Happy New Year
NEW YEAR’S DAY is exactly seven days after Christmas Day, so it’s always on the same day of the week. But in the year 2000 New Year’s Day was on a different day to Christmas Day. Why? See the answer You might think it’s something special about the year 2000. But it happens every year. […]
Lying numbers
WHENEVER I SAY a number it comes out as two more than the number I’m thinking of; so when I want to say ‘three’ it comes out as ‘four’. What would I say if I were asked to say ‘five’? See the answer “Whenever I say a number it comes out as two more than […]
A bottle of wine
A BOTTLE OF WINE cost £10. The wine cost £9 more than the bottle. How much did the bottle cost? See the answer The bottle costs 50p, and the wine cost £9.50. The bottle costs 50p, and the wine cost £9.50.
New door
REARRANGE the letters in the words New Door to make one word. See the answer ‘One word’. ‘One word’.
Three rooms
YOU’RE CONDEMNED to death. (Sorry.) You can choose between three rooms which might enable you to escape: one contains a firing squad, one is full of land mines, the third is fully of huge lions that haven’t eaten in a year. Which room do you choose? See the answer The third. If the lions haven’t […]
Safety helmets
IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR soldiers were initially issued with cloth caps. After a while they were all given tin helmets. After the helmets were issued, the field hospitals reported a significant increase in the number of casualties presenting with head injuries. Why? See the answer Because before the helmets were issued, soldiers shot in […]
Walking the dog
A MAN TAKES HIS DOG for a walk in the park. He walks around a circular pond, which takes him exactly an hour. (It’s a very big pond.) He has a stick which he throws for the dog, which the dog retrieves and brings back to him without breaking its run (it’s a very well-trained […]
Hardware issues
A MAN GOES INTO a hardware store to buy some items for his house. ‘How much is one?’ he asks, and is told ‘£3.’ ‘How much for twelve?’ ‘£6,’ says the assistant. ‘And how much for two hundred?’ ‘£9,’ comes the reply. There are no bulk discounts involved. What is he buying? See the answer […]
The camel race
TWO PRINCES are desperate to marry the Sultan’s daughter. The Sultan invites them to attend him in a tent in the desert. He explains that the contest will be decided by a race: whichever prince’s camel reaches the palace last shall marry his daughter. After just a moment’s thought, the princes rush out and race to […]
Which switch?
INSIDE A ROOM is a light bulb. Outside are three switches in the off position. There is no way to see into the room without opening the door. How do you work out which switch turns on the light? You can fiddle with the switches as much as you like, but you’re only allowed to […]
Three children
JOHN’S MOTHER has three children. The oldest is called April, the middle child is called May. What’s the youngest called? See the answer Most people say June, but of course the answer is John. John’s mother, right? Most people say June, but of course the answer is John. John’s mother, right?