John Warner
02-08-2008, 12:24 AM
One-Minute Mysteries are also known as lateral thinking puzzles, situation puzzles, and stories with holes. Each puzzle describes an unusual scenario and your job is to figure out what is going on. The puzzles may seem open-ended, but they generally have only one satisfying answer, one solution that suddenly appears when the light bulb goes on in your head and you say, "Aha!"
How do you solve them? By asking yes or no questions. Ask as many questions as you like. Start by asking leading questions. You’ll want your questions to generate more questions. If you start by asking very specific questions, you will most likely get a no answer, but if you ask a broad question then you’ll have somewhere to go from there.
When solving these puzzles, throw out all your assumptions about what is going on. You’ll have to think outside the box, use deductive reasoning, and see things from new perspectives. In other words, think like a detective!
Special Delivery
Everyday Jack gets the mail but one day he gets something he was not expecting and therefore never checks the mail again. What does he get?
How do you solve them? By asking yes or no questions. Ask as many questions as you like. Start by asking leading questions. You’ll want your questions to generate more questions. If you start by asking very specific questions, you will most likely get a no answer, but if you ask a broad question then you’ll have somewhere to go from there.
When solving these puzzles, throw out all your assumptions about what is going on. You’ll have to think outside the box, use deductive reasoning, and see things from new perspectives. In other words, think like a detective!
Special Delivery
Everyday Jack gets the mail but one day he gets something he was not expecting and therefore never checks the mail again. What does he get?