A Test Your Child Can Enjoy
One of the unfortunate outcomes of all the testing that goes on in life is that we come to dread exams. But when used in a less than traditional manner, tests can be enjoyable--and even get you to think about words from a fresh (if, at times, silly) perspective.
For example, what's the answer to "How many birthdays does the average person have?"
It's "one a year"
Most kids love "tests" of this sort. So if you have a youngster who fits that description, you can try out one or more of the following with him or her. You might also try them out with friends who enjoy puns and the like. And to make sure that you come across as an expert, all the answers are supplied at the end.
1. Some months have 31 days; how many have 28?
2. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents; the woman is the beggar's sister, but the beggar is not the woman's brother. How come?
3. How many outs are there in an inning?
4. I have two US coins totaling 55 cents. One is not a nickel. What are the coins?
5. Why can't a man living in the USA be buried in Canada?
6. Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister? Why?
7. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.
8. A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern exposure. A big bear walks by, what color is the bear? Why?
9. If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?
10. If you have only one match and you walked into a room where there was an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one would you light first?
11. A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half hour. How long would the pills last?
12. A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but 9 die. How many are left?
13. How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?
14. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5' 10'' tall. What does he weigh?
15. How many two cent stamps are there in a dozen?
16. What was the President's name in 1950?
17. Do they have a 4th of July in England?
ANSWERS:
1. all months have (at least) 28 days
2. the beggar is the woman's sister
3. 6 (3 per side)
4. a fifty cent piece, and a nickel (one is not a nickel, but the other one is)
5. because he is living
6. no. the man would be dead
7. they are not playing each other
8. white. (the bear would be a polar bear, because the house must be at the north pole)
9. 2 (you just took 2 apples)
10. light the match first
11. one hour (the first one, a half hour later, and another one more half hour)
12. 9 (all but 9 die...)
13. none. Moses was not on the ark
14. he weighs meat
15. 12
16. George Bush
17. yes (they also have a 3rd of July, a 2nd of July, etc...)
