Technical Quiz
The Elder Twin
One day Kerry celebrated her birthday. Two days later her older twin brother, Terry,
celebrated his birthday. How come?
Manhole Covers
Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones? This is logical rather
than lateral, but it is a good puzzle which can be solved by lateral thinking techniques.
It is supposedly used by a very well-known software company as an interview question
for prospective employees.
The Deadly Party
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?
Trouble with Sons
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?
The Man in the Bar
A man walks into a bar and asks the barman for a glass of water. The barman pulls out
a gun and points it at the man. The man says 'Thank you' and walks out. This puzzle
has claims to be the best of the genre. It is simple in its statement, absolutely
baffling and yet with a completely satisfying solution. Most people struggle very hard
to solve this one yet they like the answer when they hear it or have the satisfaction
of figuring it out.
SOLUTIONS
The Elder Twin
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
the International Date line (or anytime zone line) and Kerry, the younger twin,
was born on February the 28th. In a leap year the younger twin celebrates her
birthday two days before her older brother...
Manhole Covers
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.
he 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.
The Deadly Party
They were two of a set of triplets (or quadruplets etc.) This simple little 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?
The Man in the Bar
The man had hiccups. The barman recognized this from his speech and drew the
gun in order to give him a shock. It worked and cured the hiccups - so the man
no longer needed the water.