1. Name the most recent year in which New Year’s Day preceded Christmas.
2. Why are 1968 pennies worth more than 1967 pennies?
3. 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?
4. What is the eleven-letter word that all Yale graduates spell incorrectly?
5. If you had only one match and entered a dark room containing an oil lamp, some
newspaper, and some kindling wood, which would you light first?
6. A farmer had 15 sheep, and all but 8 died. How many are left?
7. Imagine you are driving a bus. When you start your trip, there are an old lady
named Johnson and a long-haired kid on the bus. At the first stop the lady leaves
and a businessman enters. At the next stop Frankie, a young boy, enters with his
little sister. Then three old ladies who have been shopping in the mall get on. After
a short trip the long-haired kid leaves the bus and a man and lady enter. Paul and
his dog, Blue, gets on, while Frankie and his sister get off. Finally, the bus arrives
at the bus station. What is the name of the bus driver?
8. Do you say “loo-iss-vill” is the capital of Kentucky, or do you say “loo-ee-vill” is
the capital of Kentucky?
9. Is it legal for a man to marry his widow’s sister?
10. If water going down the drain and toilet goes counter-clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, in which direction would a
toilet go on the equator?
11. If there are 6 apples and you take away 4, how many do you have?
12. There are two coins that total 55 cents ($0.55). One of them is not a nickel. What
are the two coins?
13. An electric train is moving north at 100 mph, and a wind is blowing to the west at
10 mph. Which way does the smoke blow?
14. Start with three coins: a penny, a nickel, and a quarter. Say, “Tommy’s mother
has three children. The first child’s name is Penny.” (Hold up the penny while
saying this.) “The second child’s name is Nick.” (Hold up the nickel.) What is the
third child’s name? (Hold up the quarter.)
15. FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED
WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.
Count the F’s in the above sentence. How many F’s do you get?
