An old man wanted to leave all of his money to one of his three sons, but he didn't know which one he should give it to. He gave each of them a few coins and told them to buy something that would be able to fill their living room. The first man bought straw, but there was not enough to fill the room. The second bought some sticks, but they still did not fill the room. The third man bought two things that filled the room, so he obtained his father's fortune. What were the two things that the man bought?
Think about something that can expand or grow to fill a room, and consider the fact that the third son bought two things...
The wise son bought a candle and a box of matches. After lighting the candle, the light filled the entire room.
You're on a bus. 20 people get on at the first stop. At the next stop 45 people get on. At the 3rd stop 48 people get off. Then at the next stop 5 people get off and 9 get on. At the last stop 21 people get off 2 people are left. How is this possible? (Who's still on the bus)!?
Think about the person who's been on the bus the entire time...
This is possible because you and the bus driver are still on the bus!
I went to city OZ on the way I saw four women, with four bags, who had four kittens. Each woman had two children with her. How many people went to the city OZ? (count correctly)
Bouncing Bob was riding a particularly frisky horse when suddenly its bridle came off. As they raced down the road, a screaming Bob clung to the horse's ears for dear life. Out of the corner of his eye, Bob saw a car coming, and realizing the horse was completely out of control, he panicked. Flailing his arms about, he accidentally caused the horse to come to an abrupt halt. What could Bouncing Bob have done to make the horse stop?
Think about what Bob did with his arms that might have affected the horse's ears...
Bob accidentally put his hands over the horse's eyes. If a horse can't see he will automatically stop.
Victoria's best friend, Kayla, meets up with two guys whom Victoria likes: Andrew and Phillip. Both boys ask Kayla who Victoria likes more. Kayla didn't want to reveal her best friend's secret, but she gave the boys a hint: Victoria likes pizza, but she hates burgers. Her favorite color is green, but she doesn't like purple. She has a pet parakeet, but she avoids dogs. And Victoria always goes to the mall instead of the beach. Based on the hint, which boy does Victoria like more?
Think about the words Kayla uses to describe Victoria's preferences... are they subtly pointing to the names of the two boys?
Victoria likes Phillip more than Andrew. We have to look for some pattern in the hint Kayla gave the boys. Things such as "mall", "parakeet", "green", and "pizza" contain double letters, whereas things like "beach", "dog", "purple", and "burger" do not. The name "Phillip" contains the double letter "L", but the name "Andrew" doesn't have any double letters. Therefore, Victoria likes Phillip.
One afternoon, Phoebe stopped by her favorite restaurant for lunch, but she saw a waitress and a client arguing. The waitress, Sandra, claims that the client, Dave, had ordered a breakfast special and was now refusing to pay. Dave said that he had only ordered a coffee. Phoebe knew who was lying instantly. Who was it?
Think about the time of day and what it would imply about the menu options available...
Sandra was lying. You don't order breakfast in the afternoon.
A mad chef forces you to cook breakfast for him; if he likes it, he'll set you free, but if not, you'll stay with him forever. While you're at the stove cooking something up, the chef dumps an entire container of salt into the pot you're cooking with. But when you serve breakfast, the chef realizes he'll have to let you go. What did you cook for him?
Think about something you can cook that would actually benefit from a large amount of salt being added to it...
You cooked some boiled eggs. No matter how much salt is added to the pot, the boiled eggs won't be salty.
Megan was looking for a guy to go out with. She found a guy named Henry, and she found out that the guy loved detective stories. Megan texted Henry later that day, asking about his affinity for those kinds of stories, and he said, "Detective stories are SO cool! My grandmother even knew Sherlock Holmes!". Megan responded, "I'm not going to date a liar like you!". Why did she think Henry was lying?
Think about the timeline of Sherlock Holmes' existence...
Henry's grandmother couldn't have known Sherlock Holmes in real life because Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character.
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...
What starts with E, ends with E, but only contains one letter?
Think about something you might find in an envelope...
It's an envelope! You have to think about it literally; an "envelope" begins with E, ends with E, and only contains one letter–the "letter" is the letter you type/write. Some people believe it could be "eye" or "Eve" or "ewe", however, those things contain THREE letters (yes, you have to count the E's in each word because E is also a letter).
If you have two quarters on a table touching each other, how can you move one of the quarters without touching it? You are only allowed to touch one quarter but not move it. You cant touch the quarter that you move. You want to get at least enough room between the two quarters to insert another coin between the two quarters.
Think about using the quarter you're allowed to touch to influence the environment around the two quarters, rather than trying to directly move the quarter you're not allowed to touch.
Hold down one of the quarters very firmly. Take another coin and hit it against the quarter you are holding down. Tap hard enough to move the quarter next to it aside.
A frog fell into a 12-foot-deep well. He could jump 3 feet, but every time he jumped 3 feet, he fell back 2 feet. How many times did he have to jump to get out of the well?
Think about the pattern of the frog's progress: up 3, down 2, up 3, down 2... Focus on the net progress the frog makes with each jump.
10. On the tenth jump he cleared the edge of the well and thus did not fall back two feet.
Two wine merchants arrive at the gates of Paris. One has 64 and the other 20 barrels of wine. Since they have not enough money to pay the custom duties, the first pays 40 francs and 5 barrels of wine. The second pays 2 barrels of wine but receives 40 francs in change.
What is the value of each barrel of wine and what is the duty payable?
"Think about the total value of goods and duties paid by each merchant, and how they relate to each other..."
The value of a barrel is 120 francs and the duty is 10 francs a barrel.
A woman went into a bank to cash an insurance refund check. By mistake the teller gave her dollars for cents and cents for dollars. She put the money in her purse but accidentally dropped a nickel on the floor. When she got home, she found that she had exactly twice the amount of the check she had cashed. She didn't have any money in her wallet before going to the bank. What was the exact amount of that check?
Think about the mistake the teller made: if they gave dollars for cents and cents for dollars, that means they swapped the decimal point...
The amount must have been $31.63. She received $63.31. After she dropped a nickel there would remain the sum of $63.26, which is twice the amount of the check.
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'm the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night, I'm always there but you choose to ignore me, cross your eyes and you will see me. What am I?
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...
I cut through evil like a double-edged sword, And chaos flees at my approach. Balance I single-handedly upraise, Through battles fought with heart and mind, Instead of with my gaze.
What am I?
Think about a concept that brings order and stability, rather than a physical entity.
On a fine sunny day a ship was in the harbor. All of a sudden the ship began to sink. There was no storm and nothing wrong with the ship yet it sank right in front of the spectators eyes. What caused the ship to sink?
What's more precious than rubies, more lasting than gold, what can never be traded stolen, or sold, what comes with great effort, takes time but then once yours will serve you again and again?
Think about something that is often earned, rather than bought, and is unique to each individual...
Used to threaten, used to defeat. Sometimes it grows, sometimes it shrinks. Used to conquer, used to protect. It marks your downfall, it marks your success. The true god of war, the creator of mess. What is it?
"Think about something that can be both a powerful ally and a formidable foe on the battlefield, and its size can fluctuate depending on the circumstances..."
What ancient device allows people to traverse through walls?
Think about something that was used in the past to help people move from one place to another, and its name has a word that is also a type of partition or barrier...
There is one that has a head without an eye, And there's one that has an eye without a head. You may find the answer if you try; And when all is said, Half the answer hangs upon a thread. What are they?
Think about everyday objects that you might find in a sewing kit...
My first four letters describe all living things. My last five letters are another word for a knight. My job is to save you, and I'm a fan of water. Who am I?
Think about a word that's related to biology and has a noble connection...
Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat?
Think about the names...
Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Ex
The owner of a Lost-and-Found faced a big argument between a man and a blind woman. The two of them were arguing over car keys that they came across simultaneously. The owner decided to tell the two of them to stop arguing because he knew who the car keys belonged to. Who?
Think about the fact that the woman is blind... how would she know what she came across?
The car keys belong to the man. Remember that the woman is blind? Well, you can't drive safely if you're blind!