Four Fun Questions

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.)

Comments

[Roger von Oech]

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.

[jKlehe]

Same as above except 2. First place (the first place runner would be able to overtake the last place runner!)

[Cam Beck]

Ha! I totally blew by #3. "Mary's father..." Nice.

[Roger von Oech]

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.

[KrisB]

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...

[Paul McEnany]

Well, now I feel stupid. :)

[Nutster]

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.

[Jay Kelly]

re: 2 . . . 'trouble bc you're not supposed to be in the race.'

[Leke]

Ha! That was fun. I only got the first one right.

[Saurabh Garg]

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.

[Stephen Denny]

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: ________?

[Jen, writer MembershipMillionaire.com]

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! :)

[Roger von Oech]

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.

[Dermot]

I had
second (correct)

first. clearly your lapping the person (otherwise your photo is deliberate misdirection)

Nunu - Mary could be a boys name :-)

Dermot

[Samme]

Ooops...

I feel very stupidiotic now.

[ramu]

good

[maggie]

wow! i feel dumb...

[maggie]

wow! i feel dumb...

[rk]

wow

[rico]

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