A world-famous magician and his young assistant were observed walking slowly along in a department store when suddenly they both stopped walking and began to slowly rise from the floor. The two continued to rise majestically until they had reached a height of 20 feet. Numerous store customers and a security guard witnessed the event, but no one seemed shocked by what they had seen, and no report of the occurrence ever reached the news media. The secrets of magic are not supposed to be revealed, but how would you speculate the magician and his assistant accomplished this feat, and why didn't the onlookers express amazement?
Hint: Think about the department store's layout and a common feature often found in them...
The magician and his assistant were simply using an escalator to go up to the next floor in the department store.
We are little Verbal creatures. Each of us with different features. The first of us in glass is set. The second you can find in jet. The third is trapped in tin. The fourth is boxed within. Now the fifth may try and hide, but it can never leave your side. An adopted sibling we also have but, he only appears when pigs fly. What are we?
Pay attention to the words and think about the sounds they make...
Imagine Johnny, a party clown, is carrying three pieces of gold each piece weighing one kilogram. While taking a walk he comes to a bridge that has a sign posted saying the bridge could hold only a maximum of 80 kilograms. John weighs 78 kilograms and the gold weighs three kilograms. Johnny reads the sign and still safely crossed the bridge with all the gold. How did he manage this?
Think about the state of Johnny when he's not carrying the gold...
Johnny is a clown so he has mastered juggling. When he came to the bridge he juggled the gold, always keeping one piece in the air.
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.
Simon and Bryce are two farmers. They want to see which of their chickens will lay more eggs in a month. Simon has four roosters; he claims that they can each lay 3 eggs in a day. Bryce has three hens; he claims that they can each lay 2 eggs in a day. The contest the two farmers propose happens in June. By the end of the month, which farmer will have the most eggs?
Think about the biology of chickens...
Bryce will have more eggs than Simon, simply because Simon is lying. Roosters don't lay eggs, so Simon will not have any eggs by the end of June.
Taylor was walking home from the gym when someone ran up in front of the woman and hit her on the right side of her face. The woman went right to the police station to report the attack. The detectives had found three people-Mike, Jerry, and Jack-and arrested them. How can the detectives figure out who really attacked Taylor?
Pay attention to the pronouns used in the story, particularly when referring to the victim and the attackers.
The detectives should give each suspect a marker and ask them to write their names on a whiteboard. Taylor was hit on the right side of her face, which means that the person who attacked her is left-handed. The detectives just need to observe which of the three suspects writes with his left hand, and that person should be arrested.
A famous magician and his assistant are standing in the middle of a large, empty field. There are no trees or buildings to be seen, and there are no ropes or hidden wires attached to the two performer's bodies. A large group of curious onlookers and their families are present to see the magician's farewell performance, as advertised in the local newspapers. The magician suddenly raises both hands and dramatically shouts to the audience, "My assistant and I will now rise from this very ground and disappear from your sight, but in three hours we will reappear in a town ten miles from here!" And with those final words, the magician and his assistant slowly lifted from the ground, continuing to rise majestically, until they were out of sight! True to his word, he and his assistant did reappear in another town ten miles from the place where they had first disappeared --- in the predicted three hours' time! What a fantastic trick!! How do you think they accomplished such an amazing feat?
Think about the mode of transportation that can take you 10 miles in 3 hours, and is not a hidden wire or rope...
The magician and his assistant used a hot-air balloon to rise up and disappear from the field. They were able to navigate and land it in a similar field in a town ten miles away.
Within, I clean all that is bad and old. I make juice that's the color of gold. Should I die, a filter machine would you need to assemble to replace me, and a bean I resemble... What am I?
Think about a common household item that's used for a specific task, and its shape and function might remind you of a type of bean...
3 men go into a motel. The man behind the desk said the room is $30, so each man paid $10 and went to the room. A while later the man behind the desk realized the room was only $25, so he sent the bellboy to the 3 guys' room with $5. On the way the bellboy couldn't figure out how to split $5 evenly between 3 men, so he gave each man $1 and kept the other $2 for himself. This meant that the 3 men each paid $9 for the room, which is a total of $27, add the $2 that the bellboy kept = $29. Where is the other dollar?
"Think about the initial transaction, not just the refund..."
The three men HAVE paid $27. But the bellboy's $2 are part of it. The hotel has $25 of the men's dollars. The bellboy has the other two. That's $27, and the three the men have make $30. The riddle is confusing because it would add the bellboy's $2 to the men's $27. But the men don't HAVE $27, nine each. They each PAID $9 for a total of $27, of which the hotel has $25 and the bellboy has $2. They HAVE $1 each. Add that to the two the bellboy has, and the $25 in the cash drawer (together the men's $27), and you have accounted for all thirty. I came across this riddle elsewhere on riddles.com, but the answer given was "I don't know"! So I figured it out and posted it.
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?
There is a common English word that is nine letters long. Each time you remove a letter from it, it still remains an English word - from nine letters right down to a single letter. What is the original word, and what are the words that it becomes after removing one letter at a time?
Here's a hint: The original word is a type of activity that people often do in their free time.
The base word is Startling - starting - staring - string - sting - sing - sin - in - I
There were 5 children in a room. Iris drew a picture, Barry played video games, Andrew played chess, and Trina read a book. What is the fifth child, Mindy, doing?
Mindy is playing chess with Andrew. You can't play chess alone!
A man went to a party. There was a bartender at the party, and while the man was recieving his drink, the bartender said," I bet $50 I can write your exact age on this slip of paper." Since the first man had never met this man before, he agreed. In the end he ended up paying the bartender $50. What did the bartender write?
Think about what the bartender could have written that would be applicable to anyone, regardless of their age...
A green apple costs $1, a red apple costs $2, and a blue apple costs $3. If you have $3, but only two bills, what apples can you buy?
Think about the possible combinations of bills you can have with only two bills...
There are two solutions; you can either buy one green apple and one red apple using a $1 and a $2 (yes, $2 bills are a thing), or you can buy three green apples using the same two bills. You could have bought one blue apple using those bills, but blue apples don't exist!
Three cars had driven into a parking lot at the same time, and the three drivers left them all for the attendant to park. Unfortunately, he isn't too good at remembering exactly which driver drove which car. However, he is sure of these 6 facts: a. Colin drove the BMW if and only if Mr. Cooper drove the Avenger. b. Alan drove the Cortina if and only if Mr. Cooper drove the BMW. c. Colin is Mr. Brown if and only if Mr. Andrews drove the BMW. d. Brian is Mr. Andrews if and only if Colin drove the BMW. e. Mr. Cooper drove the Avenger if and only if Alan is Mr. Brown. f. Colin is Mr. Brown if and only if Alan drove the Cortina. Who arrived with which car?
Pay close attention to the names and the cars, and notice that each fact is an "if and only if" statement, which means you can swap the two parts of the statement without changing its meaning. Also, try to find a pattern or a loop in the statements that can help you figure out the correct combinations.
Brian Brown drove the BMW, Alan Andrew drove the Avenger, and Colin Cooper drove the Cortina.
A new medical building containing 100 offices had just been completed. Mark was hired to paint the numbers 1 to 100 on the doors. How many times will Mark have to paint the number nine?
Think about the numbers that contain the digit 9...
Jim was examining an angle measuring 14 and 1/2 degrees, using his magnifying glass that magnifies everything two times. Under the glass, how large would that angle measure?
Think about what happens to the angle when it's magnified, not just the number...
14 and 1/2 degrees. Explanation, angles remain constant when magnified. A square has 4-90 degree corners, if you zoom in (magnify) a square, it's still a square.
Mr. Grumper grumbles about bad time-keeping trains like everybody else. On one particular morning he was justified, though. The train left on time for the one hour journey and it arrived 5 minutes late. However, Mr. Grumper's watch showed it to be 3 minutes early, so he adjusted his watch by putting it forward 3 minutes. His watch kept time during the day, and on the return journey in the evening the train started on time, according to his watch, and arrived on time, according to the station clock. If the train traveled 25 percent faster on the return journey than it did on the morning journey, was the station clock fast or slow, and by how much?
Hint: Focus on the difference between Mr. Grumper's watch and the station clock, and think about how the train's speed affects the perceived time.
The station clock is 3 minutes fast. The morning journey took 65 minutes, and the evening journey therefore took 52 minutes, and the train arrived 57 minutes after it should have left, that is, 3 minutes early.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were walking home from the shopping mall with their purchases when Mr. Smith began to complain that his load was too heavy. Mrs. Smith turned to her husband and said, "I don't know what you're complaining about because if you gave me one of your parcels, I would have twice as many as you and if I gave you just one of mine, we would have equal loads." How many parcels was each carrying?
Think about the ratio of parcels between Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and how it changes when they exchange one parcel. The key is to find the smallest possible ratio that satisfies the conditions.
Mrs. Smith was carrying seven parcels and Mr. Smith was carrying five.
You are given a set of scales and 12 marbles. The scales are of the old balance variety. That is, a small dish hangs from each end of a rod that is balanced in the middle. The device enables you to conclude either that the contents of the dishes weigh the same or that the dish that falls lower has heavier contents than the other. The 12 marbles appear to be identical. In fact, 11 of them are identical, and one is of different weight. Your task is to identify the unusual marble and discard it. You are allowed to use the scales three times if you wish, but no more. Note that the unusual marble may be heavier or lighter than the others. How can you identify it and determine whether it is heavy or light?
Here's a hint:
For your first weighing, try to create a situation where you're comparing a group of marbles against another group of the same size. Think about how you can use this weighing to divide the 12 marbles into three groups of 4, and what information you can gain from this weighing...
Number the marbles from 1 to 12. For the first weighing put marbles 1,2,3 and 4 on one side and marbles 5,6,7 and 8 on the other. The marbles will either they balance or not. If they balance, then the different marble is in group 9,10,11,12. Thus, we would put 1 and 2 on one side and 9 and 10 on the other. If these balance then the different marble is either 11 or 12. Weigh marble 1 against 11. If they balance, the different marble is number 12. If they do not balance, then 11 is the different marble. If 1 and 2 vs 9 and 10 do not balance, then the different marble is either 9 or 10. Again, weigh 1 against 9. If they balance, the different marble is number 10, otherwise, it is number 9. That was the easy part. What if the first weighing 1,2,3,4 vs 5,6,7,8 does not balance? Then any one of these marbles could be a different marble. Now, in order to proceed, keep track of which side is heavy for each of the following weighings. Suppose that 5,6,7 and 8 is the heavy side. We now weigh 1,5 and 6 against 2,7 and 8. If they balance, then the different marble is either 3 or 4. Weigh 4 against 9, a known good marble. If they balance then the different marble is 3 or 4. Then, if 1,5 and 6 vs 2,7 and 8 do not balance, and 2,7,8 is the heavy side, then either 7 or 8 is a different, heavy marble, or 1 is a different, light marble. For the third weighing, weigh 7 against 8. Whichever side is heavy is the different marble. If they balance, then 1 is the different marble. Should the weighing of 1,5 and 6 vs 2,7 and 8 show 1,5,6 to be the heavy side, then either 5 or 6 is a different heavy marble or 2 is a light different marble. Weigh 5 against 6. The heavier one is the different marble. If they balance, then 2 is a different light marble.
You are floating in cold freezing water in the ocean after a shipwreck. Suddenly, out of the blue, you see an island. You quickly swim towards the island and sleep on the cold sand. The next day you see a boy, a woman, and a man who had claimed they had been poisoned and they need your water to cure them you ask them "What poison can be killed by water?" Then, you feel thirsty take out your water bottle and before you drink you realize it is some sort of potion then understand why they went to you. You see a note which tells that two are vampires while one is an actual human and tells you a secret code that could be a hint. The code was manacure. Who should you save?
Hint: Look closely at the code "manacure" and think about what it could be related to in the context of the story. It's not just a random word...
Answer: The man if you spell the words back word it spells cure a man the steps are here normal: manacure 1st step - separate them into words: man a cure 2nd step - rearrange them: cure a man 3rd step - you got your answer
NASA was considering sending canaries into space to study them under zero gravity. The project was scrapped when someone realized that in spite of having sufficient water supplies, they could die of dehydration within a few hours. Why?
Think about how canaries drink water...
Birds, unlike humans, need gravity to swallow. Humans can swallow even while hanging upside down.
A camel travels a certain distance each day. Strangely enough, two of its legs travel 30 miles each day and the other two legs travel nearly 31 miles. It would seem that two of the camel's legs must be one mile ahead of the other two legs, but of course this can't be true.
Since the camel is normal, how is this situation possible?
Think about the direction the camel is traveling...
The camel operates a mill and travels in a circular clockwise direction. The two outside legs will travel a greater distance than the two inside legs.
You are a bus driver. Two kids get on and one kid gets off. Five kids get on and four get off. Nine kids get on another one gets off.
What color are the bus driver's eyes?
Think about what information you're given, and what information you're NOT given...
If your eyes are green, the answer is green. If your eyes are brown, the answer is brown, etc.
It's 7:00 am. You are asleep and there is a sudden knock on the door. Behind the door are your parents, who came to have breakfast. In your fridge: bread, milk (pasteurized!), juice, and a jar of jam. What do you open first?
Think about what you need to do before you can even start preparing breakfast...
Ice melts when heated up. But I solidify when I'm heated up. What am I?
Think about something that changes its state from liquid to solid when its temperature increases, a process that's opposite to what happens with ice...
When in hot water I get harder. I am only useful once broken. Some people eat only the white part for its low fat, high protein nutritional content. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, but isn't always edible in its original form...
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...
Known by all without exception, Forever here, for your protection, Sometimes strong, sometimes weak, Right after the night I come - hot and chic. And while millions of miles away, I always get to you, I find my way. No life around could do without me, Can you guess what I might be?
Think about something that is always present, yet its presence can vary in intensity, and is often associated with the morning hours...
I am a type of room you cannot enter or leave. Raised from the ground below, I could be poisonous or a delicious treat. What am I?
Think about a space that's often found in a house, but you can't physically enter or exit it. The "raised from the ground below" part might be a literal clue...
Sometimes I'm in an onion, sometimes I'm in a lamp. Sometimes I'm in the form of garlic, sometimes I'm in the form of asparagus. And I'm usually very bright. What am I?
Think about the different forms mentioned, and how they're all related to a specific aspect of food...
In old age I'm lost, in trauma I'm tossed. What am I?
Think about something that's often forgotten or misplaced as people get older, and also something that can be disturbed or dislodged due to a sudden shock or accident...
Play my music, if you dare. Turn my crank, although I'm square. Stand back, or get a scare, when you see my surprising glare.
What am I?
Think about something that produces music, has a crank, and can be square in shape... but also has a surprising and potentially startling effect when activated!
My traces are everywhere, day or night. My enemies can drive me away, but they can't kill me,and sometimes, it makes me. I make some people feel fear, others feel serenity. I came when you closed your eyes, I can make you have eyes but not see, but you must not want to leave me forever. I can devour everything. What am I?
"Think about something that is always present, yet can be chased away, and is often associated with strong emotions. It's not a living thing, but it can have a profound impact on how we perceive the world."
I can bring power, money, connections, repute, and admiration, but I'm useless in the face of love and friendship. Treat others with me, and you'll avoid heartbreak, but you'll also gain endless loneliness. What am I?
"Think about something that can bring you prestige and advantages in life, but can also serve as a barrier to genuine relationships."
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...
"First think of the person who lives in disguise, Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies. Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend, The middle of the middle and end of the end? And finally, give me the sound often heard During the search for a hard-to-find word. Now string them together, and answer me this, Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"
"Think about the world of espionage, broken things, and language struggles..."
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?
I saw a man in white, he looked quite a sight. He was not old, but he stood in the cold. And when he felt the sun, he started to run. Please answer me.
Who could he be?
Here's a hint: Think about something you might find in your freezer.
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...
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.