It was 8 a.m. on a cold Saturday morning in November when Inspector YU of the local police department received the call that a robbery had taken place at the home of a Miss Tiffany Ritz, a wealthy widow who lived in a wealthy neighborhood of seven mansions. The Ritz mansion was exactly in the middle, with three neighboring mansions located on either side of her lavish estate. Upon arriving at the scene of the crime, Inspector Yu was informed by the police that Miss Ritz had called 9-1-1 at 6 a.m. to report her million-dollar broach had been stolen during the night. She said she had gone downstairs just before 6 a.m. to feed her pet piranha fish when she noticed the window was open, and her ruby broach was missing from its glass display case. The police informed Inspector Yu they had left the grounds behind the mansions undisturbed, as that was where the break-in had occurred, and with the assistance of a two-inch snowfall during the night, they knew any footprints would be easily readable in the freshly fallen snow. Wasting no time, Inspector Yu began an intricate search of the snow-covered grounds behind the Ritz mansion where the break-in had occurred. The blacktopped roadway behind the seven mansions had already been plowed by the contracted maintenance man, but the snow-covered yards behind each mansion remained undisturbed. Inspector Yu was surprised to see there were absolutely no footprints of any kind leading up to the rear window of the Ritz estate, and he was especially mystified by the presence of a strange, slightly curving line in the snow which went from the plowed blacktop to the rear window where the robber had entered to steal the million-dollar broach. How was it possible for there to be absolutely no footprints in the snow which had fallen during the night, and what had caused the bizarre, curving two-inch wide line pressed into the snow which lead to the back window? The inspector noted a small, circular hole had been cut out of the window glass, where someone had reached through to undo the latch. Inspector Yu then opened the window and entered the room where the burglary had taken place. A second hole had been cut out of the glass case protecting the broach, and the thief had obviously reached through the hole and swiped the valuable jewelry. He found no other significant clues in the room, and the dusting of the window and broach case for fingerprints brought no results. Inspector Yu had observed the strange, curved line which was pressed into the snow lead to the back window, but then went away from that window in a different direction, noting this two-inch wide track then returned back to the blacktop near the place where it had started. An inspection of the other snow-covered yards behind the other six mansions revealed no footprints and no sign of the mysterious curved line in the snow. Inspector Yu's next step was to interview the tenants of the three mansions on either side of the Ritz home. He learned all of the other six neighbors had been in the home of Miss Ritz on numerous occasions for various parties, and they all said they had been shown the million-dollar broach in the case. None of the six had an alibi for their whereabouts the night of the robbery, as they all lived alone, and had slept soundly through the night, according to their testimonies. The inspector also discovered each of the neighbors despised one another, including Miss Ritz, and each one tried to implicate the others concerning the case, with stories about their exotic and bizarre behaviors. The tenants were identified as follows: Miss Sharp, a professional ice skater, whom one of the neighbors said had a habit of riding around the neighborhood on a pair of custom-built motorized ice skates, making a complete spectacle of herself on the icy blacktop. Another neighbor, Samuel Clowney, was a retired circus entertainer who was well versed in all aspects of circus performance life. One of the neighbors reported Mr. Clowney liked to show off some of his circus skills by riding up and down in front of the seven mansions as he demonstrated his balancing skill, while simultaneously juggling up to five oranges. A third neighbor, a Mr. Baghat, had relocated to the U.S. from India. Several neighbors reported he had a snake he had trained to fetch items for him upon request, and had actually trained the snake to move through the snow, even though snakes are cold-blooded reptiles which usually hate cold environments. Neighbor number four, a former Olympic pole vaulting champion from France by the name of Monsieur Jumpette, once reportedly shocked each of these neighbors by running through each of their yards using his pole to vault over each of their in-ground swimming pools. A fifth neighbor, a Miss Priscilla Pirouette, was a professional ballerina who reportedly showed off her skills to her neighbors on a regular basis, by walking on her extreme tiptoes up and down in front of the seven mansions. The last neighbor, a Miss Tallsey, was an extremely thin and emaciated woman who was 7 feet 2 inches tall but weighed less than 100 pounds. Her neighbors told Inspector Yu she made a frequent habit of walking around the neighborhood on a tall pair of wooden stilts, making her over ten feet tall. After interviewing each of the six neighbors in their mansions, Inspector Yu deduced one thing for certain: This was the weirdest group of people in one neighborhood he had ever seen in his entire life! The inspector felt certain one of the six neighbors had stolen the precious ruby broach, and he felt almost 100% certain he knew who the culprit was, based on one of the reports he had received from one of the neighbors. The inspector made his arrest, and sure enough, the million-dollar ruby broach was found in that neighbor's home. And now you, (not Inspector Yu), as a member of the Detective Dream Team, must use your powers of deduction to identify the thief who stole the precious ruby broach. So.......... Who Done It?
Here's a hint:
Think about the strange, curving line in the snow and how it relates to one of the neighbors' unique habits or abilities. Consider how this line could have been created without leaving any footprints in the snow.
Inspector Yu was tipped off by one of the neighbors who spoke about the circus skills of Samuel Clowney. The neighbor mentioned Mr. Clowney liked to "demonstrate his balancing skill while juggling up to five oranges." The inspector discovered what the neighbor was referring to when he interviewed Samuel Clowney in his mansion, and noticed many pictures of Mr. Clowney riding a unicycle while juggling various objects. Only the tire of a unicycle could have made the curving line in the snow which lead up to the back window of the Ritz mansion where the break-in had occurred. This explained the mystery of why no footprints were found on the ground outside the window, as Mr. Clowney's feet were on the pedals of his unicycle, and never touched the ground.
One evening, Sabrina was walking in the park when she found her friend Steven, as well as his bike, on the ground. Sabrina helped the guy up, and she asked him what had happened; Steven said, "I was riding my bike when someone threw a stone at me. I lost control of my bike and fell,". Sabrina decides to question three other people who were in the park at the time. Camilla said that she was having her morning run and didn't see anything. Adam said that he was sitting on a nearby bench, reading a book. And Oliver said that he was having a barbecue with his friends; they could confirm this. Who is lying?
Hint: Pay attention to the time of day mentioned in the story...
Camilla couldn't have her MORNING run because it was EVENING. Therefore, she is lying.
Farmer Egbert has a cow, two horses, and a cat. The farmer drives up to the farm accompanied by his dog Fluffball. How many feet are there on the farm?
Think about the number of legs each animal has, but don't forget to consider the farmer himself!
The task was to count the number of FEET, so the correct answer is just two. Cows and horses have HOOVES; dogs and cats have PAWS; only Egbert, a human, has FEET.
A young woman owns two horses, a plane, a gun, a tape with many markings, and a machine with sharp teeth which she uses almost every day. She does not use any of these for transportation or for self-defense (although the gun is loaded), but she does rely on all of these items to meet her financial needs. What does this young woman do for a living, and why does she need this strange assortment of objects?
Think "entertainment" and consider the markings on the tape as a crucial clue.
The young woman is a carpenter. She uses her two sawhorses, her carpenter’s plane, her nail gun, her tape measure, and her circular saw almost every day as she works to earn a living.
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: Polar bears live at the North Pole they say, and penguins all live at the South; it's lucky those penguins live so far away, or they'd end up in polar bear's mouth! What is the female's name you hear?
Listen carefully to the rhythm and emphasis on certain words, and think about a common female name that sounds similar to a phrase in the poem.
You have seven pens and nine pigs. You must arrange the pens so that each pen has an even number of pigs. Zero is not allowed, nor will it work. How do you do this?
Think about grouping the pigs in a way that each group has an even number of pigs, and then assign the pens accordingly. You might need to get a little "creative" with how you define a "group" of pigs...
A man sails off on a cruise between Mexico and the USA. He does not stop at any ports and does not even come out of the cabin, yet he makes $300,000 from his trip.
How?
Think about what the man might be carrying with him in his cabin...
If there is a Yellow house on Bluebird Lane, a Green house on Orange Street, a Pink house on Kitten Road, a Black house on Whitehorse Pike and a Purple house on Firebird hill, where is the White house?
Look for a pattern in the names of the streets and the colors of the houses...
Trains travel from one town to another town all day, always on the same track, always going nonstop and at the same speed. The noon train took 80 minutes to complete the trip, but the 4 PM train took an hour and 20 minutes. Why?
Think about the timing of the trains and how it might affect the duration of their trips...
My first is often at the front door. My second is found in the cereal family. My third is what most people want. My whole is one of the United States. What am I?
Think about words that can be broken down into individual letters, and consider the meanings of each letter in a specific context...
MATRIMONY (mat rye money). Which is certainly a "united state"!
You are in a car hungry, thirsty, and broken. You come across three doors on the side of the road. One is full of food, one is full of glasses of water, and one is filled with millions of dollars. Which door do you open first?
Think about the order of priority when you're in a car and in a state of distress...
Claudia invented a game for her friends to play at her birthday party. Here is how it goes: she will place two marbles into a box– one yellow marble, and one purple marble. The player will have to pull out one of the marbles from the box. If the marble is yellow, the player will win $100.00, but if the marble is purple, the player will have to pay $10.00. Claudia decided to trick the players by putting two purple marbles into the box, rather than one yellow and one purple. Brian watched the other players lose the game one by one. But when it was his turn, he won $100.00! How did he do it?
"Think about what Brian saw before it was his turn, and how that information might have helped him..."
Brian pulled out one of the marbles, and, without showing it to anyone, quickly put it in his mouth, being careful not to swallow it. Then, he pulled out the remaining marble, which was purple, and showed it to everybody. According to the rules, it meant that the marble Brian had chosen was yellow. Claudia had to admit it, otherwise, everyone at the party would know that she was a liar.
Place three piles of matches on a table, one with 11 matches, the second with 7, and the third with 6. You are to move matches so that each pile holds 8 matches. You may add to any pile only as many matches as it already contains. All the matches must come from one other pile. For example, if a pile holds 6 matches, you may add 6 to it, no more or less.
You have three moves. How can you do it?
Think about the "balance" of matches between the piles...
First pile to second; second to third; third to first:
Pile
Initial number
First move
Second move
Third move
First
11
11-7=4
4
4+4=8
Second
7
7+7=14
14-6=8
8
Third
6
6
6+6=12
12-4=8
A young, meek woman travels to a foreign land but accidentally kills an older woman when she arrives there. The young woman is very surprised to hear only cheers and praise from the large group of witnesses to the older woman's death ------ in fact, the entire group honors and thanks her for the killing. But the story doesn't end there, as the young woman later teams up with three males who agree to assist her in attempting to murder the sister of the dead woman. Having developed a taste for blood, the young woman, with the help of her gang of three males, manages to murder the second sister, much to the delight of an oddly dressed battalion of soldiers. This young woman is never tried for either of the killings and eventually, she returns home. What kind of warped justice is this? Two killings ------ one a definite murder, and not even an indictment? What in the world is going on here?
Think about a game, not a real-life scenario...
Your questions will all be answered by watching the classic movie, "The Wizard of Oz".
I can be hot, I can be cold, I can run and I can be still, I can be hard and I can be soft. What am I?
Think about something that can change its state or form in various ways, and is often associated with different temperatures, textures, and movements...
They say the eyes are windows to your soul, But yet I had no soul, From time to time I always stand tall, An immortal, Nothing could move me, If I could, I would run as fast as I could, Feeling the wind carry me beneath my feet, But alas, I can not, The Medusa's Curse. What am I?
Here's a hint: Think about something that can be found in a statue...
Face with a tree, skin like the sea. A great beast I am, yet vermin frightens me.
What am I?
Think about an animal that has a "face" or a distinctive feature resembling a tree, and its skin is reminiscent of the sea. Also, consider what kind of "vermin" might scare a large and powerful creature...
I am a word of three syllables, each of which is a word; my first is an article in common use; my second, an animal of uncommon intelligence; my third, though not an animal, is used in carrying burdens. My whole is a useful art. What am I?
Think about a type of skill or craft that involves carrying or holding things, and pay close attention to the words that make up the description - they might be more literal than you think!
My body has a dozen heads or more, My tails don't wag when you walk in the door. Count the ways you can hold me tight, Or use me for a special night! What Am I?
Think about something you might find in a party or celebration, and consider the multiple ways it can be held or used...
I am the runner, The pencils the chaser. I eat up the lead, I choke on the eraser. When I am done, I become another one, To be used again. I am white And blank as well. I can be folded, Into a bell. My corners are cut perfectly, My lines are straight and blue. Me having black marks or not, Fully depends on you. What am I?
Think about something you use to write or draw on, and how it interacts with pencils and erasers...
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..."
I am a holiday, of course, celebrated in December, I am celebrated until New Year, People who celebrate me are considered Evil by many Religions, what am I?
"Think of a winter holiday that's often associated with darkness, magic, and merriment, but is viewed with suspicion by some religious groups..."
What is Greater than God, worse than evil, the poor have it, the rich require it and if you eat it you die?
Think about something that is often associated with power, yet can be a burden to those who have it, and is desperately needed by those who don't. It's a paradoxical concept that can be both coveted and feared.
Nothing. Nothing is better than God. Nothing is worse than evil. The poor have nothing. The rich don't have anything they have everything. If you eat nothing you die.
A mother had five boys Marco, Tucker, Webster, and Thomas. Was the fifth boy named Frank, Evan, or Alex?
Think about the phrase "A mother had five boys"... who is telling you this information?
The answer is Frank. The mother named the kids with the first two letters of the days of the week.Monday is Marco, Tuesday is Tucker, Wednesday is Webster, Thursday is Thomas and Friday is Frank.
I take months to build, seconds to destroy, and years to rebuild. What am I?
Think about something that requires patience, effort, and time to create, but can be ruined in an instant, and then takes a long time to recover or restore...
In the olden days, you are a clever thief charged with treason against the king and sentenced to death. But the king decided to be a little lenient and let you choose your own way to die. What way should you choose?
Think about a method of execution that is dependent on the actions of others, rather than your own...
Four kings of whom I am one lord. Often on deck but never on board. Though I have a large heart, I am always seen at war. During which I always wear a suit, but never a suit of armor. Who am I?
Think about a game where strategy and skill are key, and the "war" is more of a mental battle...
Five hundred begins it, five hundred ends it, Five in the middle is seen; First of all figures, the first of all letters, Take up their stations between. Join all together, and then you will bring Before you the name of an eminent king. Who am I?
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'.