Lateral Thinking Questions - #1 to #10

Lateral Thinking: The ability to test your powers of questioning, deduction and persistence. If at first the direct approach leads nowhere, try coming at the problem from the side; in other words, lateral thinking.

Jump to: Question #1. Question #2. Question #3. Question #4. Question #5. Question #6. Question #7. Question #8. Question #9. Question #10.

===============
L.T.Q. #01 Date: Tuesday, June 13, 1995 4:48PM

Welcome to the first installment of the Lateral Thinking Quiz. Let's get those brain boxes burning!

Here is this week's question:

Mr. Dodgers and the children in the neighbourhood are raking leaves at Mr. Dodger's house. They have three piles of leaves in the back yard, and seven piles of leaves in the front yard. When Mr. Dodgers and the children put all the piles together, how many piles of leaves will they have?

As you already know, I will try to keep to the following schedule:
Tuesday a.m. — questions are sent out. (Ok, so I'm a little late today!)
Thursday p.m. — answers are sent out.

BTW, you do not need to reply to me with your answers to these brain twisters. I'll only delete your messages anyway!

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #02 Date: Tuesday, June 20, 1995 4:51PM

Welcome to this week's installment of the Lateral Thinking Quiz. I'm told that last week's question didn't get those brain boxes burning, and barely raised the temperature. Well, the weather outside this week will more than make up for it!

Here is this week's question:

Is it hot enough for you?

Just kidding! Here is this week's real question:

Shadow drove into the Speedy Service Station and pulled up to the pumps. "Fill it up, please," said Shadow. "This may sound strange," said the owner, "but I'd rather fill two cars from out of town than one car from this town." Shadow looked across the small town and replied, "I know just what you mean." Why would the owner feel this way?

As you already know, I will try to keep to the following schedule:
Tuesday a.m. — questions are sent out. (Yeah, I know I'm a little late again!)
Thursday p.m. — answers are sent out.

And you already know you do not need to reply to me with your answers to these brain twisters because I'll only delete your messages anyway!

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #03 Date: Tuesday, June 27, 1995 3:23PM

I know this is late (again), but don't start with me, people! I've had a queasy stomach all day, and I'm not in the mood to mess around.

Here is this week's question:

Mel Colly stared through the dirty soot-smeared window on the 26th floor of the office tower. Overcome with depression he slid the window open and jumped through it. It was a sheer drop outside the building to the ground. Miraculously after he landed he was completely unhurt. Since there was nothing to cushion his fall or slow his descent, how could he have survived?

As you already know, our regular (but never met) schedule is:
Tuesday a.m. — questions are sent out.
Thursday p.m. — answers are sent out.

However, our Activity Day is on Thursday, and I will be out of the office next week (July 3rd - 7th) so I won't be here to send you the questions and answers. Instead, I will send the answer to This Week's Question on Friday, and at the same time, send Next Week's Question. The answer for Next Week's Question will be sent with The Week After's Question on or about July 11th.

Got that? Good!

P.S. Have a safe and happy long weekend...

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #04 Date: Friday, June 30, 1995 11:00AM

Here is this week's question:

Two cars made their way along the winding country road and came to an abrupt stop at the park's gate. Seven men got out of the two cars and were walking along a footpath when it began to rain. Six of the men began to walk faster to get out of the rain but the seventh man couldn't be bothered. Ironically it was the seventh man who remained dry and the other six got soaked. Since all seven men arrived at their destination together, how was this possible?

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #05 Date: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 12:34PM

I was so busy surfing the web yesterday that I completely forgot to send this out. I've pretty much recovered from my 30km bike ride last night, so here it is...

Here is this week's question:

Jed Recluse lived alone and he preferred it that way. Jed never had any visitors and he never visited anyone. Since Jed never left his house it was necessary to have his supplies delivered every two weeks. One dark and stormy night Jed lost control of his senses, turned off all the lights and went to sleep. The next morning it was discovered that Jed's actions resulted in the deaths of several people. Why?

The answer to this one may be given late Thursday (tomorrow), or I may wait until Friday, since it will be my Birthday, and I won't feel like doing any real work anyway!

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #06 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 1995 5:10PM

If the weather holds out, and it's not too windy, I'll be going for another 30km bike ride tonight. In the meantime...

Here is this week's question:

Sam Slug was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. While waiting on death row, he escaped, got hold of a gun, and managed to board a plane. Just before departure, Sam hijacked the plane, and ordered all the passengers off. His next demand was for $500,000 in a heavy bag and a parachute. He then instructed the pilot to turn his radio off and fly at low altitude. When Sam saw the area he liked he strapped the parachute on and leapt from the plane. Unfortunately for Sam, in his excitement he forgot the money. When the pilot returned to the airport he reported to Detective Shadow that Sam Slug had made a successful escape but had left the money. Shadow immediately announced the case was closed. Why would Shadow not search for a convicted murderer?

Any D. B. Cooper fans out there?

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #07 Date: Wednesday, July 26, 1995 9:25AM

Sorry, but I was home sick in bed yesterday. I'm feeling better today. Not much better, but better. Thanks for asking.

Here is this week's question:

There are six ears of corn in a hollow stump. If a perfectly healthy squirrel carries only three ears out each day, how many days will it take to empty the stump?

That reminds me... I can hardly wait for corn-on-the-cob season! Yum! Yum!

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #08 Date: Tuesday, August 01, 1995 4:40PM

Just to let you know: We are doing a large number of cubicle re-derangements here at the Support Centre, so I will be one of the disenfranchised people over the next couple of weeks. I'm already going through all the junk at my desk, and pitching a lot of it! Hey, who needs compile listings from 1990, anyway?

Here is this week's question:

It happened in midtown Manhattan during the July 4th celebrations, that a man walked several kilometres from West 32nd Street all the way to West 63rd Street without seeing anyone or being seen by anyone. It was a clear sunny day and he could see where he was going. He did not use any disguise or unusual method of transportation. Even though Manhattan was swarming with people not one person saw him. How could this be possible?

In addition to all the moves, I will be out of the office for the next two weeks (August 7th - 21st) so I won't be here to send you the questions and answers. Instead, as last month, I will send the answer to This Week's Question on Thursday, and at the same time, send questions for the next two weeks. The answers for those question will be sent with the question on or about August 22nd.

Got that? Good!

P.S. Don't forget this is also a long weekend. Have a safe and happy one...

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #09 Date: Thursday, August 03, 1995 10:10AM

Here is this week's question:

There are seven coins which look identical. One of the seven coins weighs slightly less than the other six. Using a balance scale, how could you determine which is the light coin in just two weighings?

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============
L.T.Q. #10 Date: Thursday, August 03, 1995 10:10AM

Here is this week's question:

It was in a major league baseball game that a pitcher faced only 27 batters. Every batter he faced, he struck out. He allowed no hits and no runs. His team lost 4 - 0. How could this be possible.

BTW, for Question #10, I think they are looking for something other than "He was playing for the 1994 or 1995 Blue Jays." (Dem bums!)

Jump to the Answer. Return to top.

===============

Jump back to:

Home Pages

This web page is maintained by Mike Jourard using HTML Notepad from cranial software.
Last modified on December 12, 1995. Converted to dot-com web site on May 22, 2000. Copyright © 1995,2000 by Badinage Publications. All rights reserved.