Here are four fun questions. Answer them quickly.
1. You are running in a race, and you overtake the second-place runner. What position are you in, now?
2. Different race. If you overtake the last-place runner, then you are in . . . ?
3. Mary’s father has five daughters: #1 is Nana, #2 is Nene, #3 is Nini, #4 is Nono. What is the name of daughter #5?
4. A mute person goes into a shop to buy a toothbrush. He imitates the action of brushing his teeth, thereby clearly expressing himself to the shopkeeper, and the purchase is made.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses. How does he indicate what he wants?
(Answers in comments. Source: Sondrak.)
Some answers:
1. Second place, not first.
2. How can you overtake a last-place runner? You’d have to have been behind him, which would make you last.
3. Mary, not Nunu.
4. He probably just asks for the sunglasses.
Posted by: Roger von Oech | 12 January 2008 at 02:47 PM
Same as above except 2. First place (the first place runner would be able to overtake the last place runner!)
Posted by: jKlehe | 12 January 2008 at 03:23 PM
Ha! I totally blew by #3. "Mary's father..." Nice.
Posted by: Cam Beck | 12 January 2008 at 03:55 PM
jKlehe: That would be "lapping the field." But assume that it's a cross-country race.
Cam: Me too. I was "Nunu" all the way.
Posted by: Roger von Oech | 12 January 2008 at 04:12 PM
I'm sure the fact that I only had time for one cup of coffee this morning played into the fact that I went with Nunu AND was able to overtake the last place runner...
Posted by: KrisB | 12 January 2008 at 04:41 PM
Well, now I feel stupid. :)
Posted by: Paul McEnany | 12 January 2008 at 05:59 PM
1. Got that
2. I lapped the guy and was in first. Not fair to tell us to assume it is a cross country race when you throw up a picture of a race on a track.
3. Call me Nunu....what a dork I was
4. I made the assumption he was a blind mute trying to ask for sunglasses....bad assumption. I hate it when my mind goes on autopilot!
Thanks for the Sunday morning fun, Roger.
Posted by: Nutster | 13 January 2008 at 07:54 AM
re: 2 . . . 'trouble bc you're not supposed to be in the race.'
Posted by: Jay Kelly | 13 January 2008 at 12:15 PM
Ha! That was fun. I only got the first one right.
Posted by: Leke | 14 January 2008 at 12:46 AM
Unbelievable ... but got all :)
And yes I assume that I would overtake the last place runner. Agree with Paul, the picture that comes to mind when you think of race is an oval race track.
Posted by: Saurabh Garg | 14 January 2008 at 01:23 AM
What's wood, has a sign nailed to it, and is planted in the ground?
A: POST
What do you call beef that's been cooked in an oven?
A: ROAST
What do you put in a toaster?
A: ________?
Posted by: Stephen Denny | 14 January 2008 at 05:15 PM
Okay, so I'm probably the last to comment here and so I did happen to see what other people's answers were. Still, it's so much fun trying to answer trick questions like these. I admit I was pretty distracted by all the Ns in Mary's siblings that I actually answered None to be the 5th daughter. Harharhar! :)
Posted by: Jen, writer MembershipMillionaire.com | 15 January 2008 at 03:32 AM
KrisB: What your siblings' names?
Nutster: You're Mr. Enthusiasm!
Jay: You're probably right.
Leke: Aw, that's okay.
Paul: Too bad about your Cowboys.
Saurabh: Nice going.
Stephen: A classic. We should do a post of classic assumption-breaking puzzles. Too bad about your Redskins.
Jen: Hope you get your million.
Posted by: Roger von Oech | 15 January 2008 at 03:42 PM
I had
second (correct)
first. clearly your lapping the person (otherwise your photo is deliberate misdirection)
Nunu - Mary could be a boys name :-)
Dermot
Posted by: Dermot | 18 January 2008 at 03:06 AM
Ooops...
I feel very stupidiotic now.
Posted by: Samme | 04 July 2008 at 02:18 PM
good
Posted by: ramu | 29 July 2008 at 04:38 AM
wow! i feel dumb...
Posted by: maggie | 13 August 2008 at 05:56 PM
wow! i feel dumb...
Posted by: maggie | 13 August 2008 at 05:57 PM
wow
Posted by: rk | 28 September 2008 at 02:22 AM
Try posting fun, trick or factual questions at www.nuovorich.com
Posted by: rico | 15 October 2008 at 06:29 AM
nice :)
I just made a linkpost with this one:
check it out here: http://www.oozman.com/oozing/ideas/archives/brain-thinker-fun-questions/
Posted by: Oozman | 20 January 2009 at 06:49 PM
It's very strange that noone mentioned that you don't have to be in first to overtake someone. As such, the answer to 2 is more correctly: "Unknown, but could be any place except for last."
Good Day
Posted by: Michael | 23 February 2009 at 11:46 AM
i got d ans for al 3 quests but i tried to over take the last place runner :)
Posted by: soumya | 08 April 2010 at 10:12 PM