Mrs. Fortini has been married for 10 years. For her 10th wedding anniversary, she got a pair of beautiful diamond earrings. Mrs. Fortini also has two daughters–Beatrice and Ivy–who always touch her stuff. One day, Mrs. Fortini was going to put on the earrings, when she found out that they had been stolen. She concluded that it must have been one of her daughters, so she asked them, "I've told you two so many times to not take my things! Who took my jewelry this time?". Beatrice said, "I never touch your jewelry box!". Ivy also denied taking her mom's stuff; "I don't wear earrings!", she said. Who stole the earrings?
Think about what each daughter said, and how it might relate to their actions...
It was Ivy who stole the earrings. Her mother didn't specify which piece of jewelry was missing.
Ryan goes to an art gallery and sees four paintings: a raccoon, a llama, a football, and a balloon. He realizes that one of the paintings is different from the rest. Which one is it, and why?
Hint: Think about the subjects of the paintings and how they are typically associated with their environments.
The llama picture is different from the others because "llama" has just one double letter, while "raccoon", "football", and "balloon" all have two double letters.
For his vegetable stew recipe, Adrian needs three tomatoes and three large carrots. He also needs less radishes than tomatoes, but more radishes than cucumbers. Assuming that Adrian only uses whole numbers of vegetables, how many of each other vegetable does he need?
Think about the relationships between the numbers of vegetables: Adrian needs fewer radishes than tomatoes, but more radishes than cucumbers. What's the smallest number that fits this description?
Peter likes tomatoes, but not potatoes; he likes cucumbers, but can't stand carrots; Peter also enjoys grapes, but not lettuce. And he likes squash, but not onions. Would Peter like pumpkins or apples more?
Think about the characteristics of the foods Peter likes and dislikes, and how they relate to the words themselves...
Peter would like pumpkins more, because he only likes fruits and vegetables that grow on vines. Pumpkins grow on vines, while apples do not.
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.
Such a slim little stripe in a shiny, round coat! How it grows in the warm sun's bright rays! But its jacket still fits, and it's worthy of note That it isn't so, tall on cool days. Hint: It's not a fishing pole.
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and how it changes appearance depending on the temperature...
My first is found on the ocean wave, In the spring, the pit, and the mine; My second below earth's surface you have, Where seldom the sun can shine. My whole your dinner-table must grace, And seldom fails to obtain a place.
What am I?
Think about a common food item that is often associated with the sea, and has a pit or stone in the center...
There is one word in the English language which is universally considered a preventive of harm; change a certain letter in it, and you make it an act of cruelty. What are the words?
Think about a word that is often associated with safety and protection, and how a small change in spelling could transform it into something with a very different connotation...
Imagine that you have three eggs. Now, I give you four eggs. And your rooster lays two more eggs. How many eggs do you have now?
Think about the role of a rooster in an egg-laying scenario...
You have four eggs–the ones I gave you. Those three eggs from the start don't count because they're imaginary (IMAGINE that you have three eggs). And those two eggs your rooster lays don't count either because roosters don't lay eggs.
Zoe wants to do a science experiment where she drops two tennis balls into two buckets. She will drop the first tennis ball into a bucket filled with water at a temperature of 20°C, and she will drop the second tennis ball into a bucket at 20°F. Assuming that both tennis balls are completely identical and that they are both dropped into the buckets simultaneously, which ball will reach the bottom of its bucket first?
Think about the state of the water in each bucket...
The tennis ball dropped into the second bucket will reach the bottom first. The water in the first bucket will slow down the first tennis ball, and thus, it will take longer for that ball to reach the bottom of the bucket. Did you think the "water" in the second bucket had to be frozen at 20°F? Well, I didn't say that there was water in the second bucket–the bucket ITSELF was at 20°F. Therefore, there is no water or ice to slow the first tennis ball down.
When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height. Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was. If the tree grew by five centimeters each year, how much higher would the nail be?
Think about what's really changing (or not changing) over time...
The nail would be at the same height since trees grow at their tops.
A girl is twice as old as her brother and half as old as her father. In 50 years, her brother will be half as old as his father. How old is the daughter now?
Think about the relationships between their ages now and in 50 years, and how the brother's age will catch up to the father's age...
Two camels were facing in opposite directions. One was facing due East and one was facing due West. They were in the desert so there was no reflection. How can they manage to see each other without walking around or turning around or moving their heads?
Think about the camels' positions relative to each other, rather than their directions...
The two camels were facing each other the entire time. Hence facing in opposite directions.
One is to three as three is to five and five is to four and four is the magic number.
What is the pattern?
"Think about the number of letters in the written form of each number..."
One has three letters in the word three has five letters in it five has four letters and four has four letters in it (if you try more numbers they will always come back to the number four: so four is the magic number)
A man was found murdered in his own house on a Sunday morning. His wife called the police. The police questioned the wife and got the following alibis: The wife said she was sleeping. The Cook said he was making breakfast. The gardener said he was picking vegetables. The maid said she was getting the post. The Butler (a personal assistant) said that he was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
Pay close attention to the day of the week mentioned in the riddle...
I am a fruit. If you take away the first letter of my name I become a crime. Take away the first two letters of my name I become an animal. Take away the first and last letter of my name and I become a form of music. What am I?
Think about a fruit that has a name that starts with a letter that is also a word, and when removed, reveals a type of crime...
I am something, I am endless as chain. Once you have me you are bound for life but young girls want me. What am I?
Think about something that can be endless, like a chain, but is also often associated with young girls... It's something they often dream of having, but once they get it, it can be a lifelong commitment!
I am a word of six; my first three letters refer to an automobile; my last three letters refer to a household animal; my first four letters is a fish; my whole is found in your room. What am I?
I say everything I hear to others around. I'm not an animal, nor part of the human race. I will, immediately, repeat after you; But only if my tail is in place. What am I?
Think about something you often find in a public place, where people gather to share information...
Two bodies have I though both joined in one. The more still I stand the quicker I run.
What am I?
Think about an object that has two parts, but is considered a single unit. It's often stationary, but can move quickly when needed. The answer is something you might find in a public place, and people often wait for it...
I always point in the right direction. My instructions are written in black and white. Disobey me and pay the consequences. I will never say more than two words at a time.
What am I?
You get many of me, but never enough. After the last one, your life soon will snuff. You may have one of me but one day a year, When the last one is gone, your life disappears.
What am I?
Think about the passage of time and how it relates to our lives...
I'm tall and thin and balanced on a ball. I am i upside down. People use me when I get excited. Mathematicians use me even when they aren't. What Am I?
Think about a symbol that is often written in a way that makes it look like it's balanced on a ball, and when you turn it upside down, it remains the same...
I am a perching barrel, filled with meat, Taking hits from leaps and dives. Look inside, but do not eat, The meat in there is still alive! What am I?
Think about a common recreational activity where people "take hits" and "leaps and dives" are involved, and you'll find the "perching barrel" that fits the description.
What does man love more than life Fear more than death or mortal strife What the poor have, the rich require, and what contented men desire, What the miser spends and the spendthrift saves And all men carry to their graves?
Think about something that is universally desired, yet often taken for granted, and is present in everyone's life, regardless of their social status or wealth...
A big person and a small person are going to fish. The big person is not the small person's father but the small person is the big person's son. What is the relationship between the two?
Three Brothers share a family sport, a nonstop marathon. The oldest one is fat and short And trudges slowly on. The middle brother's tall and slim, and keeps a steady pace The youngest runs just like the wind, going swiftly through the race "He's young in years, we let him run," the other brothers say. "Though he is surely number one, he's also second in a way. What are we?
Think about a type of "race" that involves movement, but not necessarily physical running...
What is something you don't own but can give to anyone you meet? You only have one, but you can give it away as many times as you want without losing it. What is it?
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!
Black and Blue. Red and Green. Yellow and Blue. Green and Grey. I am all colours. You can try to get close to me, but you can't escape my vision. If you get greedy, you will try to take your colours for yourself, but before you know it, I will be eating you for lunch. What am I?
Think about something that can be associated with many colors, and has the ability to "see" or observe everything around it. It's something that you might try to take advantage of, but it can ultimately consume you if you're not careful. The answer is not a living thing, but it's often found in a place where people gather.
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...
I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird, flying even to the clouds of heaven. I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me, even though there is no cause for grief, and at once on my birth, I am dissolved into air.
Who am I?
Think about something that is dark or black, yet can rise to great heights, and is often associated with sadness or mourning, but is also fleeting and ephemeral...
Mr. Steve lives in a mansion. He is very rich. He's so rich that he has a maid, a cook, a butler, and a lifeguard. Yesterday, Mr. Steve was found dead. The chief detective was coming from Sunday church to investigate. The police were already there. They caught 6 suspects. The maid, the butler, the cook, the lifeguard, the postman, and Mrs. Steve. The maid said she was dusting. The butler said he was playing a board game with Mr. Steve's sons. The cook said he was making dinner. The lifeguard said he was watching Mr. Steve's daughter swim in the pool. The postman said he was delivering mail. Mrs. Steve said she was watching TV. Who is lying? You only have one chance because if you choose incorrectly, you accuse the wrong person and the true killer gets away.
Here's a hint: Think about the circumstances of Mr. Steve's death and the activities each suspect claims to have been doing at the time. Ask yourself: Who is the one person who couldn't have been doing what they claim, given the fact that Mr. Steve was found dead?
The postman was lying. If the chief detective was coming from church, then you know that the post office doesn't deliver mail on Sunday.
There are eight people who like each other? Rhonda likes Jim. Tom likes Amber. Cameron likes Britney. Will likes Katie. They all know that they're liked by at least someone. The question is, who is loved? *Hint think about the *words in this statement...
Pay attention to the verb "likes" vs. the verb "is loved" in the statement.