This is an abnormal paragraph. It is not normal at all. All of its writing is grammatically right, but it looks wrong. If you find what's wrong, you'll show your skill in sight. If you can't find it, that's alright. Not many found it instantly. You may look on for hours and hours, or you may find it soon. In any way, it isn't normal. Why?
Pay attention to the words, not the meaning.
This paragraph contains no words with "e" in it. This is abnormal as "e" is found most commonly.
Marge and Terry are both looking intently at a 4-inch X 4-inch musical symbol, but neither of them is thinking about music. Marge initiates their activity by placing a letter of the alphabet into the upper left quadrant of the symbol. Terry counters by putting a different letter of the alphabet into the lower-right section of the figure. Marge retaliates by inscribing the same letter she used the first time, into the lower-left section of the musical emblem. Terry responds by placing the same letter he just used, into the middle-left area of the image. Marge begins to smile brightly and places the same letter she has been using into the upper-right quadrant of the figure. Terry then grimaces and writes the exact same letter he has been using, placing it in the center of the symbol. Marge then gives a gleeful laugh and puts her same letter into the top-middle of the emblem. She then draws a line and shouts out three words to Terry, which make him feel a bit sad and disappointed. What are the three words Marge shouts at Terry, and exactly what has been going on here?
Think about a common game that involves placing letters in a grid, and the three words Marge shouts at Terry might be a familiar phrase often heard at the end of such a game.
Marge and Terry have been playing the game of “Tic-Tac-Toe”, and these are the three words she shouts at him after beating him. The musical symbol called a Sharp, looks just like a Tic-Tac-Toe grid.
Fiona's mother has 12 children. One day, the mother comes home and sees that all 12 children are busy. The first child, January, is reading a book. The second child, February, is cooking dinner. The third child, March, is playing chess. The fourth child, April, is tidying up her room. The fifth child, May, is taking a nap. The sixth child, June, is taking a shower. The seventh child, July, is gardening outside. The eighth child, August, is lighting the fireplace. The ninth child, September, is painting a picture. The 10th child, October, is doing yoga. The 11th child, November, is doing her homework. What is the name of the 12th child, and what is he/she doing?
The hint is: Think about the story from the mother's perspective...
The name of the 12th child is Fiona, and she is playing chess with March. Fiona is the name of the 12th child because this is FIONA'S mother. And Fiona is playing chess with March because most of the aforementioned activities require only one person to do, except for playing chess; that activity requires two players.
Jade works at a luxury store in the city. One day, a woman came up to her and decided to purchase a $1,000 purse. This customer gave Jade two bills and didn't even need change, but Jade refused to sell the item to the woman and called the police. Why?
The woman's payment method was quite... unusual.
The purse costs $1,000, but the woman gave Jade only two bills and didn't need any change. This means that the two bills were worth $500 each, and those bills don't exist.
A wife called to her husband from the front door of their home stating, "Don't forget to raise the flag, but please don't be goofy and salute it afterward." Her husband responded by saying, "Don't you love your country?" The wife replied, "I am very patriotic, but I would never salute that flag. You embarrass yourself when you do it, especially when the neighbors see you." "Well, all I know is if I don't raise the flag, we'll lose our electricity, our car will be towed away, and eventually we will be evicted! Being a veteran of the Army, as long as the flag is red, white, and blue, I will always salute it!" "Oh, have it your own way, answered his wife, "but it's not the raising of the flag to which I object, it's you're saluting it afterward that bothers me!" What were the circumstances behind this couple's bizarre-sounding argument?
Think about a specific situation where a flag needs to be raised, and it's not necessarily related to patriotism or national pride...
The flag on the couple’s mailbox in front of their home was painted red, white, and blue to resemble the American flag. When the husband put their outgoing bills and other mail in the mailbox, he had to raise the flag to be sure their outgoing mail would be picked up by their mail delivery person. Being a veteran and a patriotic person, he felt compelled to salute the flag each time he raised it.
Think about a situation where having two of something can be more beneficial than having one, but it's not necessarily about intelligence or brainpower...
Three American military veterans: Ron(Army), Terry(Army), and Ron(Marines) retired from their military careers and decided to go into business together. Using all of their engineering knowledge and expertise, the three veterans have revamped an idea for an old device, made many improvements to it, and are now trying to patent it under the name: The Ron - Terry - Ron device, or (R.T.R). They advertise it by saying, "The R.T.R is designed only for those who want to move forward in life, but never backward. It is guaranteed to get your heart pumping, your blood pressure rising, and your armpits sweating"(classy advertising by these veterans). The advertising continues: "The R.T.R. is for the person who tries to move ahead, but always ends up exactly where they started." The only problem with the R.T.R device is, to use one, you will have to ignore the Gadsden flag(i.e., the one with the coiled rattlesnake pictured on it) and its famous motto. Forrest Gump would be very proud of these veterans. Just exactly what is the Ron - Terry - Ron (R.T.R.) device, and why must the Gadsden flag motto be ignored by its users?
Think about a device that helps you move forward, but you always end up back where you started... and consider what the Gadsden flag's motto is...
The three veterans have made some innovative improvements to a basic Treadmill design, and are trying to patent these improvements in the hope of selling their newly created device. Of course, these veterans realize that anyone who uses their new product will be violating the early Continental Marine message and motto of the famous Gadsden flag which states, "Don't Tread on Me". Just as Forrest Gump was encouraged to "Run - Forrest - Run", we wish success to these three veterans with the words, "Ron - Terry - Ron".
Donny was driving his semi under an overpass when suddenly he came to a screeching halt. Donny wasn't paying enough attention and inadvertently drove under the overpass that was just barely as high as his truck. The semi was wedged so tightly that he could not go forward or backward. A fellow trucker came by and told him how he could easily get the semi out from under the bridge. What did he suggest?
Think about what's not nailed down on a semi-truck...
He told Don to let some air out of his tires. This would make the truck lower and allow him to pass through.
These are a series of riddles. They are all connected. 1) There are 100 bricks on a plane. One falls off. How many are left? 2) What are the three steps to put an elephant in a fridge? 3) What are the four steps to put a giraffe in a fridge? 4) A lion was having a party and he invited all the animals. All of them came except one. Which one was it? 5) A lady crossed a crocodile-infested river and survived. How? 6) She crossed back and died. How?
1) 99 2) Open the door, put the elephant in, and close the door. 3) Open the door, take the elephant out, put the giraffe in, and close the door. 4) The giraffe. It was in the fridge. 5) The crocodiles were at the party. 6) The brick from the plane hit her in the head.
Craig died in Florida. Shortly after, Tracy died at sea. Nobody mourned, In fact, everyone was absolutey delighted.
Why?
Think about a situation where names like Craig and Tracy are not associated with people, but rather with something that can "die" or come to an end, and where their "deaths" would be a cause for celebration...
A boy had just got out of the shower and getting ready for his prom, shaved, and with cologne and there was going to be an after-party, and his mom, and dad said to be home for the next sunrise and was home for the next sunrise but with a full-grown beard. How can this be?
Think about the timing and the event... the boy was getting ready for prom, which means it was likely in the evening. Now, consider the phrase "home for the next sunrise"... what does that imply about the current time of day when his parents gave the instruction?
He lives in Alaska and sunrises are every six months.
You have 14 brown socks, 14 blue socks and 14 black socks in your sock drawer. How many socks must you remove (without looking to be sure) to have a matched pair?
Think about the worst-case scenario: what if you keep pulling out socks of different colors? How many socks would you need to pull out to guarantee that the next one matches one you already have?
Four. You will have a pair of one color or another.
A man has nine children, born at regular intervals. The sum of their squares of their ages is equal to the square of his own age.
What are the ages of the children?
Think algebraically and consider the pattern of consecutive integers...
Two travelers spend from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock walking along a level road, up a hill, and back again. Their pace is 4 mph on the level, 3 mph uphill, and 6 mph downhill.
How far do they walk and at what time do they reach the top of the hill?
A man told his son that he would give him $1000 if he could accomplish the following task. The father gave his son ten envelopes and a thousand dollars, all in one dollar bills. He told his son, "Place the money in the envelopes in such a manner that no matter what number of dollars I ask for, you can give me one or more of the envelopes, containing the exact amount I asked for without having to open any of the envelopes. If you can do this, you will keep the $1000." When the father asked for a sum of money, the son was able to give him envelopes containing the exact amount of money asked for. How did the son distribute the money among the ten envelopes?
Think about the powers of 2...
The contents or the ten envelopes (in dollar bills) should be as follows: $1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 489. The first nine numbers are in geometrical progression, and their sum, deducted from 1,000, gives the contents of the tenth envelope.
A man moved into a new house and decided he was tired after the journey and turned off all the lights and went to bed. The next morning he killed 365 people, he does not sleep walk he slept like a baby. How could this be?
A judge has a murder case. The person who was murdered has a family member who thinks they found the murderer. The family members' lawyer called up a witness. The lawyer asked where the witness was on the day of the murder. The witness says "Well it was like any other Sunday morning, I got the mail, went to Jill's diner, and then went home and watched cartoons for the rest of the day." The lawyer says "he is lying!" How does the lawyer know the witness is lying?
Think about what's unusual about the witness's alibi...
The witness says he went to get the mail and there are no mail deliveries on sundays. Also Sunday cartoons are only in the morning so how could the witness be watching them all day?
A magician was boasting one day about how long he could hold his breath underwater. His record was 6 minutes. A kid that was listening said, "That's nothing, I can stay underwater for 10 minutes using no type of equipment or air pockets!" The magician told the kid if he could do that, he'd give him $10,000. The kid did it and won the money. Can you figure out how?
Think about the words "underwater" and "no type of equipment or air pockets"... are they being used in the most obvious way?
The kid filled a glass of water and held it over his head for 10 minutes.
You don't have me when you're born, but you have me after. But a few years later, I leave again, and you don't have me anymore. But I don't stay away permanently, and I come back in different form. What am I?
Think about a part of your life that changes as you grow up...
The pet shop starts with some dogs, then someone comes and takes 1 of the dogs, then another person and their child take 4 dogs. After that a mother, father and their 18 kids adopt 12 dogs. Then the pet shop receaves 3 dogs and someone takes 1, now the pet shop has 2 dogs. How many dogs did they have at the beginning?
"Work backwards from the end, and think about how the numbers of people relate to the number of dogs taken..."
I am as loud as a plane, as precise as a pen, I never run out, even when I'm on end, I can be refilled. But when I stop working, I just need to recharge. I can help you with ink and paper, just tell me when! What Am I?
"Think about a tool that's often used with ink and paper, but doesn't actually hold the ink itself..."
You are a bus driver at a station. 10 get on the bus and no one gets off. You drive 10 miles to another station where 3 people get on and 1 gets off. You drive another 10 miles only to get 25 people on and 5 people go off. Next you drive 3 miles while 12 people exit the bus. You drive back to the place knowing that a couple more stops along the way untill the ride is done. At the 2nd to last station 5 people get on and 2 get off. And at the last station (5.5 miles) 25 people get on for no reason and 1 gets off. What is the bus drivers eye color?
The hint is: You are not given enough information about the passengers, but you are given enough information about the bus driver.
You are the bus driver so, the answer is the color of your eyes.
This thing runs but cannot walk, sometimes sings but never talks. Lacks arms, has hands; lacks a head but has a face. What is it?
Think about something you might find in a public place, often in a city or town, that has a "face" that shows information, and "hands" that move in a circular motion...
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...
Be you ever so quick, with vision keen, by your eyes, we are never seen. Unless perchance it should come to pass, you see our reflection in a looking glass. What are we?
Some days you think I'm pretty, but some days you think I'm ugly. Some days you'll love me, but some days you'll hate me. If you think I'm not good enough, you might get rid of me. Who am I?
Think about something you look at every day, and your opinion of it can change depending on your mood and circumstances...
I'm YOU! Some days you think you're pretty, but some days you think you're ugly. Some days you'll love yourself, but some days you'll hate yourself. And if you think you are not good enough, you might get rid of yourself. Life is amazing :) Live your life to the fullest!
On February 28th in New York Museum, at quarter-past midnight, a security guard named Ollie Bulb is found murdered in the Latin exhibits, along with the "Mythical Crystal Tear of Cepa" missing. Around Ollie are glass shards. Detective Dill is at it again! Detective Dill finds 4 suspects that were in the museum during the murder. Sal Spudder, another security guard says, "I was at the Egyptian exhibits from 9 PM to 1 PM. But Chauncey was at the Latin exhibits at 12:15 PM, though!" Chauncey Chantenay, a scientist studying some artifacts says, "Yes, I was at the Latin exhibit, but I left by 12:20 PM cuz' of the police!" Horace Radische, a security guard visiting on his off day says, "I admit, going here exactly at midnight was a bad choice. Except, the police were already here when I arrived!" Beatrice Lutz, the museum caretaker says, "Gah! That bloody rat! Oh, sorry, I was cleaning the bathrooms between 11:45 PM and 12:25 PM." Upon receiving the autopsy report, it reports that Ollie was killed at 12:10 PM by a glass object. Because she heard every valid witness, Detective Dill immediately knew who it was. Who did Det. Dill suspect and why? And what had happened to the "Mythical Crystal Tear of Cepa"?
Here's a hint:
Pay close attention to the times mentioned by each suspect, and think about what would be unusual or contradictory about their statements. Also, consider what kind of object could be used as a murder weapon in a museum, and how it might relate to the "glass shards" found around Ollie's body.
Horace Radische. Detective Dill knew he lied because he said that by midnight, the police were already there. But if Ollie was murdered at 12:10 PM and he was found at quarter-past, how were the police already there? And for the "Mythical Crystal Tear of Cepa"? It was the murder weapon. Horace smashed Ollie in the head with the artifact and upon contact it shattered, and Ollie collapsed due to the sheer force impacted on his head. Hence the death, the shards, and the missing artifact.