Here is a snippet of section D of the curious multiple-choice entrance exam into the exclusive BrainBashers puzzle club.
Q1. Which is the first question where c) is the correct answer?
a) Q3
b) Q4
c) Q1
d) Q2
Q2. Which is the first question where a) is the correct answer?
a) Q4
b) Q2
c) Q3
d) Q1
Q3. Which is the first question where d) is the correct answer?
a) Q1
b) Q2
c) Q4
d) Q3
Q4. Which is the first question where b) is the correct answer?
Reasoning
Let's look at Q1 first, and check each possible option:
If Q1's answer was a):
… we'll leave checking this for now, because …
If Q1's answer was b):
… we'll leave checking this for now, because …
If Q1's answer was c):
it would reference itself, and we'd learn nothing new, and we'd then have to check Q2.
So, let's start with Q2 first instead of Q1.
If Q2's answer was a):
an immediate contradiction, as Q4 can't be the first answer with a) as we've assumed Q2's answer is a).
If Q2's answer was b):
an immediate contradiction, as Q2 can't be the first answer with a) as we've assumed Q2's answer is b).
If Q2's answer was c):
Q3's answer would be a)
Q1's answer would be d)
confirming Q2's answer as c)
leaving Q4's only possible answer as b)
no contradiction.
If Q2's answer was d):
Q1's answer would be a) (*)
Q3's answer would be c)
Q4's answer would be d)
Q1's answer would be b)
but this contradicts the section marked (*).
Therefore, the only possible answer with no contradiction is when Q2's answer is c).
We can then follow Q2's answer, which leads to the answers to Q1 to Q3. Q4 must then reference itself.
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Puzzle 2
By changing the second letter of each word below, you can make another valid word.
Can you change each word such that the second letters will reveal an eleven-letter word when read downwards?
Therefore, what now reads 'vokahliuppw' will become a real word. ovalpostskinmaltwhenslabmissfundapedspedsway
My wonderful BrainBashers printer has made a few errors in my latest puzzle.
In each sentence below, one letter in every word has been misprinted.
Can you find the original sentences?
O bord is she land in eorth too is she push.She barly bind watches she warm.I tolling stonk rathers to mops.Thy grans in alwags greeter in thy otter wide.
Answers A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.The early bird catches the worm.A rolling stone gathers no moss.The grass is always greener on the other side.
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Puzzle 4
Which of the shapes is identical to the first one?
