Brainteasers

Compiled by Julianne Scibetta, Albany College of Pharmacy

There were no entries in last month’s brainteasers challenge. So let’s go back to the old way of doing things.

1. Five pieces of coal, a carrot, and a scarf are lying on the lawn. Nobody put them on the lawn, but there is a perfectly logical reason for their being there. What is it?



2. A man in a restaurant complained to the waiter that there was a fly in his cup of coffee. The waiter took the cup away and promised to bring a fresh cup of coffee. He returned a few moments later. The man tasted the coffee and complained that this was his original cup of coffee with the fly removed. He was correct, but how did he know?



3. Cathy’s Thanksgiving Problem: Thanksgiving is a family holiday at our house, and all our relatives show up for dinner. Mother is the peace keeper in the family and she must seat everyone at the huge dining room table so that there are no family fights while carving the turkey. Grandmother does not like either of her sons-in-law so she can not be placed next to Dad or Uncle Bob. Mom doesn’t like sitting next to her sister Alice because she only wants to talk about her perfect son Jason, who will scream if he can’t sit between his grandmother and mother. Uncle Bob had a big fight with Dad last Thanksgiving and Aunt Harriet says they should not sit next to each other at the table. I want to sit between Mom and Dad. Where will everyone sit?
   
   

As always, submit your answers and brainteasers to me at scibettj@acp.edu.