In a house, there lives a family of 4. There is a father, a mother, an older sister, and a younger sister. One day, the father catches a disease. A week later, Death comes to take the father's soul. The mother begs for 5 more years with her husband, and Death agrees. 5 years later, Death comes back. The older sister begs for 3 more years with her father, and Death agrees. 3 years later, Death comes back. The father, mother, and older sister turn to the younger sister for help, and she is holding a candle with a flame on the end of the wick. The younger sister says, "I have a deal to make, Death. My father will live until this candle burns out." And Death agrees. However, Death never returns. Why not?
The key to this riddle lies in the object the younger sister is holding...
The younger sister blew out the candle, so it didn't technically burn out. Then she threw away the candle so the family wouldn't mistakenly light it.
I have one, you have one. Take away a letter and a bit remains. If you remove the second, bit still remains. After much trying, you might be able to remove the first one also, but it remains. What's the word?
Think about something you might find in a computer, and how the word changes when you remove certain letters...
Habit! Remove the 'H', and it's 'a bit'. Remove the 'A', and it's 'bit'. Remove 'B', and it's 'it'.
A mother has 6 daughters. The 1st one was watching television, The 2nd was sleeping, The 3rd was at school, The 4th was playing chess, and The 5th was playing with her phone, what was the 6th daughter doing?
Ella and Mason went camping one day, but both of them got themselves in danger. Ella was bitten by a rattlesnake, and she tried to suck out the venom. Mason came face to face with a black widow spider, and he tried to attack it. Who was in more danger?
Think about the actions they took to respond to the threats...
Black widow spiders rarely bite, and their bites are rarely fatal, but it's never a good idea to suck out snake venom. Therefore, Ella was in more danger.
I'm afraid my grandmother may be getting a bit senile. The other day she told me she was planning a special Easter party for about 25 of her friends, and she asked me to go to the store for her, to pick up the following items on this list she gave me: 25 green apples, 25 peaches, 25 mangos, 25 juicy pears, 25 plums, 25 lemons, 25 coconuts, 25 cantaloupes, 25 watermelons, 25 A&W cream sodas, 25 strawberry cheesecakes, 25 pieces of bubblegum, 1 bag of crushed pineapple, 1 bag of blueberries, 1 bag of cotton candy, 1 bag of wild blackberries, 1 bag of buttered popcorn, and 1 bag of sour cherries. Well, what do you think? Is my grandmother’s trolly car starting to leave its track, or are her mental faculties still in good working order? Just what is her plan for this party?
Pay attention to the types of items on the list and think about what they have in common...
Grandma is planning an Easter jelly-bean-eating party for her 25 friends. She plans to give one of each of the gourmet jelly beans listed to each of her friends to see which flavors her friends like the best.
Every day, pilgrims make the journey to the temple of the wooden soldiers. Upon entering the temple, most of the pilgrims seek out a holey orb with which to do battle against soldiers who are dressed in red and white uniforms. Each orb is used to attack small groups of these passive soldiers — soldiers which have the unique ability to replicate themselves whenever their ranks are assaulted by the pilgrims. The mystic orbs, like boomerangs, have the uncanny ability to return to the hand of each pilgrim when cast at the soldiers during these skirmishes. What kind of a temple is this which promotes violence by allowing people to attack innocent soldiers?
Think about a common, everyday activity that people do, especially children, that involves a "battle" or competition, but is not actually violent or harmful.
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 camel is accustomed to dry and arid places; but since it has no social skills, it spits in people's faces! What is the female name you hear?
Pay close attention to the words that rhyme in the poem, especially the last words of each sentence.
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.
The day before yesterday, Chris was 7 years old. Next year, she'll turn 10.
How is this possible?
Think about the timing of birthdays and the way we phrase dates...
Today is Jan. 1st. Yesterday, December 31, was Chris's 8th birthday. On December 30, she was still 7. This year she will turn 9, and next year, she'll turn 10.
There are 2 cops parked along a one-way street looking for traffic violations. They spot a taxi driver going in the wrong direction, yet they do nothing.
Why?
Think about the situation from a different perspective... Are the cops really "looking" at the taxi driver?
The taxi driver wasn't driving at the time, he was walking.
Ronald is a chef. He is going to cook a meal. He has three stoves in front of him-a gas stove, a wood stove, and a coal stove–but he only has one match. What should Ronald light first?
Think about what you need to light in order to light any of the stoves...
Ronald should light the match first because the match needs to be lit up before he can light up anything else. After all, I never said that the match was lit in the first place!
A 300 ft. train is traveling 300 ft. per minute must travel through a 300 ft. long tunnel. How long will it take the train to travel through the tunnel?
Think about the total distance the train needs to cover, not just the length of the tunnel...
Two minutes. It takes the front of the train one minute and the rest of the train will take two minutes to clear the tunnel.
There is a creature which could double its size every day. So, if the creature is put in a tank then it will fill the tank in 10 days.
How many days would it take for the creature to fill 1/2 and 1/4 of the tank?
Think about it backwards... If the creature fills the entire tank in 10 days, what would happen on the 9th day?
9 days to fill 1/2 and 8 days to fill 1/4 of the tank. If the creature fills the tank in 10 days and it doubles every day, on the ninth day it would fill 1/2 the tank. Thus on the 8th day it will fill 1/4 of tank.
If place 1 cake of soap on a pan of a scale and 3/4 cake of soap and a 3/4-pound weight on the other, the pans balance.
How much does a cake of soap weigh?
Think about what "balances" means in this context...
Since 1/4 cake weighs 3/4 pound, and entire cake weighs 3 pounds.
A woman is at her mother's funeral when suddenly she sees a man so handsome, she instantly falls in love with her. Unfortunately, she never got a chance to talk to the man. The next day, the woman kills her sister. What was the motive?
The woman was hoping to see the man again. If you got this correct on the first try, you have the mind of a psychopath.
As defendants, we deny all involvement in the unscrupulous dealings which have come to light in the recent government investigation. What country name is hidden in the previous sentence?
Think about the first letter of each word in the sentence...
A student asked his teacher, "Miss, is it fair if I get in trouble for something I did not do?" The teacher replied, "Of course not! Tell me who got you in trouble for something you didn't do?" What do you think the student replied with?
Think about a wordplay involving a person's identity...
Chicago. The first three words out of seven of chicken are CHI, the first two words out of 3 of cat are CA, and the first two words out of goat are GO. Therefore making, (CHI)(CA)(GO).
I am the beginning of sorrow and the end of sickness. You cannot express happiness without me, yet I am in the midst of crosses. I am always in risk, yet never in danger. You may find me in the sun, but I am never out of darkness. What am I?
Think about a single letter that can be found in many words related to the descriptions given...
I can hold you prisoner Or set you free I can swing with ease (Though not from a tree) I have many shapes I have many sizes Yet, 'til we shake hands I'll hide my surprises. What am I?
Think about something you might find in your pocket or purse, and how it can be used to both restrict and liberate...
I can deliver but cannot walk, I can say things but have no mouth, I am small but can contain big things. What am I?
Think about something that can "deliver" a message or an object, but doesn't have the physical ability to walk or move on its own. It can also "say" things, but not through a physical mouth. And despite being small, it can hold or contain things that are much larger than itself...
I am something, I am nothing. I am short, I am tall. When you fall at your sport, then I stumble and fall. I have never been yet seen beneath a new moon. I thrive in the evening but vanish at noon. I am lighter than air, I weigh less than a breath. Darkness destroys me and light is my death. What am I?
Think about something that is often associated with failure or defeat, but can also be fleeting and intangible...
I am a contained world that you can shake but please don't drop me because I may break. What am I ?
Think about something you can hold in your hand, with contents that can be disturbed by shaking, but are fragile and might shatter if not handled carefully...
I am the fountain from which no one can drink. For many I am considered a necessary link. Like gold to all I am sought for, But my continued death brings wealth for all to want more. What am I?
Think about something that's highly valued and sought after, yet its "death" or depletion is what actually makes it valuable to people. It's a bit of a paradox!
My first is a creature whose breeding is unclear. My second, a price you must pay. My whole can be found in the river of Time and refers to events of today. What am I?
Think about the concept of "history" and how it relates to the river of Time...
Mark my words, and Mark them well, I've a very fine name to tell. I've said it twice, and I'll say it once more. Don't get frustrated, just write the answer down, Make sure you Mark it very well. What's my name?
Pay close attention to the repeated use of the word "Mark" in the riddle, and think about what it might be instructing you to do...
A mile from end to end, Yet as close to you as a friend. A precious commodity, freely given. Seen on the dead and on the living. Found on the rich, poor, short, and tall, But shared among children most of all. What is it?
Think about something that is universally shared among people, regardless of their background or status, and is often associated with innocence and purity.
Some try to hide, and some try to cheat, but time will show, and we always will meet. Try as you might, to guess my name, I promise you'll know when you I do claim. Who am I?
Think about something that is inevitable, unavoidable, and will eventually catch up with everyone...
There were four friends. Joff, Sarah, Edward, and Peter. One day, Peter was found dead in the living room. Before dying, he wrote 11022 with blood. Edward called the police. The suspects were Sarah: I was swimming in the swimming pool. Edward: I was painting. Joff: I went to grab a snack, when I can back Peter was already dead. Who the killer?
The hint is: Pay attention to the numbers Peter wrote in blood...
It was Joff. 1:January 10:October 2: February 2:February Take the first letters and you get Joff
There are five acquaintances. One of them shot and killed one of the other five. Which man is the murderer? 1. Dan ran in N.Y. City marathon yesterday with one of the innocent men. 2. Mike considered being a farmer before he moved to the city. 3. Jeff is a top-notch computer consultant and wants to install Ben's new computer next week. 4. The murderer had his leg amputated last month. 5. Ben met Jack for the first time six months ago. 6. Jack has been in seclusion since the crime. 7. Dan used to drink heavily. 8. Ben and Jeff built their last computers together. 9. The murderer is Jack's brother; they grew up together in Seattle.
Here's a hint:
Focus on the clues that mention physical abilities or limitations, and think about how they might relate to each other.
1. Jack is not the murderer, because he is the brother of the murderer. 2. Dan can't be the murderer since he ran a marathon, and the murderer recently had his leg amputated, and wouldn't be running a marathon of any magnitude that quickly. 3. Ben is not the murderer if he just met Jack, since Jack and the murderer grew up together. 4. This leaves Jeff and Mike. Since Jeff is still alive (he wants to install a new computer next week, present tense) he must be the murderer. Mike also didn't grow up with Jack. It has been determined that Jack, Dan and Jeff are all alive. Ben must also be alive since Jeff plans to install Ben's computer next week. This means that Jeff killed Mike.
Serena made a cake for her husband's birthday. She wanted to save it for the evening, but at that time, Serena found that someone had eaten the cake! The woman concluded that it must have been one of her kids–either Justin, Theodore, or Mia–so she questions them. Justin says, "It was Theodore!". Theodore says, "It was Mia!". And Mia says, "Theodore is lying!". Assuming that only the culprit lies, and that the innocent kids tell the truth, who ate the cake?
Think about who's accusing whom, and what would happen if each child was telling the truth...
Theodore ate the cake. If Justin was the thief, then he and Theodore would be lying, and Mia would be telling the truth, which contradicts the conditions. And if Mia was the thief, then she and Justin would be lying, and Theodore would be telling the truth; this also goes against the rules. Therefore, Justin and Mia are telling the truth, and Theodore is lying, which means that Theodore is the thief.