A famous magician and his assistant were performing for a small crowd at a local mall. As part of their act, they both disappeared behind a small curtained area where they each picked up a wooden cross-shaped object. Suddenly, a small boy and girl appeared on stage in front of the audience. The magician waved his cross over the boy's head as he whispered, so only his assistant could hear him, "You are now hypnotized, and must do exactly as I tell you. I order you to strike the little girl on the top of her head." The little boy quickly complied, and the audience gasped. "I'm no hypnotist," whispered the assistant back to the magician, so only he could hear her, "but my intuition tells me the little girl is about to strike back." Sure enough, the girl kicked the little boy in the knee. The audience again gasped, as the magician simultaneously yelled, "Ouch!" At that point, the magician whispered to the assistant, "You win. Back to the script now." Was this some sick, twisted, abusive presentation, or was there some harmless explanation for these events? Just exactly what was going on here?
Think about the shapes they picked up...
As part of their magic show, the magician and his assistant went behind a curtain, and each picked up a wooden cross-shaped controller, so they could manipulate their puppets for their puppet show which was part of their act. However, the magician got a bit mischievous, and used his puppet to bonk the assistant’s puppet on the head. The assistant wasn’t amused however, and not only retaliated with her girl puppet, but also kicked the magician in his knee at the same time. That was enough to make the magician return to the actual script of the puppet show.
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.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Anna. Anna's father, the King, wanted to be sure his daughter married an intelligent man. To test his daughter's suitors the King hid Anna's picture in one of three boxes. The suitor had to be able to select the box with Anna's picture on one try and within twenty seconds. On the gold box was the message "Anna's picture is in this box". The silver box had the message "Anna's picture is not in this box." "Anna's picture is not in the gold box" was written on the bronze box. The King would tell each suitor "Only one of the three messages is correct." Which box contained Anna's picture?
Think about it like this: if a message is true, what would it imply about the other two boxes?
The silver box contained Anna's picture. If her picture had been in the gold box, two statements would have been true. (The messages on both the gold box and the silver box.) If her picture had been in the bronze box, two statements would have been true. (The messages on the bronze box and the silver box.)
A horse 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 horse's legs must be one mile ahead of the other two legs, but of course, this can't be true, since the horse is normal. How is this possible?
Think about the direction the horse is traveling...
The horse operates a mill and travels in a circular clockwise direction. The two outside legs will travel a greater distance than the two inside legs.
The king dies and two men, the true heir and an impostor, both claim to be his long-lost son. Both fit the description of the rightful heir: about the right age, height, coloring and general appearance. Finally, one of the elders proposes a test to identify the true heir. One man agrees to the test while the other flatly re-fuses. The one who agreed is immediately sent on his way, and the one who re-fused is correctly identified as the rightful heir. Can you figure out why?
The key to this riddle lies in the nature of the test itself, rather than the physical characteristics of the two men. Think about what kind of test would be proposed that one man would willingly agree to, while the other would refuse...
The test was a blood test. The elder remembered that the true prince was a hemophiliac.
Two fathers and two sons went fishing one day. They were there the whole day and only caught 3 fish. One father said, that is enough for all of us, we will have one each. How can this be possible?
Think about family relationships and generations...
There was the father, his son, and his son's son. This equals 2 fathers and 2 sons for a total of 3!
There is a dead man in the middle of a field, nothing is around him and there are no footprints of any sort. There is an unopened package next to him. How did he die? HINT: As he approached the field he knew he was going to die.
In a contest, there are four fruits (an apple, a banana, an orange, and a pear) which have been placed in four closed boxes (one fruit per box). People may guess which fruit is in which box. There were 123 participants in the contest. The results are; 43 people guessed none correctly, 39 people guessed one correctly and 31 people have guessed two correctly. How many people guessed three correctly and how many people guessed all four correctly?
Think about the number of ways to guess 0, 1, or 2 fruits correctly, and how that relates to the total number of possible permutations of the fruits in the boxes...
It is not possible to only get three correct because the fourth would also be correct. Therefore, the answer would be (123-43-39-31 = 10) 10 people guessed all four correctly.
The only thing you can use for this riddle is your brain! Add 1,000 to 40. Now, add 1,000. Then, add 30. Add 1,000 again. Now, add 20. Add 1,000 once more. Now, add 10. What is your answer?
Think about the pattern of additions and how the numbers being added are related to each other...
Is it 5,000? Sorry, but that's wrong! The right answer is 4,100. Four 1,000s do add up to 4,000…but 40 + 30 + 20 + 10 is 100, not 1,000. And 4,000 + 100 is not 5,000; it's 4,100; therefore, the correct answer is 4,100.
A 300 ft. train is traveling 300 ft. per minute must travel through a 300 ft. long tunnel. How long will it take the train to travel through the tunnel?
Think about the total distance the train needs to cover, not just the length of the tunnel...
Two minutes. It takes the front of the train one minute and the rest of the train will take two minutes to clear the tunnel.
A bird has a head 9cm long. The tail is equal to the size of the head plus a half of the size of the body. The body is the size of the head plus the tail.
How long is the bird?
Think algebraically! Let the length of the head be H, the length of the tail be T, and the length of the body be B. You'll need to set up equations using the given information and then solve for H + T + B.
72cm. Th head is 9cm. The tail is 18 + 9= 27cm. The body is 9 + 18 + 9= 36cm. 9 + 27 + 36= 72cm.
A rubber ball is tossed off the top of a 90 foot building. Every time it bounces, it goes back up half way. How many bounces will the ball take before it stops?
Think about the ball's journey in terms of the total distance it travels, not just the height it reaches...
The answer is infinite, in a gravity free world. But of course gravity will eventually stop it.
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.
You walk into your house the electricity is out you see three doors that you have never seen before. You go through the one with a lion that hasn't eaten for over six months. There are another three doors you go through the one with an empty room. There's a man that says how do you want to be murdered with the gun the knife or the electric chair that will kill you in an instant. How will you survive?
The electric chair because your electricity is out.
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.
I can run constantly without ever getting tired. When I run, I frustrate people and drive them crazy, Yet I don't even have to move to irritate you.
What am I?
Think about something that can "run" in a sense, but doesn't physically move... and is often associated with frustration and annoyance.
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 can fill a room with out being seen, for your eyes I do not need. I can be felt, but can never feel; can be heard, but can never hear. I have many thoughts, but never think. I say many things, but never speak. I can tell a story with no words. Through my waves I am heard. I am your life, your love and sad goodbye. I resound in your every laugh and cry. I mark time, and time marks me. The past, present and future, through me you'll see. What am I?
"Listen carefully, for the answer is all around you..."
I am a four-digit number and when converted to a Roman numeral I become a common 3 letter word meaning "Blend." What number am I?
Think about a common 3-letter word that means "Blend" and how its Roman numeral equivalent could be a 4-digit number... Pay attention to the first letter of that word!
I have many purposes for everyone, maybe a home, maybe some fun. I grow really tall and live a long time but once I get too old I just fall down and die. What am I?
Think about something that serves multiple purposes, provides shelter, and can be a source of entertainment... and don't forget to consider its life cycle!
I bring death with a mighty blow. I can ruin nations with a mighty hole. Many people may die. Many people will cry. A battle is won at least. In the end I can bring peace. What am I?
Think about something that can cause massive destruction, but is also a crucial element in resolving conflicts...
I am the center of gravity, hold a capital situation in Vienna, and as I am foremost in every victory, am allowed by all to be invaluable. Though I am invisible, I am clearly seen in the midst of a river. I could name three who are in love with me and have three associates in vice. It is vain that you seek me for I have long been in heaven yet even now lie embalmed in the grave. What am I?
"Think about a concept, not a physical object, and consider the multiple meanings of the words used in the riddle, especially those that can be interpreted as both literal and figurative."
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 at the beginning of all things. I am at the end of eternity. There is but one path from my beginning to my end. My whole embodies indifference.
What am I?
Think about a concept that has a clear starting point, an ultimate endpoint, and a singular progression from start to finish, while also representing a state of neutrality or impartiality.
Something that requires our mental skill to decode it, our imagination to understand it, and our knowledge to be tested to its max, it confuses us at every stage, it seems easy yet difficult, and only those who are used to, will get through. What is it?
Think about something that you might find in a book, on a website, or in a conversation with a friend...
There are four brothers in this world that were all born together. The first runs and never wearies. The second eats and is never full. The third drinks and is always thirsty. The fourth sings a song that is never good. What are the four brothers?
Think about the different elements of nature that are always present, yet never seem to change or be satisfied...
Out of a man's mouth it comes forth, lightening hearts and inspiring souls to be steadfast. Tales of old it tells, of warriors and kings, of castles and dungeons. It tells of sunshine and hills, flowers and grass. Of food and drink it encourages you to press on, of fantasies it gives you rest and delight. It carries on through ages and never an ending does it find. What is it?
You use me for my name, I'm not a breeze to tame, I'm fastest when I'm full and when it's cheap it sounds the same. You'll spot a nest near me (although I'm not a tree), the sea is fore, the sea is aft, it's all around, you see. What am I?
"Think about something you might find near the ocean, and consider the multiple meanings of a certain word..."
Their trunks are all packed and they wave their salutes. Will they hurry away on the wing? Don’t worry, my dear; you’ll not lose them. Don't fear! They never do leave till the spring. What are they?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and how they change with the seasons...
Two hours ago it was as long after one o'clock in the afternoon as it was before one o'clock in the morning. What time is it now?
It would be 9:00 pm. There are 12 hours between 1:00 pm and 1:00 am and half of that is six hours. Half-way between would be 7 o'clock. Two hours later it would be 9:00 o'clock.
Some try to hide, and some try to cheat, but time will show, and we always will meet. Try as you might, to guess my name, I promise you'll know when you I do claim. Who am I?
Think about something that is inevitable, unavoidable, and will eventually catch up with everyone...
A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got these alibis: The Wife said she was sleeping. The Cook was cooking breakfast. The Gardener was picking vegetables. The Maid was getting the mail. The Butler was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
Pay close attention to the activities mentioned and think about what time of day it is...
It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail. There is no mail on Sunday! (next day air and email doesn't count)