A woman is put in a cement room without windows. The door is mechanically bolted shut and under strict watch so that nobody can come in or out. It is secured in every possible way. 24 hours later, the door is opened, and there are now 2 people inside the room. How is this possible?
Think about the woman's condition when she was first put in the room...
Marvin is a typical boy who attends a typical elementary school. However, Marvin is considered by some to be a bit eccentric. His teachers have noted he has a habit of carrying some unusual things in his pockets. Some of these items include: onion skins, some toothpaste, a lifeless bumblebee, a steel ball, pearls, some spaghetti, and a small turtle. The most bizarre item he carries in his pockets though, is far more disturbing --- a cat's eye!!! Why haven't the teachers reported this to the authorities? Where are the animal rights activists when you need them? Why hasn't the school psychologist been contacted so Marvin can receive a mental health evaluation? Of course, it is possible Marvin isn't such a strange little boy after all. What do you think? What's going on here?
Marvin's pockets are not as strange as they seem... Think about the context in which Marvin is carrying these items.
Marvin loves to play the old game of marbles. He always carries some in his pockets, some of which include: onion skins (marbles with a swirled and layered design that resemble an onion); toothpaste (marbles with the colors of red, white, blue, black, and orange inside), bumblebee (a yellow marble with two black stripes on the sides), a ball bearing made of steel called a steelie), pearls (marbles with a mother-of-pearl coating), spaghetti (marbles with entwined lines inside them), a turtle (a marble with green and yellow wavy steaks), and a cat’s eye (a marble which closely resembles the eye of a cat).
Bruno, a former race car driver, decided to switch professions when he became 30 years old. One day, on his new job, he suddenly felt compelled to speed up his car to over 90 miles per hour on the highway. As he glanced at his rearview mirror, he saw two police cars with their lights flashing and sirens wailing, coming up behind him; but Bruno appeared unphased by this, and he increased his speed to over 100 m.p.h. The two police cars remained in hot pursuit when suddenly, Bruno heard a loud bang and realized he had blown a tire. He was very fortunate to be able to pull safely over to the side of the road. Bruno laid his head down on his steering wheel as the two police cars reached his location --- and then went whizzing past him down the highway. All Bruno could say was, "I hope they don't get away." Why didn’t the two police cars stop to arrest Bruno for speeding and running from the law, and what is Bruno's new profession?
Think about a job where speeding and reckless driving are not only allowed but also encouraged, and the police would be more interested in helping than arresting...
Bruno's new profession as he had become a police officer. He was in his police cruiser when he spotted a car that matched the description of one used by a couple of men who had just committed a robbery, and he began his high-speed pursuit. Two other police cars joined in the pursuit until Bruno’s car had a flat tire.
Charlotte is a runaway criminal. She needs to get a haircut so that the police officers do not recognize her right away. There are only two hairdressers in her town, however; the first salon is run by Thomas–he has a super messy haircut and his shop is super dirty. And the second salon is run by Debbie–she has a super neat haircut and her shop is super clean. Which hairdresser should Charlotte choose for a nice haircut?
Think about what would make Charlotte's new haircut more suspicious to the police...
Charlotte should choose Thomas. Since there are only two hairdressers in her town, they can't cut their own hair; they gave haircuts to each other (Thomas cuts Debbie's hair, and Debbie cuts Thomas' hair). Since Thomas must have been the one to give Debbie a neat haircut, and Debbie must have been the one to give Thomas a messy haircut, Thomas is much more professional, and Charlotte should get her hair done by him.
A senior citizen, Marge recently made financial arrangements for a young, bald-headed man to come to her house, as she needed some assistance with some of her cleaning chores, including mopping the floors and general surface cleaning. However, despite her best efforts, Marge has been unable to convince the man to do any work for her. He just stands there with a constant smile plastered on his face, with his arms crossed, and his gold earring dangling from his left ear, as he watches Marge do all of her house cleaning -- but he never lifts one finger to help her! How long will Marge put up with this freeloader? After all, Marge has paid good money to get this man to come to her home to help her, but she ends up doing all the work! Where are the senior advocates? Just what exactly is going on here, and why is Marge allowing this situation to continue?
Think about the type of "assistant" Marge hired, and what their typical behavior might be...
Marge’s helper, which she purchased at a local grocery store, is a bottle of Mr. Clean, floor and surface cleaner.
A purveyor of baked goods is approached by a man with a very low I.Q. who wants to buy some of the baker's creations; however, the man with the low I.Q. has no credit or debit cards, no checks, and in fact, doesn't even have one red cent in his pocket to buy anything, so he is flatly denied any of the seller's goods. Who is this dolt who is trying to get something for nothing?
Think about a character from a classic nursery rhyme...
Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair. Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Let me taste your ware." Says the pieman to Simple Simon, "Show me first your penny." Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Indeed, I have not any."
1. Carnation, Peony, Tomato, Rose
2. North America, Australia, Asia, Canada
3. Dodgers, Cubs, Cowboys, Cardinals
4. Laugh, Giggle, Chuckle, Cry
5. Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, East
Which one does not belong to each line?
Here are the hints for each line:
1. Think about the common use of each item.
2. Consider the type of geographic entity in each option.
3. Notice the difference in the type of sports teams.
4. Pay attention to the emotions expressed by each word.
5. Look at the directions and think about what's missing.
1. Tomato because the others are all flowers.
2. Canada because the others are all continents.
3. Could be Dodgers because it starts with a D or could be Cowboys because the others are baseball teams.
4. Cry because the others are about happiness and being glad.
5. East because the others are intermediate directions.
I'm tempting, so it's said, I have a shiny coat of red, And my flesh is white beneath. I smell so sweet, Taste good to eat, And help to guard your teeth.
What am I?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, often associated with oral health, and has a dual-colored appearance...
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...
There is a pink single-story house and everything in it is pink. The doors are pink, the windows are pink and the TV is pink. What color are the stairs?
At a local bar, three friends, Mr. Green, Mr. Red, and Mr. Blue, were having a drink. One man was wearing a red suit; one a green suit; and the other a blue suit. "Have you noticed," said the man in the blue suit, "that although our suits have colors corresponding to our names, not one of us is wearing a suit that matches our names?" Mr. Red looked at the other two and said, "You're absolutely correct." What color suit is each man wearing?
Think about what Mr. Red said: "You're absolutely correct." If Mr. Red were wearing a red suit, he would be saying that he himself is wearing a suit that matches his name, which would contradict the initial statement. So, what color suit must Mr. Red be wearing?
Since none of the men are wearing the color of suit that corresponds to their names, and Mr. Red was replying to the man in the blue suit, it had to be Mr. Green to whom he replied. We then know that Mr. Green is wearing a blue suit. Therefore, Mr. Red is wearing a green suit and Mr. Blue is wearing a red suit.
You have two coins, and their total value is 11¢. One of the coins is not a penny. What are the two coins?
Think about the possibilities for the non-penny coin...
The two coins are a dime and a penny. I said "ONE of the coins is not a penny"; if one of the coins is not a penny, then the other coin IS a penny. The coin that is not a penny has to be a dime because the total value should be 11¢.
You are in a room that is completely bricked in on all four sides, including the ceiling and floor. You have nothing but a mirror and a wooden table in the room with you.
How do you get out?
Look closely at the mirror...
You look in the mirror you see what you saw, you take the saw and you cut the table in half, two halfs make a whole, and you climb out the hole.
A triangle has sides of 13, 18 and 31 inches. What is the triangle's area?
Think Pythagoras!
Zero. The two shorter sides of a triangle, when added together (13+18=31), must be greater than the third or longest side (31) for it to be a triangle by definition. Therefore, the result would be two parallel lines with an area of 0.
King Tut died 120 years after King Eros was born. Their combined age when they died was 100 years. King Eros died in the year 40 B.C. In what year was King Tut born?
Think about working backwards in time...
King Tut was born in 20 B.C. There were 120 years between the birth of King Eros and the death of King Tut, but since their ages amounted to only 100 years, there must have been 20 years when neither existed. This would be a period between the death of King Eros, 40 B.C., and the birth of King Tut, 20 B.C.
It's always 1 to 6, it's always 15 to 20, it's always 5, but it's never 21, unless it's flying.
What is it?
Think about something you might find on a bird, but also on a common object people use every day...
The answer is: a dice. An explanation: "It's always 1 to 6": the numbers on the faces of the dice, "it's always 15 to 20": the sum of the exposed faces when the dice comes to rest after being thrown, "it's always 5": the number of exposed faces when the dice is at rest, "but it's never 21": the sum of the exposed faces is never 21 when the dice is at rest, "unless it's flying": the sum of all exposed faces when the dice is flying is 21 (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6).
There are 30 cows in a field, and 28 chickens. How many didn't?
Think about the question being asked... it's not about the number of cows or chickens, but rather about the action of doing something. What is it that some of them didn't do?
10. Listen closely: 30 cows and twenty-eight chickens. Say EIGHT and ATE. They sound the same. Therefore, it means 20 ATE chickens. 30-20=10, so 10 cows didn't eat any chickens.
There is a green house. Inside the green house, there is a white house Inside the white house there is a red house. Inside the red house, there are lots of babies. What is it?
It is a watermelon. Explanation: The skin of the watermelon is green (green house), the watermelon rind is white (white house), the watermelon flesh is red (red house), and the watermelon seeds located in the red flesh are the babies.
I am four letters long, I can be seen in the sky, I am the ocean & I am the sea. Can you guess me?
Here's a hint: Think about a word that can have multiple meanings, and its meanings are all related to the descriptions given. It's a very common word, and you might be looking at it right now...
With pointed fangs, I sit in wait, With piercing force, I dole out fate, Over bloodless victims proclaiming its might, Eternally joining in a single bite. What am I?
"Think about a common object that is often used to 'join' things together, and has a 'bite' that can be quite strong..."
I am a being with many faces. My first is peaceful and calm, but can kill you. My second is strong enough to smash ships but still fears the sun. My third flies when it's born and runs when it's dead. My fourth goes away and never returns. What am I?
Think about the different phases of something that can be found in nature, and how each phase has distinct characteristics that might fit the descriptions given...
I am not a person nor an animal. I was born from the death of something large and hot. I am capable of consuming anything and everything. I am very dark and exists in a place where there is no gravity. What am I?
Think about something that forms from the remnants of a massive, hot celestial body, and is known for its incredible appetite and dark nature...
I am the shell of something interesting. My front is very eye catching but my inside tells all. What am I ?
"Think about something you might find in a museum or a collector's shelf, and consider the difference between its attractive exterior and the valuable information it holds within..."
I have freedom from hate, but not from lies. I'm usually seen through clouded eyes. I come unexpected, though you wait for me all your life. I can't be brought yet some people try.
What am I?
Think about a universal human experience that is often anticipated, yet unpredictable, and can be obscured by personal biases or perceptions...
People make jokes about me running. I store items for you so they don't go bad. I light up when you open the door. What am I?
Think about a common household item that's often the butt of jokes about speed, has a specific purpose for preserving things, and has a distinctive feature that illuminates when you interact with it...
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 come to you shattered and broken; And though not a word will be spoken; I will reveal to you, a world all anew; If you've the patience to make me unbroken. What am I?
"Think about something that's often fragmented, but when put together, reveals a new perspective or picture..."
I am, in truth, a yellow fork From tables in the sky By inadvertent fingers dropped The awful cutlery. Of mansions never quite disclosed And never quite concealed The apparatus of the dark To ignorance revealed. What am I?
"Think about something that's often associated with the sky, and can be seen as a dark or ominous presence, but is also something that can be found on tables..."
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?
What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?
Think about something you might find near a body of water, and consider the different parts of this thing and how they relate to the descriptions in the riddle.
What comes once in a year, twice in a month, thrice in a week, and 4 times in a day?
The letter 'R'.Once in YEAR. Twice in the month: FEBRUARY. Three times in the days of a week: SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY Four times in the times of a day: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN, and TWELVE (X2 for AM & PM).
A girl named Sadie was home alone one night. She wanted to relax after a long day instead of going to the movies. Her parents were really running late! So Sadie watched horror movie after horror movie after horror movie! But then she called 911 because she saw a man on her patio! Quickly the police came. They observed the whole house and the patio but their were no footsteps anywhere! Then, one cop found the answer to it all. What was it?
Here's a hint:
Think about what Sadie was doing all night...
A man had broke into the house and hid behind the couch. The cop found footprints back there, and it was the mans reflection that Sadie saw.
What starts with 'E', ends in 'L', and for all nearby, disaster it spells?
Think about a word that is often associated with chaos, destruction, and catastrophic events, and is commonly used to describe a severe and intense situation.
Their trunks are all packed and they wave their salutes. Will they hurry away on the wing? Don’t worry, my dear; you’ll not lose them. Don't fear! They never do leave till the spring. What are they?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and how they change with the seasons...
My first is a very uncomfortable state,
In cold weather it mostly abounds.
My second's an instrument formed of hard steel,
That will cause the stout foe to stagger and reel,
And when used, is a symptom of hate.
My whole is an author of greatest renown,
Whose fame to the last day of time will go down.
Who am I?
Think about a famous author who wrote about war and conflict...
A wealthy man named Richard Ellis had been counting his money. When he finished, he accidentally left a $100.00 bill on his desk. But when he returned for it a short while later, it was gone. Only two other people could have seen the bill. One was the maid; the other was the butler. The maid told him that she had hidden it for safekeeping under a green book that was on the desk. But when they looked the bill was not there. The butler said he had found the bill where the maid had left it. He had placed it inside the book, where he thought there was less chance that somebody would find it. He had written down the page numbers so that he would not forget them. The bill was between pages 35 and 36, he said. But when they looked, there was no money in the book. After Mr. Ellis had talked to the maid and the butler, he called the police. He knew who had taken the money. Who was it, and how did he know?
Think about the butler's statement... Did he really write down the page numbers, or was he just trying to sound convincing?
The butler did it. Mr. Ellis knew the butler was lying because pages 35 and 36 in a book are always printed on opposite sides of the same piece of paper.
Four citizens were accused of robbing a store. Suspect A says, "I didn't rob the store,". Suspect B says, "Suspect C robbed the store,". Suspect C says, "Suspect B is lying,". And Suspect D says, "Suspect A is telling the truth,". Only one suspect is telling the truth. Who robbed the store?
Think about it this way: if Suspect A is telling the truth, then who would Suspect D be supporting?
Suspect A robbed the store; Suspect C is telling the truth. If Suspect B was the thief, then A, C, and D would all be telling the truth. If Suspect C was the thief, then A, B, and D would all be telling the truth. If Suspect D was the thief, then Suspects A, C, and D would all be telling the truth again. Therefore, only Suspect A can be the thief.