BRAIN TEASERS, part 2

Study the five brain teasers. Then, see if you can answer without looking at the answers.

a. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?

b. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?

c. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual, though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!

Answers below.

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The other day I talked about the batteries going out on one of my scooters. So we drove up to the repair place (you know which one, Alison), and waited while the repairman checked the batteries. He came out to say that the batteries were fine. The problem appeared to be with the brake that was partially on, and thus draining the batteries. He’d have to order a part from the factory. That was a week ago. When I’d phone, I was told the part would be in that day. Didn’t happen -- several days in a row. Then Friday came a call saying the part had arrived -- but it was the wrong part. Now I don’t know if the shop ordered the wrong part, or the factory simply shipped the wrong one. The result is the same -- no scooter. Today they are presumably ordering the correct part to be shipped overnight, and then I can have it on Tuesday. I’m not holding my breath.

BRAIN TEASERS ANSWERS:

a. Charcoal. This one is tricky. Only old-timers can remember using coal for heating.

b. Sure you can: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow!

c. The letter "e" - the most common letter in the English language - is missing from the entire paragraph! This one was hard. If you got this one, give yourself a pat on the back.