A woman waved to a man in a taxi. She got into the taxi and told the taxi driver where to take her. He nodded to her and drove. The woman talked a lot and that annoyed the taxi driver. The taxi driver said," Ma'am, I can't hear what you are saying! I am as deaf as a post!" The woman stopped talking for the rest of the ride. Once she got out of the taxi, she realized he was lying. How did she know?
Pay attention to the taxi driver's response to the woman's directions at the beginning of the ride...
There are two ways she figured out: 1. He would have had to hear her to know she was talking as he was focusing on driving. 2. He would not have heard her directions if he was deaf and wouldn't have nodded in response as a way to confirm he got the directions.
A businesswoman named Coraline was at her place of work when a young man entered. "You look like a Clark to me," said Coraline in greeting him. The man responded, "You are exactly right," and he exchanged something with her and then left. A second man entered and said, "I'm really hungry, and am looking for the nearest fast-food place." "I suggest you take 5th Avenue," answered Coraline. He then exchanged something with her and left. A rather heavy-set woman then came through the door and Coraline said, "You are definitely a chunky person!" Seemingly unaffected by the comment, the woman said, "I certainly have to agree with you," and she then exchanged something with Coraline and then departed. A policewoman then entered and said in a serious voice, "I received a tip that one of the Peanuts gang was hiding in here, and I came to take her in. "She is here," replied Coraline, and she turned her over to the officer in exchange for something. Finally, a shady-looking character came slinking in, carrying a black briefcase. "Why are you here?" asked Coraline. "It's not payday again, is it?" "You got it, Sweetie!" he replied, and he exchanged something with her and then left. What in the world was going on here, and what kind of business was Coraline operating?
Here's a hint: Think about the names and phrases used in the conversations, and how they might relate to a specific type of business or product that Coraline is dealing with. Pay attention to the words and phrases that seem out of place or unusual in a normal conversation.
Coraline was the owner and operator of a candy shop. Most of her customers were repeat customers, and she was very familiar with their specific requests before they ever stated them. In order of their entry into her store, she offered them: A Clark bar, a 5th Avenue candy bar, a Chunky square, a Peppermint Patty, and a Payday bar. Each customer simply paid for their selection and left with their favorite candy.
Jennifer is always late for work. One day, she comes to work late as usual, which angers her boss. But, her boss is more lenient today and gives Jennifer a chance to keep her job. If she solves his rebus puzzle, Jennifer won't be fired. The boss says, "I'm A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z!". Luckily, Jennifer was a smart girl and managed to keep her job. What did the rebus puzzle say?
The hint is: Think about the alphabet, but not just the letters...
"I'm missing you". "A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z" is missing the letter "U", which sounds like "I'm missing you (U)".
Yvonne and Diane are two friends going out on a camping trip. Here are some of the things they plan to take with them: chair, lamp, rice, game, tent. Can you guess which item the girls should leave at home?
Think about what you typically associate with a camping trip, and what might not be necessary (or even possible) to bring along...
Yvonne and Diane should leave the chair at home. "Lamp", "Rice", "Game", and "Tent" all have four letters, while "Chair" has five letters.
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.
Alice is walking through the forest of forgetfulness. She wants to know what day of the week it is. She stops and asks a lion and a unicorn. Now the lion lies all of the time on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The unicorn always lies on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Alice asks the lion what day it is, he says, "Well, yesterday was one of my lying days." Alice can't figure it out just from the lion's answer so she asks the unicorn and the unicorn says, "Yesterday was also one of my lying days." What day is it?
Think about the possibilities of "yesterday" for both the lion and the unicorn...
This is impossible to solve, because if I were telling the truth, then I would be lying, which doesn't make sense since I am telling the truth. If I am lying, then what I said was true and that doesn't make sense either.
During WWII, there was a bridge connecting Germany and Switzerland, and on the German side, there was a sentry tower with a guard in it. He would come out every three minutes to check on the bridge, and he had orders to turn back anyone who tried to get into Germany, and shoot anyone trying to escape without a pass. There was a woman who desperately needed to get into Switzerland, and she knew she didn't have time to get a pass. It would take her at least six minutes to cross the bridge, but she managed to do it. How?
Think about the direction she was traveling...
When the sentry went into the tower, she would start to cross into Switzerland, and when he came out, she would start to walk back into Germany. When he saw her, he would tell her to turn back into Switzerland.
I move very slowly at an imperceptible rate, although I take my time, I am never late. I accompany life, and survive past demise, I am viewed with esteem in many women's eyes.
What am I?
Think about something that grows or develops gradually, often associated with beauty and femininity...
If you like pretty gems that sparkle and shine, I invite you to dig in my virtual mine. My first is purple, fit for a king, My second is green where Dorothy did her thing. My third is red, July's birthstone as well, My fourth is seen in strings and is found inside a shell. My fifth is hard, pure Carbon, and expensive to buy, My sixth is Crocidolite, striped like the big cat's eye. Seventh is two words, a man-made fake of April's stone, Eighth is very dark and found at Lightning Ridge alone. Now take from each gem, one letter in its turn, And you will find the stuff for which even the gods yearn. What am I?
Here's a hint:
Pay attention to the birthstones mentioned in the riddle, and think about what the gods yearn for in mythology. The answer is a substance, not a gemstone itself.
Answer: Ambrosia The gems are: Amethyst Emerald ( Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz ) Ruby Pearl Diamond Tiger's eye Cubic Zirconium (Fake diamond) Black Opal Taking the first letter of Amethyst, second of Emerald, etc.. gives Ambrosia - The food of the gods.
Charles called his wife to tell him that he would be home by 7:00. But when he arrived home three minutes past 7:00, his wife was furious! Why was she so mad?
Think about the wording of Charles' message... did he say "I will be home BY 7:00" or "I will be home AT 7:00"?
Charles' wife expected him to arrive by 7:00PM, but he arrived at 7:03AM the next morning. Oh, the classic "I forgot about ante meridiem and post meridiem".
Emily wants to become a professional chef, but the cooking school she wants to apply to only accepts applicants over 17. Here's what you know about Emily's siblings' ages: 1) Emily's brother Patrick's age is two times that of Emily, and; 2) Emily's sister Nicole's age is one-half of that of Patrick. Nicole turned 17 this year. Using this information, can Emily apply to the cooking school this year?
Think about the age chain: Nicole → Patrick → Emily. If Nicole is 17, what can you say about Patrick's age, and then about Emily's age?
No, she cannot. If Nicole is 17, and her age is one-half of that of Patrick, then Patrick must be two times Nicole's age. Therefore, Patrick is 34. If Patrick is 34, and his age is two times that of Emily, then Emily must be one-half of Patrick's age. Therefore, Emily is 17. Emily and Nicole are of the same age because they are twins. However, the cooking school only accepts applicants "over 17", not "17 and over". Therefore, Emily cannot apply to the cooking school this year.
At a children's party, 10 kids had juice, 8 kids had cake, and 6 kids had juice and cake.
How many kids were there at the party?
Think about overlapping sets!
Tweleve kids. Six kids had juice and cake, leaving two out of the cake eaters that didn't have juice. As there were ten juicers, there must be twelve kids in total.
What single-digit number should go in the box with the question?
6
5
9
2
7
1
4
3
5
?
8
0
2
8
1
Look for a pattern in the numbers, and think about how they relate to each other... it's not just about the numbers themselves, but about their positions!
The missing number is 4. Simply add the first and second rows together to get the third row value.
65, 927
+
14, 354
80, 281
How many times does the long hand of the clock pass the short hand between midnight one day and midnight the following day? As both hands are together at the starting time of midnight this does not count as a pass.
Think about the short hand's movement and how often it "gets caught" by the long hand...
Jack has 8 bricks 7 of them weights the same amount and one is slightly heavier. Using a balance scale, how can Jack find the heavier brick in two weighings?
Think about dividing the bricks into three groups of 2, 2, and 4...
First he split them in to piles of 3, 3, and 2 bricks. Then he weighs both groups of 3 with each other. If they balance he knows the brick is one of the 2 unweighed bricks and he can weigh them to find the heaver one. If the the stacks of 3 bricks do not balance, he will weigh 2 of the 3 bricks. If they balance he will know the brick left unweighed is heavier, or if they do not balance, he will find the heavier one.
Lily is a lilypad in a small pond. Lilly doubles her size each day, On the 20th day she covers the whole pond. On what day was Lily half the size of the pond?
Think backwards!
Day 19, it's not 10 because on day 20 she doubled from day 19, so 19 must be half the size of the pond.
There is a brother and a sister. The boy wants to visit his father in jail, and the sister wants to visit her mother in the hospital. But they both are not allowed in the jail or hospital. All they have is a gun. What do they do?
Think about the situation where they are not allowed to visit their parents, but they have a gun... Perhaps they're not old enough to visit their parents alone?
The boy shoots the girl, and then the boy goes to jail for attempted murder and the girl goes to the hospital due to her injuries.
Two grandmothers, with their two granddaughters; Two husbands, with their two wives; Two fathers, with their two daughters; Two mothers, with their two sons; Two maidens, with their two mothers; Two sisters, with their two brothers; Yet only six in all lie buried here; All born legitimate, from incest clear. How can this be?
Think about a family tree, and consider the different relationships that can exist between people. Focus on the words "two" and "their" to help you understand how these relationships can be intertwined.
Two widows each had a son, and each widow married the son of the other and then each had a daughter.
You are in a room that is completely bricked in on all four sides, including the ceiling and floor. You have nothing but a mirror and a wooden table in the room with you. How do you get out?
You look in the mirror you see what you saw, you take the saw and you cut the table in half, two halves make a whole, and you climb out the hole.
I am something people love or hate. I change people's appearances and thoughts. If a person takes care of them self I will go up even higher. To some people, I will fool them. To others, I am a mystery. Some people might want to try and hide me but I will show. No matter how hard people try I will Never go down. What am I?
I hurt the most when lost, yet also when not had at all. I'm sometimes the hardest to express, but the easiest to ignore. I can be given to many, or just one. What am I?
"Think about something that can be a source of both pain and comfort, and is often difficult to put into words..."
I am a food that explodes. But long before I explode, I am already dead. I can be small, I can be big, and I can be fragrant. My name is literal. What am I?
Think about a type of food that is often associated with a strong, pungent smell, and whose name is a literal description of its eventual fate...
When I am metal or wood, I bring you home. When I am flesh and blood, in the darkness I roam. What am I?
Think about the different modes of transportation that can bring you home, and how the phrase "flesh and blood" might be used to describe a creature that roams in the dark...
White we are, strong we are; but can be easily shaken and weakened, easily stained and dirtied; None was found at first, then one appeared; afterward, more are seen and thirty-two appear at last, we all stand waiting for our prey. The food you eat is our prey and we all are in you. What are we?
Think about something that starts out pure and strong, but can be affected by external factors. It's related to the human body, and there's a specific number of them that you might find in a healthy adult...
I can be new or old. I am of different types. I am of so many different types that every child can find one of me that they like. I contain links to countless worlds. All people like me, young or old. I can be used in someone's spare time. Although most parents ban me, I am usually the center of attention of any child. What am I?
Think about something that sparks imagination and adventure, often found in many varieties, and is a beloved companion for kids (and kids at heart!)
Wherever the wind does go, Towards there I dance; With the sun above me I grow; Yet without water below, I can never survive; And the taller I grow, The deeper I become. What am I?
Think about something that sways gently in the breeze, and its growth is dependent on the sun and water...
I'm first found in caves, now prolific online; I'm a depiction, a drawing, a symbol, or sign. I'll convey whichever mood you could wish; or for that matter, a fist, flask, or fish. What am I?
Think about ancient forms of communication that have evolved into modern digital expressions, and consider the versatility of a particular representation that can convey a wide range of emotions and objects.
I have one eye but I still can't see. I can surf all day without the sea. I let you know what your friends have to say and I will wake you up every day. What I'm I?
Think about something you might find on your bedside table or nightstand...
I may be right in front of you, And you will never know, But when I reveal myself your trust in me will go, And you will feel none apart from woe. What am I?
Think about something that's often hidden in plain sight, and when it's exposed, it can lead to feelings of betrayal and disappointment...
I purge all that is evil and keep all that is true. Unless you speak, I can delete what you said. My usefulness has faded with the use of a pen. I am usually made of rubber, yet I am not a toy. I am both pink, and white, but also blue, or green. Do not forget me, as I can be your best friend. What am I?
Think about something you often find on a desk, used to correct mistakes, but has become less necessary with the advent of digital writing tools...
I can flutter and take your breath away. I can take a beating, but do not bruise. If I stopped you would be sure to lose. Everyday I am with you.
What am I?
Think about something that is always with you, yet can be fragile and easily affected, but doesn't get physically hurt...
If the day before yesterday is the 23rd, then what is the day after tomorrow?
Think about the relationship between "yesterday", "today", and "tomorrow"...
The 27th. The day before yesterday is the 23rd. Therefore, yesterday was the 24, today is the 25th, tomorrow would be the 26th and the day after tomorrow would be 27th.
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.
Coffee can go in, but tea cannot.
Riddles can go in, but questions cannot.
Quizzes can go in, but surveys cannot.
Spoons can go in, but forks cannot.
Green can go in, but red cannot.
Glass can go in, but plastic cannot.
Doors can go in, but windows cannot.
Why can some go through the green glass door and others can not?
Green Glass Door all have double letters. Therefore, only the words with double letters can pass through the Green Glass Door!
My name starts with "rain" and ends with the first letter of my name. I get mistaken for other things a lot. I am usually present in children's stories. I am usually flying in mid-air too. What am I?
Think about something that is often depicted in children's stories and is commonly mistaken for something else... and pay attention to the wordplay in the riddle, especially the part about the first letter of the name!
Mr. Brown was killed on Sunday after noon. The wife said she was reading a book. The butler said He was taking a shower. The chef said he was making breakfast. The maid said she was folding clothes, and the gardener said he was planting tomatoes. Who did it?
Pay close attention to the times of day each person claims to have been doing their activity...
The chef killed Mr. Brown because he said he was cooking breakfast but it was a Sunday afternoon.
A man was found dead out in a field of snow. The only tracks that were left was a set of footprints between two parallel lines. Who should the police be looking for?
Think about a mode of transportation that often travels between two parallel lines, and consider how the victim might have been on it when they died...