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Lateral Thinking

Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)


Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Q. How many sides does a circle have?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
A. Two sides, the inside and the outside.
Q. This is an unusual paragraph. Im curious how quickly you can
find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would
think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it.
It is unusual thoughStudy it and think about it, but you still may
not find anything odd about it. But, if you work at it for a bit, you
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
not find anything odd about it. But, if you work at it for a bit, you
might just find out.
A. The letter e, which is the most common letter
in the English language, does not appear once in
the long paragraph
Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police raid a house to
arrest a suspected murderer. They dont know what he looks like,
but they know his name is John. Inside they find a carpenter, a taxi
driver, a car mechanic and a fireman playing cards. Without even
asking his name, they immediately arrest the fireman. How do
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
asking his name, they immediately arrest the fireman. How do
they know theyve got their man?
Only John is a man; all others are women
There is a man who lives on the top floor of a very tall building.
Everyday he gets the elevator down to the ground floor to leave
the building to go to work. Upon returning from work though, he
can only travel half way up in the lift and has to walk the rest of the
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
can only travel half way up in the lift and has to walk the rest of the
way unless it's raining! Why?
The man is very, very short and can only reach halfway up the
elevator buttons. However, if it is raining then he will have his
umbrella with him and can press the higher buttons with it.
A man and his son are in a car accident. The father dies on the
scene, but the child is rushed to the hospital. When he arrives the
surgeon says, "I can't operate on this boy, he is my son! " How can
this be?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
this be?
The surgeon was his mother.
A man is wearing black. Black shoes, socks, trousers, coat, gloves
and ski mask. He is walking down a back street with all the street
lamps off. A black car is coming towards him with its light off but
somehow manages to stop in time. How did the driver see the
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
somehow manages to stop in time. How did the driver see the
man?
It was day time.
One day Kerry celebrated her birthday. Two days later her older
twin brother, Terry, celebrated his birthday. How?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
At the time she went into labor, the mother of the twins was
traveling by boat. The older twin, Terry, was born first early on
March 1st. The boat then crossed a time zone and Kerry, the
younger twin, was born on February the 28th. Therefore, the
younger twin celebrates her birthday two days before her older
brother.
Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones?
This is logical rather than lateral, but it is a good puzzle that can be
solved by lateral thinking techniques. It is supposedly used by a
very well-known software company as an interview question for
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
very well-known software company as an interview question for
prospective employees.
A square manhole cover can be turned and dropped down the
diagonal of the manhole. A round manhole cannot be dropped
down the manhole. So for safety and practicality, all manhole covers
should be round.
A man went to a party and drank some of the punch. He then left
early. Everyone else at the party who drank the punch
subsequently died of poisoning. Why did the man not die?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
subsequently died of poisoning. Why did the man not die?
The poison in the punch came from the ice cubes. When
the man drank the punch, the ice was fully frozen.
Gradually it melted, poisoning the punch.
A woman had two sons who were born on the same hour of the
same day of the same year. But they were not twins. How could
this be so?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
They were two of a set of triplets (or quadruplets, etc.). This
puzzle stumps many people. They try outlandish solutions involving
test-tube babies or surrogate mothers. Why does the brain search
for complex solutions when there is a much simpler one available?
A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between
three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of
assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't
eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
The third. Lions that haven't eaten in three years
are dead.
A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for
over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they
both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How
can this be?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
can this be?
The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her
husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry.
What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray
when you throw it away?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
The answer is Charcoal.
Can you name three consecutive days without using the words
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or
Sunday? (or day names in any other language)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Sunday? (or day names in any other language)
Sure you can: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow!
There is a bridge 4 kilometers long and strong enough to hold
10,000 kgs but nothing more. A fully loaded lorry weighing
exactly 10,000 kgs drives on this bridge. Halfway through a
sparrow weighing 30 gms lands on the truck, yet the bridge doesnt
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
sparrow weighing 30 gms lands on the truck, yet the bridge doesnt
collapse. How can that happen?
By the time the lorry comes to the middle of the
bridge (2 kms) it would have already burnt more
than 30 gms of fuel.
There is a bridge 4 kilometers long and strong enough to hold
10,000 kg but nothing more. A fully loaded lorry weighing exactly
10,000 kg drives on this bridge. Halfway through a sparrow
weighing 30 gm lands on the truck, yet the bridge doesnt
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
weighing 30 gm lands on the truck, yet the bridge doesnt
collapse. How can that happen?
By the time the lorry comes to the middle of the
bridge (2 km) it would have already burnt more
than 30 gm of fuel.
Q. Connect the dots by drawing four straight, continuous lines
that pass through each of the nine dots, and never lifting the pencil
from the paper.
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
from the paper.
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Round 1 Round 1 Round 1 Round 1
How many sides has a circle?
If there are two monkeys in each corner of a room, how many monkeys can say they are
looking at other monkeys?
How far can a dog run into a forest?
Jenny works in a fruit and vegetable shop. When she was born she weighed 3kgs. She is
now aged 18 and is 1.6 metres tall. What does she weigh?
A farmer has 5 haystacks in one field, 10 haystacks in a second field and 8 in the third
field. He brought them all together. How many haystacks does he have?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
field. He brought them all together. How many haystacks does he have?
There are 8 crows on a wall and a farmer shoots one. How many are left?
A truck driver is going down a one-way street the wrong way. A policeman looks over
and waves a good morning to him. Why?
Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men?
One man has three sacks of corn on his back and another man has four sacks on his back.
Who has the heavier load?
When your tonsils are removed it is called an Tonsilectomy. When you have your
appendix removed it is called an Appendectomy. What is it called when a growth is
removed from your head?
Round 2
Divide 30 by a half and add ten
What is the eleven letter word that most people spell incorrectly?
Take two apples from five apples and what do have?
What can go up a chimney down but not down a chimney up?
If Mr Smiths peacock lays an egg in Mr Jones yard, who owns the egg?
What do you sit on, sleep on, and brush your teeth with?
A 10 foot rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat with the bottom rung on the surface of the water. The rungs are one foot apart, and the tide
goes up at the rate of 6 inches per hour. How long will it be until three rungs are covered?
Who's bigger: Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger or their baby?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Who's bigger: Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger or their baby?
Which country has the 4TH July: USA, UK, Germany or Australia?
Some months have 31 days, some have 30 days. How many have 28 days?
A man built a house of rectangular structure with all the walls facing south.A bear came wandering by. What colour was the bear?
If you were alone in a deserted house at night and you only had one match and there was a lampl, a fire and a candle. What would you light first?
You're the pilot of an aeroplane that travels from New York to Chicago - a distance of 800 miles. The aeroplane travels at 200 m.p.h. and makes
one stop for 30 minutes. What is the pilot's name?
How many animals of each species did Moses take on board the ark?
What is black when you buy it, red when you use it and grey when you throw it away?
Where are the kings and queens of England crowned?
What was the highest mountain in the world before Mt Everest was discovered?
If a farmer raises wheat in dry weather, what does he raise in wet weather?
You have two jugs of water and you have to put the water into a barrel. However, the water from each jug needs to be kept separate. You can't
put anything in the barrel other than the water. How are you going to keep the water separate in the barrel?
Round 1 - Answers
How many sides has a circle?
Two sides. The inside and the outside.
If there are two monkeys in each corner of a room, how many monkeys can say they are looking at other monkeys?
None. Monkeys can't speak.
How far can a dog run into a forest?
Halfway. Once past the halfway mark it is running out.
Jenny works in a fruit and vegetable shop. When she was born she weighed 3kgs. She is now aged 18 and is 1.6 metres tall. What does she weigh?
Fruit and vegetables.
A farmer has 5 haystacks in one field, 10 haystacks in a second field and 8 in the third field. He brought them all together. How many haystacks does he have?
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
A farmer has 5 haystacks in one field, 10 haystacks in a second field and 8 in the third field. He brought them all together. How many haystacks does he have?
One.
There are 8 crows on a wall and a farmer shoots one. How many are left?
One. The dead one.
A truck driver is going down a one-way street the wrong way. A policeman looks over and waves a good morning to him. Why?
He was walking.
Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men?
There are more of them.
One man has three sacks of corn on his back and another man has four sacks on his back. Who has the heavier load?
The one with 3 sacks of corn.
When your tonsils are removed it is called an Tonsilectomy. When you have your appendix removed it is called an Appendectomy. What is it called when a
growth is removed from your head?
A haircut.
Round 2 - Answers
Divide 30 by a half and add ten
The answer is 70 as a half equals 0.5
What is the eleven letter word that most people spell incorrectly?
Incorrectly
Take two apples from five apples and what do have?
You've got what you have taken - 2 apples
What can go up a chimney down but not down a chimney up?
An umbrella. Something to do with chimney sweeps in the old days who used to put an umbrella over the top of the chimney when it rained.
If Mr Smiths peacock lays an egg in Mr Jones yard, who owns the egg?
Peacocks don't lay eggs. Peahens lay the eggs.
What do you sit on, sleep on, and brush your teeth with?
A chair, a bed and a toothbrush. Remember this is not a logical thinking question. You are not looking for a common denominator.
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
A chair, a bed and a toothbrush. Remember this is not a logical thinking question. You are not looking for a common denominator.
A 10 foot rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat with the bottom rung on the surface of the water. The rungs are one foot apart, and the tide goes up at the rate of 6 inches per hour. How long will it be until three rungs are
covered?
Never, because they boat rises with the tide.
Who's bigger: Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger or their baby?
It's the baby because the baby is a - little bigger.
Which country has the 4TH July: USA, UK, Germany or Australia?
All of them.
Some months have 31 days, some have 30 days. How many have 28 days?
12 months
A man built a house of rectangular structure with all the walls facing south.A bear came wandering by. What colour was the bear?
White because it is on the North Pole. The only place you can build a house where all the walls face south.
If you were alone in a deserted house at night and you only had one match and there was a lampl, a fire and a candle. What would you light first?
The match.
You're the pilot of an aeroplane that travels from New York to Chicago - a distance of 800 miles. The aeroplane travels at 200 m.p.h. and makes one stop for 30 minutes. What is the pilot's name?
Your name
How many animals of each species did Moses take on board the ark?
None. It was Noah's Ark.
What is black when you buy it, red when you use it and grey when you throw it away?
Coal.
Where are the kings and queens of England crowned?
On their heads.
C C C C C C C
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
C C C C C C C
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
W T S E
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W T S E
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)
Compiled By: Asad Naveed (asadnaveed@yahoo.com)

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