Brain Teasers
Riddle: One evening, Sabrina was walking in the park when she found her friend Steven, as well as his bike, on the ground. Sabrina helped the guy up, and she asked him what had happened; Steven said, "I was riding my bike when someone threw a stone at me. I lost control of my bike and fell,". Sabrina decides to question three other people who were in the park at the time. Camilla said that she was having her morning run and didn't see anything. Adam said that he was sitting on a nearby bench, reading a book. And Oliver said that he was having a barbecue with his friends; they could confirm this. Who is lying?
Answer: Camilla couldn't have her MORNING run because it was EVENING. Therefore, she is lying.
Riddle: Brent was in a seven-story building when a massive fire started. The guy jumped out of the window, but didn't even bruise himself! How is it possible?
Answer: Brent was on the first floor, and jumped out of the first floor window. After all, even though it's a seven story building, I didn't say he was on the seventh floor!
Riddle: My Grandpa Joe is nearly a hundred years old, and he has been experiencing some memory loss recently. Around breakfast time the other day, he was in the kitchen, and couldn’t find something he was desperately hunting. “Where are those delicious little puffs of goodness your mother always keeps in here?” he asked me. “You know, the ones that sound like they came out of a swamp; you know, those tasty little cylinders made of sugar, water, corn syrup, gelatin, and glucose. How does your mother expect me to have my morning cup of cocoa?” he asked in a frustrated manner. “I am looking for those white things which are often found out in the woods near campfires. Why, there was even a giant one I saw last week when I was watching that original Ghostbusters movie with you,” said Grandpa Joe. With the help of all the clues he had just given me, I was able to locate the items my grandfather had been seeking. Can you tell me what those items were?
Answer: They sound like they come from a Swamp because they are: MARSH MALLOWS.
Riddle: Bouncing Bob was riding a particularly frisky horse when suddenly its bridle came off. As they raced down the road, a screaming Bob clung to the horse's ears for dear life. Out of the corner of his eye, Bob saw a car coming, and realizing the horse was completely out of control, he panicked. Flailing his arms about, he accidentally caused the horse to come to an abrupt halt. What could Bouncing Bob have done to make the horse stop?
Answer: Bob accidentally put his hands over the horse's eyes. If a horse can't see he will automatically stop.
Riddle: A man leaves home on foot one evening, makes three left turns, and arrives back home to find two masked men waiting there. Who are they?
Answer: The catcher and the umpire - the man has made a home run in a baseball game.
Riddle: You draw a line. Without touching it, how do you make the line longer?
Answer: You draw a shorter line next to it, and then it becomes the longer line.
Riddle: Marge and Lucille were best of friends, but both of them were highly competitive. One day they entered a grueling 50-mile bicycle race along with a large group of other contestants. Lucille was the more experienced of the two riders, but throughout the race, Marge was always out in front of her. Not once did she allow Lucille to pass her, but Lucille's fiery, competitive spirit would not be quenched, as she never let Marge out of her sight for even one instant. Even after 50 long miles, Marge and Lucille were only separated by a couple of feet, with Marge finally passing the finish line less than one second ahead of Lucille. Neither racer won, but they both finished in the top ten of all the competitors. After the race, Lucille was asked about her competing with her friend Marge. All Lucille would say was, "I couldn't have passed her, even if I had wanted to. In fact, it was impossible." What led Lucille to make such a bizarre statement?"
Answer: Marge and Lucille had been participating in a tandem bicycle race (bicycles built for two people).
Riddle: On a certain planet located in one of the outer spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxy, three life forms are seeking to capture other life forms and incarcerate them in glass prisons. The authorities on this planet have allowed such imprisonments for hundreds of years, despite the fact many of the captured life forms often die within 24 hours of their confinement, either by being accidentally crushed to death or by suffocation, as some of the prison cells do not have proper ventilation to supply needed oxygen to the prisoners. On this planet, hunting for these living creatures takes place after dark. The three hunters mentioned above do not follow any tracks to find their quarry, but instead, rely on these creatures to expose themselves, which they do by emitting short bursts of light. If it wasn't for the Prime Directive, I'm certain Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, or the Federation of Planets would have put an end to this barbaric practice of hunting and imprisoning these life forms long ago. By the way, what form of life were the three hoping to capture?
Answer: The three youngsters were hunting lightning bugs.
Riddle: The following is one of those boy-gets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl romantic stories. This famous couple first met back in 1961 while doing a TV commercial together. The pair instantly became boyfriend and girlfriend and continued dating until Valentine's Day of 2004, when the girl finally broke off the relationship. Rumor had it at the time that the girl (now a grown woman) wanted to get married, but the boy (now a grown man) was afraid of commitment, even after dating the woman for 43 years. However, the man had some plastic surgery done two years later (reportedly to impress the woman), and the couple got back together in 2011. It is incredible to imagine, but since this duo first got together, the man has had 40 different occupations, while the woman has had at least 200 separate careers -- even running for President of the United States at one point! Who are these two lovebirds who have had such a lengthy and interesting relationship?
Answer: Barbie and Ken.
Riddle: 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?
Answer: 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.
Riddle: Two of me become one, a union so true. I am transparent and pure, a liquid so clear. Quenching thirst, a gift without fear. What am I?
Answer: A water drop.
Riddle: When it's gone bad and flat I hate it but when it's fresh and fizzy I love to taste it. What is it?
Answer: Soda.
Riddle: What happened when the painter threw his painting at the old man?
Answer: He had an art attack.
Riddle: I'm alive and I die. When cut, I bleed I do not fear the seasons. I make my home above yet below the land. I'm a friend to man and beastie, yet hunted by both. My bones are always within sight. What am I?
Answer: A Tree.
Riddle: An elderly, bearded man drives slowly around many different neighborhoods looking for young children. He often plays a little musical tune from his vehicle to draw these children in close to him. When the children approach, he speaks very sweetly to them, and usually will offer them sweet treats in exchange for something they carry with them. These treats are always wrapped, so no one can see what's inside. When he is done talking 1:1 with each child, he tells them he will be back very soon to visit them, and then he drives slowly off, hunting for more children. Has no one noticed this man creeping along in their neighborhood? Have the police not been alerted to check on this man's activities; or is there some less sinister explanation for these happenings? Just what is this man's occupation?
Answer: He works as an ice cream man, driving his truck to various neighborhoods and selling his cold treats.
Riddle: A group of about 50 people are anxiously watching a very animated gentleman who stands before them. The man speaks loudly and very rapidly to the group. He is standing behind an elevated table, and waves a wooden object while frequently repeating himself. The man continues to spew forth his manic repetitions while frequently pointing at individual members of the audience, until finally, he shouts out one word, while pointing directly at a specific member of the group --- sometimes even describing their appearance or the clothes they are wearing. After shouting the word, the man instantly becomes less agitated --- but soon, his manic mood returns to sweep over him. Is this man presently experiencing symptoms of manic-depressive illness with symptoms of rapid, pressured speech, or is there some less extreme reason for his behavior? If so, what exactly is going on here, and what is the one word he shouts which calms him?
Answer: The man is an auctioneer trying to get the highest bid for the objects he is selling. The wooden object he waves about is his auctioneer’s hammer. The one word he shouts which calms him for a short time is, “Sold!”
Riddle: Shirley's two-year-old granddaughter carries around with her something Shirley recently purchased for her in the produce section of a local supermarket. The little girl has the item wrapped in a blanket, pretending it is her baby. She carries her "baby" with her everywhere she goes, and even sleeps with it at nighttime. However, the "baby" has no body, but consists of a brown head with two eyes and a mouth; or is it two eyes and a nose? Sometimes it is difficult to tell, but only the face of the baby peeks out from the surrounding blanket. What type of produce is this "baby" that Shirley's granddaughter carries around with her?
Answer: The two-year-old’s “baby” is actually a coconut which she wraps in a blanket, with the three circular indentations of the “face” turned outward.
Riddle: Dorothy has never expressed suicidal thoughts, but whenever she experiences feelings of sadness or depression, she makes arrangements to travel to a very high spot that she has visited on numerous occasions. Once there, she proceeds to jump from that great height. The fascinating fact though is she has never been injured from this leap, and in fact, she tells everyone that she feels much better afterward. If she’s not suicidal, then what is going on here, and why has she never been injured, or even worse, died from her risky actions?
Answer: There are several possible solutions to this brain teaser. Either Dorothy is a parachutist, or a ski jumper, or a hang glider enthusiast. There may be other possible solutions.
Riddle: "May Day! May Day! May Day! May Day!" shouted an angry wife to her cringing husband. "This is my official warning for you to remove that dead plant from this house before the stroke of midnight tonight!" "But it holds a lot of sweet memories from last year for me," responded her husband. His wife fired back with, "Today is the first of May, and you should have removed your precious plant from the premises months ago. Besides, it is both dead and brown and is now as sharp as a cactus, and to top it off, it has become a genuine fire hazard." Her husband sheepishly answered her by saying,” Well, I was hoping to set a Guinness world record for the family; but if I must dispose of it, the least you can do is help me remove all the shiny stuff from it first. What kind of a plant do you suppose this was which could create such a strange-sounding argument between this husband and wife?
Answer: The husband was having trouble parting with his beloved Christmas tree which was still standing in all of its tinseled glory in their living room, since it was erected in December of the previous year.
Riddle: Two houses are on fire. The first one belongs to Mr. Richards–a wealthy, elderly man. And the second one belongs to Mr. Lawrence–an art dealer who just started his business. Which house fire should the police officers extinguish first?
Answer: The police officers shouldn't extinguish either house fire because it's not part of their job! Police officers don't fight fires; that's what firefighters do!