hector are in the car. You are in the passenger seat while Hector is driving. Hector is very good at driving. He closes his eyes to scare you as he is driving. You look at him and see his eyes closed. Your heart starts pounding because there is something in the road and Hector has to swerve out of the way, but with his eyes closed he can't see it, yet he still swerved out of the way and kept driving perfectly. Along with his eyes being closed the whole time, you were also silent the whole time. How is that possible that he knew something was in the way with his eyes closed?
Think about the situation from a different perspective...
Since you are in the passenger seat, when you look at Hector all you see is the right side of his face, only his right eye. He had his right eye closed and his left eye opened. You just couldn't see it.
A world-famous magician and his young assistant were observed walking slowly along in a department store when suddenly they both stopped walking and began to slowly rise from the floor. The two continued to rise majestically until they had reached a height of 20 feet. Numerous store customers and a security guard witnessed the event, but no one seemed shocked by what they had seen, and no report of the occurrence ever reached the news media. The secrets of magic are not supposed to be revealed, but how would you speculate the magician and his assistant accomplished this feat, and why didn't the onlookers express amazement?
Hint: Think about the department store's layout and a common feature often found in them...
The magician and his assistant were simply using an escalator to go up to the next floor in the department store.
Jennifer is always late for work. One day, she comes to work late as usual, which angers her boss. But, her boss is more lenient today and gives Jennifer a chance to keep her job. If she solves his rebus puzzle, Jennifer won't be fired. The boss says, "I'm A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z!". Luckily, Jennifer was a smart girl and managed to keep her job. What did the rebus puzzle say?
The hint is: Think about the alphabet, but not just the letters...
"I'm missing you". "A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z" is missing the letter "U", which sounds like "I'm missing you (U)".
Harry is in a history competition with two other students–Renèe and Tyler. The rules are as follows: A student will choose another student to target. A history question will be read out, and the student will give his or her answer. If the answer is correct, the target is eliminated. And if the answer is incorrect, the target stays in the game. This will happen until only one student remains. Harry isn't very good in history; his odds of answering correctly are 1/3. Renèe's odds are a little better–2/3. And Tyler is a history ace, with his odds of giving the correct answer being 3/3. Every student knows everyone else's odds. To be fair, Harry will begin; then, the turn will pass to Renèe, then to Tyler, and then to Harry, and so on until one player remains. How can Harry have higher chances to win?
Hint: Harry's strategy should focus on maximizing the chances of eliminating the strongest opponent, Tyler, as soon as possible.
On Harry's first turn, he should give the incorrect answer on purpose. If he targets Renèe and manages to eliminate her, then it's just Harry and Tyler; however, Tyler will definitely eliminate Harry because HIS odds are much higher. And if Harry targets Tyler and manages to eliminate him, then it's just Harry and Renèe; however, Renèe might eliminate Harry because she has higher odds. If Harry purposefully answers incorrectly, the turn will simply move to Renèe, who will answer next. On Renèe's first turn, she will likely target Tyler because he has higher odds than her. If she manages to eliminate him, then it's just Harry and Renèe. Harry will be going first with his shot at winning the competition. If Renèe doesn't eliminate Tyler, then it will be HIS turn; Tyler will target Renèe and eliminate her for sure due to his odds being higher than hers. Although Harry will have to go against Tyler in the end, it's still a fair situation because Harry will still be going first with a chance to win.
A young man became famous one day when he gathered a quarter of a bushel (8 dry quarts) of a certain type of fruit, which many people call a vegetable. Evidently, this youth, whose first and last name both start with the same letter, was able to harvest these fruits (vegetables) after they had been placed into a solution of vinegar or brine while still on the vine. So, the questions which have never been answered concerning this story are #1: How many of these fruits/vegetables did he actually harvest, and #2: Where is the work of his labor now? Can you name this famous person who has the same first and last initials?
Here's a hint:
Think about a famous American figure from the 19th century, and consider a type of fruit/vegetable that's often pickled. The answer might be more "historical" than you expect!
Zane is a big boss in a hugely successful company. Every week, however, he finds out that one of his worst employees has been stealing his documents. After a whole year of stolen documents, Zane rounds up his three worst employees– Kelly, Raymond, and Natalia– and questions them. Kelly says, "Raymond has been stealing your documents!". Raymond says, "I haven't been stealing your documents!". Natalia says, "I haven't been stealing your documents, either!". Only one of the employees is telling the truth. Who has been stealing the documents, and which employee is telling the truth?
Think about it this way: if the thief was Kelly or Natalia, they would both be accusing someone else, but only one of them would be telling the truth. But what if the thief was Raymond?
Natalia has been stealing the documents. Raymond is telling the truth. If Kelly was the one stealing the documents, then she would be lying, and Raymond would be telling the truth. But then, Natalia would also be telling the truth, which goes against the condition that only one employee is telling the truth. If Raymond was the one stealing the documents, then he would be lying, Kelly would be telling the truth, and Natalia would also be telling the truth. This also contradicts that only one employee is honest. If Natalia was the one stealing the documents, then she is lying. But then, who is telling the truth? It's not Kelly, because if it was so, both she and Natalia would be telling the truth, and Raymond would be lying, which doesn't meet the requirements. Therefore, Raymond is telling the truth, Kelly and Natalia are both lying, and Natalia is the one stealing the documents.
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 young woman has decided to stay alone on a very small, deserted island. She knows the dangers, and is well aware if she takes even one step off the island, she will most certainly be badly injured, and may possibly die. This island is not surrounded by water, and even though it is deserted, she knows she'll be surrounded and observed by hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people who will be forced to look up to her. The record for remaining on this type of island was set back in 1964 when a woman remained on her island for 217 days, so this young woman has her work cut out for her. What kind of island is the young woman staying on, and why would she be risking her life by stepping off of it?
Think "up" rather than "out"...
The young woman is engaging in the famous fad of Pole Sitting, first made famous back in the 20s and 30s by a man named Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly. The small platform is supported on a pole which ranges in length from 60 to over 200 feet in length above the ground.
In fair Verona, love's tale is told, A pair of star-crossed souls, brave and bold. Their families' feud, a bitter strife, Yet love blooms amidst the deadly strife. This tragic hero, youthful and true, His heart ablaze, his love so new. He serenades his Juliet fair, Their passion burns, a love so rare. Though fate conspires against their bliss, In death, their love will forever persist. Which Shakespearean character doth this describe, Whose name lives on, as love's eternal bribe?
In the realm of intellect and wit, where riddles intertwine, a labyrinthine puzzle tests the sharpest mind. Within this riddle's depths, a story of knights and kings and a treasure untold shall unfold. Imagine a mighty chessboard, with sixty-four squares so grand, where black and white alternate, a captivating land. Upon this board, two knights are placed, noble in their might. Their mission: to find the treasure hidden out of sight. But here's the twist, the tricky part, the puzzle's cunning scheme: the knights must journey together, a duo they must seem. One knight moves north, then two steps to the right, while the other takes a diagonal leap, a path both swift and light. They continue their pursuit, weaving through the chessboard's squares, till they've visited each and every one, proving their thorough care. Now comes the question, the riddle's hidden key: how many times did their paths cross, tell me if you see. Remember, their moves are synchronized, each step taken as a pair. Calculate their crossings, and unravel the secret with care.
Think about the symmetry of the chessboard and the synchronized movements of the two knights. Focus on how their paths will mirror each other as they traverse the board.
To find the number of times the paths of the two knights cross, we need to analyze their movements on the chessboard. Let's assign coordinates to the squares of the chessboard. We can label the columns as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H (from left to right), and the rows as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (from bottom to top). Now, let's examine the movements of the knights. The first knight moves one square north and two squares to the right, which can be represented as (2, 1) on the coordinate plane. The second knight takes a diagonal leap, moving one square northeast, which can be represented as (1, 1). We'll start by assuming the initial position of both knights is (0, 0). Now, let's track their movements: The first knight moves to (2, 1). The second knight moves to (1, 1). The first knight moves to (3, 2). The second knight moves to (2, 3). The first knight moves to (4, 4). By analyzing their movements, we can see that the knights' paths intersected once at the coordinate (2, 3). Therefore, the answer is that the paths of the knights cross once.
A famous magician and his daughter were seated inside a well-known establishment, along with a group of five other customers who were all waiting for service. The magician suddenly turned to his daughter, and told her to look through the window to her right where a bright blue car was parked. In majestic fashion, the magician then swept his arm toward the car and said, "Behold! I command you to rise!", and the car slowly began to rise to a height of one...two...three..., and finally stopped, suspended in mid-air, at a height of four feet! However, no one in the room appeared to be surprised or amazed by the magician's actions, and the magician's daughter was heard to say, "Daddy, you're a big ham." Why was no one in awe of the magician's abilities?
Think about where the magician and his daughter are seated...
The magician and his daughter were waiting in a local Firestone vehicle repair shop to have their car repaired. The magician noticed that a technician was about to raise a blue car on a hydronic lift to repair it, so he tried to take credit for the levitation. Needless to say, neither the other customers or his daughter were impressed.
Two sentries were on duty outside a barracks. One faced up the road to watch for anyone approaching from the North. The other looked down the road to see if anyone approached from the South. Suddenly one of them said to the other, "Why are you smiling?" How did he know that his companion was smiling?
Think about the sentries' positions and what they can see... or not see.
Although the guards were looking in opposite directions, they were not back to back. They were facing each other.
An eye in a blue face saw an eye in a green face. "That eye is like to this eye," Said the first eye, "But in low place not in a high place." What is it?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and consider the colors mentioned in the riddle...
You're a bus driver. At your first stop, you pick up five people. At the second stop, you pick up two people. At the third stop, you drop off three people. At the fourth stop, you pick up three more people. At the fifth stop you drop off 8 people. How old is the bus driver?
The answer has nothing to do with the number of people or the stops... think about the question being asked!
Oliver and Brittany are siblings. They were born in the winter and summer. If Brittany was not born in the winter, then who was born in the summer?
Think about the seasons and the fact that they are siblings... if Brittany wasn't born in the winter, that means Oliver must have been... but what does that imply about Brittany's birth season?
If Brittany was not born in the winter, then she was born in the summer. Therefore, it's Brittany.
The only thing you can use for this riddle is your brain! Add 1,000 to 40. Now, add 1,000. Then, add 30. Add 1,000 again. Now, add 20. Add 1,000 once more. Now, add 10. What is your answer?
Think about the pattern of additions and how the numbers being added are related to each other...
Is it 5,000? Sorry, but that's wrong! The right answer is 4,100. Four 1,000s do add up to 4,000…but 40 + 30 + 20 + 10 is 100, not 1,000. And 4,000 + 100 is not 5,000; it's 4,100; therefore, the correct answer is 4,100.
A soccer fan, upset by the defeat of his favorite team, slept restlessly. In his dream a goalkeeper was practicing in a large unfurnished room, tossing a soccer ball against the wall and then catching it.
But the goalkeeper grew smaller and smaller and then changed into a ping-pong ball while the soccer ball was swelled up into a huge cast-iron ball. The iron ball circled round madly, trying to crush the ping-pong ball, how did the ping-pong find safety whithout leaving the floor?
Think about the physics of a bouncing ball...
If the ping-pong ball rolls flush against the wall, the cast-iron ball cannot crush it.
Those who know geometry can determine that if the diameter of a large ball is at least 5.83 (3+2(square root of 2) times as large as the diameter of a little ball, then the little ball will be safe if it hugs the wall.
A cast-iron ball that is larger than a soccer ball is more than 4.83 times as large in diameter as a ping-pong ball.
A little girl named Sasha was left home alone with her butler, chef, and gardener. Sasha's parents went out on a date night and came home and found their daughter stabbed to death. The police questioned the chef first the gardener second and the butler last. The chef said, "I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for my little Sasha I would never do anything to hurt my princess". The gardener said, " I was outside working on the plants...I was about to come in and take a shower". And the butler said, " I was cleaning Sasha's room...I didn't even have a knife on me anyway so I couldn't of killed her". Automatically the cops knew who it was and arrested them. Who and How?
Here's a hint:
Pay close attention to the statements made by each suspect, and think about what they say about their activities and locations at the time of the murder. In particular, consider what the butler says about not having a knife on them...
The butler because the cops never mentioned that she was stabbed with a knife.
Cameron Fitzgerald, a famous scientist, was found killed in his laboratory. Detective R.I. Dill was called to the scene. The only clue was a written note saying "66, 57, 7 - P.T" Detective Dill found 4 suspects who were nearby at the time of the murder. Jake Willow, Cameron's best friend, Samantha Fitzgerald, Cameron's wife, Dylan Hemlock, Cameron's assistant, and Amy Dill, Det. Dill's sister and Cameron's chauffeur. After re-reading the note, Detective Dill immediately knew who it was. Who was the killer and how did Detective Dill know? (Hint - The answer is science-related)
Hint: Think about the Periodic Table of Elements...
It was Dylan. The note was referring to the periodic table of elements, a.k.a 'P.T' The numbers 66, 57 and 7 are (in order): Dysprosium, Lanthanum and Nitrogen. Dysprosium is symbolized by 'Dy', Lanthanum for 'La' and Nitrogen is 'N'.
There lived a man in a house and everytime he went to bed he turned on the light. One night, the man forgot to turn on the light. The next day he read the paper and killed himself.
Why?
The hint is: Think about the man's profession...
The man lived in a lighthouse. He forgot to turn on the light and a ship crashed. The next morning he read in the paper that the ship crashed and killed himself because he felt guilty.
Every night, I'm told what to do. And every morning, I do what you tell me to do. But you still get mad at me and hit me. What am I?
Think about an object that receives instructions or settings at night, and then carries out those instructions in the morning, but is often "punished" or corrected by its user despite doing its job...
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...
Double my number, I'm less than a score, half of my number is less than four. Add one to my double when bakers are near, days of the week are still greater, I fear.
What am I?
Think about a number that is closely related to baking, and consider the days of the week in your answer.
You see me at night, by day you tell everyone about me. I come back looking differently than before. I sometime leave you in the darkness. What am I?
"Think about something that changes its appearance, but its essence remains the same, and it's often discussed during the day, but experienced at night..."
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..."
Sometimes I'm in an onion, sometimes I'm in a lamp. Sometimes I'm in the form of garlic, sometimes I'm in the form of asparagus. And I'm usually very bright. What am I?
Think about the different forms mentioned, and how they're all related to a specific aspect of food...
I have three colors, each with a different meaning. When I'm old they become dull, but when I'm new they are gleaming. I help keep people safe, but sometimes they hate me. You won't see me in a forest, but you will in a big city. Some of me have short lengths, and some of me have long. And in the time that the longest of me take, you could sing a very long song. When my colors change, people get happy or sad, and when you guess what I am, you will be very glad. What am I?
Think about something you see every day in a city, that serves a purpose, has different lengths, and its colors convey important information that can evoke emotions...
My author's uncertain yet my title's the same, I contain random text yet order's my aim. Read me one day and see my pages are totally bare. Try again another day and the words will be there. I'm not a book of magic although it may sound, I can predict the future, and inside, your life can be found. Move my eye, I become involved in lactic extraction. But that's just a clue, a minor distraction.
What am I?
Pay attention to the objects you use daily, especially ones that can change their "content" or "pages" over time, and have a "title" that remains the same.
You feel me sometimes, but I never appear in new things. Joy and excitement are definitely my antidote, and sadness and pain are effective ways to drive me away. What am I?
Think about emotions and how they can change your physical sensations...
You will find me with four legs, but no hair.
People ride me for hours, but I don't go anywhere.
Without needing to be tugged, jerked or turned on,
I always manage to be ready for work.
What am I?
Think about something you might find in a recreational room or a game room...
The letters of the alphabet but only just a few;
It's hard to say if I was invented or just discovered by you.
What am I?
Think about a fundamental concept in language that is based on a subset of alphabet letters, and its origin is still a topic of debate among scholars...
I build up castles. I tear down mountains. I make some men blind, I help others to see. What am I?
Think about something that can be used to create grand structures, but also has the power to destroy or alter the natural landscape. It's something that can be both constructive and destructive, and its effects can be felt by people in different ways...
Think about something that consumes everything in its path, yet produces more of itself, and ultimately leads to the growth and development of others. It's a natural process that's essential for life.
Out of a man's mouth it comes forth, lightening hearts and inspiring souls to be steadfast. Tales of old it tells, of warriors and kings, of castles and dungeons. It tells of sunshine and hills, flowers and grass. Of food and drink it encourages you to press on, of fantasies it gives you rest and delight. It carries on through ages and never an ending does it find. What is it?
My name starts with "rain" and ends with the first letter of my name. I get mistaken for other things a lot. I am usually present in children's stories. I am usually flying in mid-air too. What am I?
Think about something that is often depicted in children's stories and is commonly mistaken for something else... and pay attention to the wordplay in the riddle, especially the part about the first letter of the name!
Ben is a high school student. During the first week of the new school year, he fills his room's refrigerator with chicken sandwiches. One day, he goes to take out a chicken sandwich for lunch and sees that all of them are gone. Ben shares the room with three other guests, so he questions them. Dylan said, "I was partying with my girlfriend all last night, so I had to skip classes". Cindy said, "I was feeling sick yesterday, so I stayed home. I don't know what happened". Victor said, "I was in the library all day, studying for my finals". Who is the liar?
Think about who could have physically been in the room to take the sandwiches...
Victor is the liar. It was the first week of the new school year; he couldn't be studying for his finals, since those exams take place at the END of a school year, not at the beginning.