Riddles and Brain Teasers

The Dead Bring Forth the Living

I saw the dead bring forth the living. I saw the living bring forth the dead. Who or what did I see?

A funeral. Someone’s death caused the living to come to the funeral, and during the funeral the living carry the casket of the deceased.

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Find The Country Names

How many country names can you find in the following statements?

Don’t reach in a crack in the rocks, there might be snakes in there.
While I was on the highway called the Alcan, a daily occurrence was car breakdowns.
The top social class, as defined by many, is the upper-upper.

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Three.

1. China (reaCH IN A)
2. Canada (alCAN A DAily)
3. Peru (upPER-Upper)

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Seeds on the Outside

What fruit has seeds on the outside?

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A strawberry.

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Blindly Picking Socks

You have 12 black socks and 12 white socks mixed up in a drawer. You’re up very early and it’s too dark to tell them apart. What’s the smallest number of socks you need to take out (blindly) to be sure of having a matching pair?

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Three socks. If the first sock is black, the second one could be black, in which case you have a matching pair. If the second sock is white, the third sock will be either black and match the first sock, or white and match the second sock.

Sock drawer

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No Eyes But Once Could See

I do not have eyes but I once could see. I used to have thoughts but now I’m empty.

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A skull.

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You Heard Me Before

You heard me before,
Yet you hear me again,
Then I die,
‘Till you call me again.

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An echo.

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I Build Up Castles

I build up castles.
I tear down mountains.
I make some men blind,
I help others to see.
What am I?

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Sand.

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I Run Cold and Hot

I run cold and hot,
I look blue but am red.

What am I?

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Blood. People can be referred to as hot blooded, and certain animals are cold-blooded. Your veins look blue, but the blood is actually red.

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I Live in Water

I live in water
If you cut my head I’m at your door,
If you cut my tail I’m fruit,
If you cut both I’m with you

What am I?

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A pearl. They’re found underwater. Removing the head (p) leaves Earl, a guy who could be at your door. Removing the tail (l) leaves pear, a fruit and if you cut both off you’re left with ear, which is with you because it’s attached to your head.

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Sisters and Brothers

My daughter has as many sisters as she has brothers. Each of her brothers has twice as many sisters as brothers. How many sons and daughters do I have?

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Four daughters and three sons. Each daughter has 3 sisters and 3 brothers, and each brother has 2 brothers and 4 sisters.To figure it out mathematically, you could use the following two equations where G = the number of girls and B = the number of boys:
G – 1 = B
2(B – 1) = GSolving for G gives you 4 and plugging that in to G – 1 = B gives you a B of 3.

Four daughters and three sons. Each daughter has 3 sisters and 3 brothers, and each brother has 2 brothers and 4 sisters.

To figure it out mathematically, you could use the following two equations where G = the number of girls and B = the number of boys:
G – 1 = B
2(B – 1) = G

Solving for G gives you 4 and plugging that in to G – 1 = B gives you a B of 3.

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