From dawn to dusk I soar through the sky, A thunderous voice, but silent I fly. Through the darkest depths I will not die, Yet I can not be seen by the naked eye. What am I?
"Think about something that's present in the atmosphere, yet invisible to the human eye..."
Ralph is a very controlling person who totally dominates his partner, Sam. When Sam is in Ralph's presence, Sam is never allowed to speak, eat, or drink anything without Ralph's permission. Perhaps this is because Ralph is 6 feet six inches tall, and Sam, being less than 5 feet tall, is intimidated by Ralph's stature. Whatever the cause, most people hearing these facts would think this situation is nearly criminal; but not Sam. In fact, there are certain times when Ralph gives him permission, that Sam speaks some very sarcastic words right to Ralph's face, and sometimes even verbally abuses Ralph. In retaliation, Ralph once again silences Sam, deciding when and if Sam should ever be allowed to speak. Ralph, when in the presence of others with Sam, appears to put on a good front by putting his hand on Sam's back, hoping to show his friendship and concern for Sam. Why hasn't anyone called DCFS on behalf of poor Sam --- and what about Sam's right to free speech; or are things not quite what they appear to be? Just what is going on here?
Think about a situation where someone's "permission" is necessary for another person to "speak, eat, or drink" - but it's not about abuse or control. Consider a context where Ralph's "stature" is relevant, but not just because of his height.
Four friends went out one night. During the trip back, they tried to squeeze under an umbrella, but it was too small for them to fit through. Still, everyone managed to stay dry by the time they arrived home. How can this be?
Think about the time of day and the circumstances of their trip...
It wasn't raining. I didn't say that it was raining after all!
Which word is the odd one out: BAIL, FAIL, PAIL, RAIL, SAIL, TAIL?
Think about the words in a different context, like a physical object or a situation...
FAIL is the odd one out because it does not have a homophone. BAIL has BALE (like a bale of hay), PAIL has PALE, SAIL has SALE, TAIL has TALE, and RAIL has RALE. FAIL has FALE, which is not a real word, and therefore cannot be a homophone.
A bizarre ritual occurs, often when the weather is hot, and it has been happening for over 100 years. Two men bring two cups to a place where a large plate is located. They do not drink anything from their cups and eat nothing from the plate. Soon, a third man joins the other two, and he brings with him his cup and a wooden object. Strangely, two of the three men wear masks, despite the fact all three of them know each other. Over the next two to three hours, only one of the men remains near the large plate, while various other men continue to take their cups and wooden objects to and from their meeting place with the other two men. Just what is this strange ritual?
Think about a popular outdoor activity that people enjoy during the summer months, and a specific role that three individuals play in this activity...
The two masked men are the home plate umpire and the two catchers taking turns coming to the plate. One at a time, the hitters from both sides come to the plate to hit. All the players and the umpire always wear protective cups.
A wife called to her husband from the front door of their home stating, "Don't forget to raise the flag, but please don't be goofy and salute it afterward." Her husband responded by saying, "Don't you love your country?" The wife replied, "I am very patriotic, but I would never salute that flag. You embarrass yourself when you do it, especially when the neighbors see you." "Well, all I know is if I don't raise the flag, we'll lose our electricity, our car will be towed away, and eventually we will be evicted! Being a veteran of the Army, as long as the flag is red, white, and blue, I will always salute it!" "Oh, have it your own way, answered his wife, "but it's not the raising of the flag to which I object, it's you're saluting it afterward that bothers me!" What were the circumstances behind this couple's bizarre-sounding argument?
Think about a specific situation where a flag needs to be raised, and it's not necessarily related to patriotism or national pride...
The flag on the couple’s mailbox in front of their home was painted red, white, and blue to resemble the American flag. When the husband put their outgoing bills and other mail in the mailbox, he had to raise the flag to be sure their outgoing mail would be picked up by their mail delivery person. Being a veteran and a patriotic person, he felt compelled to salute the flag each time he raised it.
There once was an evil wizard. He took 3 woman from their homes and turned them into rose bushes that looked exactly alike. He put them in his garden. One of the woman had a husband and children and begged the wizard to let her see them. He agreed. At night, he brought the woman to her house. In the morning he came and took her home. One day the husband decided to go rescue her. So he snuck into the wizard's garden. He looked and looked at the 3 identical rose bushes trying to figure out which could be his wife. Suddenly, he knew the answer and he took his wife home. How did he know which rose bush was his wife?
Pay attention to the wizard's nightly visits...
The wizard brought the rosebush to her home at night and returned her to the garden in the morning. Therefore, she was the only plant without dew.
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.
There is a lamp inside a photography darkroom. When the darkroom door is closed, it is impossible to tell from outside the room whether or not the lamp is on. There are two switches outside the door of the darkroom. One or both of the switches may control the lamp. It also could be that neither of the switches controls the lamp. All you know is that the light bulb is currently off and that the lamp and bulb are in working condition. The darkroom door is closed and once you open the door you cannot touch either of the switches. If you can only open the dark room door one time, how can you tell which switches, if any, control the lamp?
Here's a hint: Think about how you can use the switches to create a sequence of events that will give you the most information about the lamp's state when you open the door. Consider flipping one or both switches before opening the door, and think about what you can infer from the lamp's state when you finally see it.
Turn the first switch on and leave it on for ten minutes. After ten minutes, turn that switch off and turn the second switch on. Open the darkroom door, and lightly (in case it is hot) touch the bulb. If the lamp is on, and the bulb is quite hot, both switches work the lamp. If the lamp is on, and the bulb is cool, the second switch controls the lamp. If the lamp is off, and the bulb is hot, switch one controls the lamp. If the lamp is off, and the bulb is cool, neither switch controls the lamp.
In a certain city, 5% of all the people in town have unlisted phone numbers. If you select 100 names at random from that city's phone directory, how many people selected will have unlisted phone numbers?
Think about what "selecting from the phone directory" means...
None. If their names are in the phone directory, they do not have unlisted phone numbers!
Which number would be bigger: the product of all of the numbers on your calculator, or the SUM of those numbers?
Think about the number 0...
The sum would be bigger because multiplying any number by zero always results in zero. Yes, you have to include zero; it is also a number on your calculator.
A famous chemist was murdered in his own lab. There was no evidence except for a piece of paper with the names of chemical substances on it. On the day he was murdered, the chemist had only 3 visitors: his wife, Mary, his nephew Nicolas, and his friend Johnathan. The police arrested the murderer right away. How did they know who it was?
Think about the names on the piece of paper... are they just random chemical substances, or could they be something more?
The piece of paper had a clue on it. If you combine the short names of the chemical substances on the paper, you’ll get a name: Ni-C-O-La-S.
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).
I can run constantly without ever getting tired. When I run, I frustrate people and drive them crazy, Yet I don't even have to move to irritate you.
What am I?
Think about something that can "run" in a sense, but doesn't physically move... and is often associated with frustration and annoyance.
Two teams were playing soccer against each other. One player from Team One scored a hat trick (triple goal). Their teammates were very happy. But when he scored the fourth goal, their teammates scolded him instead. How could this be possible?
Three lives have I. Gentle enough to soothe the skin, Light enough to caress the sky, Hard enough to crack rocks. What am I?
Think about something that can exist in different forms or states, and how its properties change depending on those states...
Water. Explanation: Water can be in the form of a liquid, solid (ice), and/or a gas (water vapor) which is represented by "three lives". As a liquid, it is used to bathe, as a gas it creates clouds that float in the sky, and as a solid (ice), it can split rocks or create glaciers that scour the earth as they move downhill.
I can bring you joy or sorrow, or everything in between. None have seen, smelt or felt me, yet many still know what I am. I have many types, but I am really just one thing. What am I?
Think about something that can evoke different emotions in people, and is often described or referred to, but can't be perceived through our five traditional senses...
I sail an ocean you'll never swim, and I voyage seas with white-cotton ease yet my hold is filled with water. What am I?
Think about something that "sails" through a medium, but not in the classical sense, and what "white-cotton ease" might be referring to in a more figurative way...
There was a green house. Inside the green house there was a white house Inside the white house there was a red house. Inside the red house there were lots of babies What am I?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a yard, and consider the colors mentioned in the riddle...
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...
Many underestimate my importance, yet without me this world couldn't possibly survive. I come naturally for some, but others both try and struggle to obtain me. I can change your future for the better, but that doesn't mean it will be easier. What am I?
Think about something that is essential for human existence, yet not everyone has equal access to it. It's something that can bring great benefits, but also requires effort and perseverance to achieve.
I am invisible, yet everywhere. Yet I am everywhere, I am not active in some places. Sometimes, you can feel me. I can be so strong, I can push you, and even destroy villages and towns. Yet I come unnoticed, you can make me. What am I?
"Think about something that is present all around us, but its effects can vary greatly depending on the location and circumstances. It's something that can be both gentle and powerful, and it's closely related to the natural world."
I blossom like a flower, a hindrance I create, and save you from the earth, do not use me too late. What am I?
Think about something that grows or "blossoms" over time, but can also cause problems or obstacles if not used properly. It's something that can help prevent a certain undesirable outcome, but only if used in a timely manner.
While exploring the wilds of Canada, George was captured by hostile wood fairies. Zion, the powerful chief of the fairies told him he could make one final statement which would determine how he would die. If the statement he made was false, he would be boiled in water. If the statement were true, he would be fried in oil. George found neither of this options too his liking, so he made a statement that got him out of this seemingly impossible situation. What is the one statement he could have made?
Here's a hint:
Think about a statement that, if true, would mean George would be fried in oil, and if false, would mean George would be boiled in water... but somehow, it's a statement that can't be punished by either method.
George said: "You will boil me in water." The fairies were faced with a dilemma. If they boil him in water, that would make his statement true, which means he should have been fried in oil. They can only fry him in oil if he makes a true statement, but if they do, it would make his final statement false. The fairies had no way our of their situation so they were forced to set George free.
What common English word will describe a person or thing as not being found in any place and yet with no changes other than a space between syllables, will correctly describe that person or thing as being actually present at this very moment?
The word is "NOWHERE". When a space is placed between the 'w' and 'h', you get the words "NOW HERE".
I give you a group of three. One is sitting down, and will never get up. The second eats as much as is given to him, yet is always hungry. The third goes away and never returns. What are the three things?
Think about common, everyday objects that you might find in a kitchen or at a table...
A very famous chemist was found murdered in his kitchen today. The police have narrowed it down to six suspects. They know it was a two-man job. Their names are Felice, Maxwell, Archibald, Nicolas, Jordan, and Xavier. A note was also found with the body: '26-3-58/28-27-57-16'. Who are the killers?
Think about the periodic table of elements...
Felice and Nicholas are the murderers. The numbers correspond to atomic numbers on the periodic table of elements: 'Fe-Li-Ce/Ni-Co-La-S'.