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PHIUPJ CARTER
KEN RUSSELL
B y M E N S A M em b er s an d
rn i gmas ig Puzz le Compi l e rs
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' Als o in
Or ient Paperbacks
A Men sa Book of Logi c Pu zzles /A lan Wareham
A Men sa Book of Brain Teas er s/A lan WarehamWorld's Most Baffling Puzzles/Charles Barry Townsend
The World's Best Puzzles/Charles Barry Townsend
The World's Most Challenging Puzzles/Charles Barry Townsend
Puzzles to Puzzle You/Shakuntala Devi
More Puzzles to Puzzle You/Shakuntala Devi
Figuring: The Joy of Numbers/Shakuntala Devi
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FIRST MENSAPUZZLE BOOK
By MENSA Members andEnigmasig Puzzle Compilers
Phil ip J Carter
Ken Russell
ORIENT PAPERBACKS A Divisi on of Vision Bo oks Pvt LtdNew Delhi • Bombay • Hyderabad
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Al l Righ ts Reserved . No part of thi s publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, orotherw ise,
without the prior permission of the copyright owners.
ISB N-81 -222-01 61 -X
1st Published in Orient Paperbacks 1994
2nd Printing 1996
A First Mensa Puzzle Book
© Text Philip Carter & Ken Russel
© Illustrations Ward Lock Limited
Published in arrangement with
Cassell pic. England
Published by
Or ien t Paperbacks
(A Division of Vision Books Pvt. Ltd.)
Madarsa Road, Kashmere Gate, Delhi-110 006
Printed in India at
Kay Kay Printers, Delhi-110 007
Cover Printed at
Ravindra Printing Press, Delhi-110 006
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C O N T E N T S
Acknowledgements 9
About Mensa 11
Mensa Selection Procedure 13
How to get the most out of this book 15
1. All Different * * 18 IS. Connections * * 26
2. Weather Spells * * 18 16. Matehplay * 27
3. Cubes** 19 17. Triangles I * 27
4. Magic Word Square * * 19 18. Emgmagram I * 28
5. Letter Search * * 20 19. Space Rebus * 29
6. Door Numbers * 21 20. Mnemonic * 29
7. Cipher * * * 21 21. Magic Square * * * 3 0
8. Double-Barrelled * 22 * 22. Cryptic Note * 30
9. The Gallopers I * * 22 23. Volkswagen Wheels * 31
10. The Square Boggle * * * 23 24. Roll Around** 31
11. Conundrum * 23 25. Shaggy Dog Rebus * 32
12. Diamond Crossword * * 24 26. Hiring a Bus * * 32
13. Heads and Tails * 25 27. Enigmagram II * * 33
14. Speed Merchant * * 25 28. Heart Location * 34
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109. Routes * 76
110. Drink Up * 76
111. Dice I I I * 77
112. Alphametics * * 77
113. Pyramid * * 78
114. Optician * 78
115. Animals * * * 7 9
116. Rodent Rebus * * 7 9
117. Clock * 80
118. Roulette * * 80
119. Golden Spelling * * 81
120. Trees I I * * * 81
121. Flags I * * 82
122. Numbers 4 Letters * * * 82
123. Unlucky for Some* 83
124. Steps * * 83
125. Target * * * 84
126. Bricks * * 84
127. Flags I I * * 85
128. Shop * 85
129. Coins * * 86
130. Eastern Rebus * * * 86
Answers 87
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A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
This book is dedicated to our wives, both named Barbara, who haveencouraged us to compile new and interesting puzzles, and havechecked all of the answers.
We also wish to acknowledge the continued support given to us byVictor Serebriakoff, the International Honorary President of Mensa,who is a great puzzle innovator. We are also indebted to Harold Gale,the Mensa Chief Executive (another prolific puzzler) and we wish tothank the members of the British Mensa Committee who gave per-mission for the use of the Mensa name.
Note: All references to Mensa relate to British Mensa Ltd.
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A B O (I I M E N S A
Mensa is more than just puzzles. Contrary as this may seem to
the popular opinion that Mensa is a group of intelligent people
who set and solve puzzles, Mensa is an international society of
the some of the most intelligent people in the world. Founded
in Oxford in England in 1946, it today has a worldwide
membership of 1,10,000 in 110 countries and with 28 national
chapters operating around the world, including India.
Mensa is an organisation for the high IQ people. Neither
money, profession, power, political pressure, nor social status
will get you in. Brain power will.
The only qualification for membership of Mensa is a score that
is within the upper two percent of the general population,
measured on an approved, supervised intelligence test. Thistest is the only way to get Mensa membership.
Mensa was a brain child of Prof Sir Cyril Burt, who first
suggested the idea of a society for intelligent people in
broadcast in 1946. In October the same year the society was
officially born and christened Mensa, a Latin word for table,
symbolising a 'round table' where members could meet and
exchange views as equals. Sir Cyril Burt was its first President.The aims of Mensa were to identify and foster human intelli-
gence for the benefit of humanity; to encourage research into
the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence; to provide
a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its
members.
Mensans, as Mensa members are called, vary in occupation
from taxi drivers to businessmen, from secretaries to schoolteachers, from doctors and artists to students and housewives.
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They range from the unemployed to the wealthy, and their
philosophies from the ultra conservatives to the super liberals,
What the,y do have in common is a high intelligence quotient
(IQ).
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\ 1I-:\ SA SK I .IX I ION I 'KOC'KDIJ KK
Mensa is the international society for the high-IQ people. To join
you must pass in intelligence test scoring an IQ of 148 or more,
on the Cattell scale, which would place you in the top 2% of the
world population.
World membership is currently over 110,000 and includes
people from all walks of life. There are many members who are
still in school or colleges, from 11 years to 21 years old, for
whom this book is specially written.
If you can answer some of these puzzles, you are then apotential Mensa candidate.
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HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS BOOK
The puzzles are starred
* moderate
* * fairly difficult
* * * difficult
You can of course work through these puzzles on your own; but if you
want to take on your friends, give the questions a points value of one,
two and three according to the starring system. Then use the con-
tents page to select the degree of difficulty you want to tackle and
take it in turns to answer the questions you like the sound of. The first
to score, say, ten, fifteen, or twenty points is the winner.
Each puzzle has two numbers alongside it, one being the answer num-
ber. The answers are given in a different order to the questions, sothat you should not accidentally see the answer to an adjacent
puzzle not yet attempted.
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Q u e s t i o n s
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1 * * I
All Different
Complete the grid using
only the five symbols
shown in the top line so
that the same two sym-
bols do not appear in any
horizontal, vertical or
diagonal line.
0 o A O
With such an unusual mixture of
different types of weather around
the British isles the weather chart
is looking mighty peculiar today.
Can you unscramble the nine
anagrams to find the varying
types of climatic conditions which
we are experiencing?
| FAT SCOHFI
REACH RUIN
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Can you tell, just by stu-
dying them, how many of
the following can be fold-
ed to form a cube?
Magic Word Square
Each line of the verse
gives a clue to a four-
letter word which should
be inserted in the giid.
The four correct wo'ds
will produce a 4x4 magic
square where the same
words can be read bothacross and down.
1 2 3 4
2
3
f
My first is to make a present of,
My second is the plan,
My third is to change direction,And my fourth's a noble man.
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1 • • 1
Letter Search
1 Q G M D
H B V Y T
X K A R 0
N E U L F
W S P J C
1 What letter comes just after the letter just above the letter E?
2 What letter comes midway between the letters just after the
letters A and W?
3 What letter comes just below the letter just before the letter just
below the letter R?
4 What letter comes just above the letter, just above the letter just
before the letter which comes just under the letter which comes
midway between the letters N and F?
5 What letter comes just after the letter which comes just below the
letter which comes just after the letter which comes just above the
letter which comes just after the letter which comes midway
between the letters I and A?
6 What letter comes just above the letter which comes just after
the letter which comes just after the letter which comes midway
between the letters which come just before the letter K and just
after the letter S?
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Door NumbersWith the three metal door numbers below, how many different three
digit numbers can be produced?
316You have been left a message in cipher by one of your friends. Can
you crack the code and read the message?
6 2 5 , 0 0 5 , 2 1 2 , 8 8 4 , 6 1 6 , 3 1 1 ,
5 6 9 , 5 5 5 , 7 2 5 , 3 3 3 , 3 1 3 , 2 2 4 , 7 4 9
V
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I I
qs Mj j j^^EEl f l f f l^^B
What word can be placed in front of the five
The name given to this puzzle is the old fairground name for the
roundabout on horses.
Complete the word in each column - they all end in G. The scrambledletters in the section to the right of each column are an anagram of a
word: that word will give a clue to the word you are trying to find to fit
x̂ T/ ° x \ o
A - ^ X X Q
o __ or \ A
AN \
G
X/i \// £ -J. \/ / V 1 \
cci i r G 1 1 1 1 ll-/ \
\ a Y o
^ ^ o d
k \ A ̂ -
gy
22
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Q I O1 * * * 1
The Square Boggle A 1 0 7
A square number is the result when the same two numbers are multi-
plied together. For example 361 is a square-number because 19x19 =
361. The first few square numbers are 1(1x1), 4(2x2), 9(3x3), 16(4x4), 25(5x5) and so on. In the grid below, what is the smallest
square number which cannot be read Boggle style, that is by starling
anywhere you wish and moving horizontally, vertically or diagonally?
Squares can be used as many times as you wish, but only once in the
same number.
8 3 2 1 0 9 4
3 1 6 5 2 3 0
6 0 4 4 7 2 3
1 9 0 8 6 6 9
2 8 1 5 7 1 4
2 1 2 2 4 3 2
6 0 4 4 0 8 1
• * •Conundrum
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1 * * I
Diamond Crossword
s
Clues:
Across:2. An electrically charged atom
3. To pry into the private business of others
4. An imaginary beast
5. To die away
6. This colour means marching orders for a soccer player
Down:
1. The male of the domestic fowl2. One of the red rings on an archery target
3. To dip or soak food in a liquid
7. Recorded for future reference
8. For each
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Position the three coins in such a way that two heads are completely
to the right of the line and two tails are completely to the left.
©©
| * * lSpeed Merchant
An insane skateboarder
travels at a speed of
60mph from A to B and
then returns from B to A
over the same route and
distance at a speed of30mph.
What is the average
speed for the total
journey?
25
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Q 1 51 * * |
Connections A46
Insert the numbers 1 to 9 in the circles. So that for any particular cir-
cle the sum of the numbers in the circles connected directly to it
equals the value corresponding to the number in that circle, as given inthe list below.
For example:
1=14(4+7+3)
4=8 (7+1)
7=5 (4+1)
3=1
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A l l
b) Add five matches to make nine.
1 IHow many triangles can you find in this diagram?
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s T R E A M
L t T
EDUCATION*
«- 4 4
s0
t T
EDUCATION*
«- 4 4
uC
t T
EDUCATION*
«- 4 4
E
0
t T
EDUCATION*
«- 4 4
C
s
t T
EDUCATION*
«- 4 40
H
t T
EDUCATION*
«- 4 4 R
E R D E G E
4 4<EY
4 AN
4 AGF
43AM
4 4 4
The four 6-letter words have been jumbled. Solve the four anagrams
of educational terms and then transfer the arrowed letters to the key
anagram to find a fifth educational term.
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SpaceRebus J ^ f l
What phrase is represented below?
The rhyme shown on my computer screen is a mnemonic device to
enable me to remember the combination of my safe. What is the
number?
r -
; F IGURE OUT UNITS REVEALED,
FROM OUTPUT UNAIDED RESOL VE
NUMBERS IMPLIED NOT EXPRESSIVE.
FANTASTIC IN VE RS E EV OL VE
\
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Q 2 1
|
Magic Square A115
In each square are four letters. Your task is to cross out three letters
in each square to leave a 5x5 magic word square where the same five
words can be read both across and down.
A S
M K
T U
M 0
L R
1 S
E L
T 1
Q
O
( 0
1 1 1
T U
O M
L A
E P
E N
G 1
V A
1 R
A R
C E
S L
1 R
N 1
E G
A 0
V G
A E
C R
F E
L R Ui
-1
—
t -
i
.
. R V
1 A
R C
A E
E T
S R
N P
E K
S C
E D
R C
E A
F L
R E
N P
K E
T S
E R
Q22
What is the purpose
of this notice?
- Q J -Cryptic Note
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In each of the following find an eight-letter word reading clockwise.
You have to provide the missing letters.
y \ L o A/ R \
I n / \ i J
\ J
* *
Roll Around
Nine white discs are placed in a
complete circular chain and a
black disc is rolled around the
chain once completely so that it
touches each white disc once onits journey. All ten discs
are identical in size.
Can you answer the following?
a) How many rotations will the relling black disc have made by the
time it has travelled completely round the outside of the chain?
b) Would the shape of the chain affect your answer providing the
black disc was still able to touch each white disc?
c) If the black disc is rplled round the inside of the chain how many
rotations will it make?
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Shaggy Dog Rebus
What phrase is represented here?
IMI!Vtlf|
OThe cost of hiring the bus was shared equally by everyone who went
on the outing. The bus was a twenty-seater and the bill came to 49
dollars and twenty seven cents. How many empty seats were there?
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Enigmagram II
L 1 F T E R
M t t t
4- -¥FOOD
4 4
T
0
t t t
4- -¥FOOD
4 4
0
G
t t t
4- -¥FOOD
4 4
0
N
t t t
4- -¥FOOD
4 4
T
A
t t t
4- -¥FOOD
4 4P
M
t t t
4- -¥FOOD
4 4 A
E C S E E H
KEY ANAGRAM
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
The four 6-letter words have been'jumbled. Solve the four anagrams
- all types of food - and then transfer the arrowed letters to the key
anagram to find a fifth food.
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What woitl can be placed in front of the five
words shown to form, in each case, another
word?
c m
i LA N
1 s P U
s 1 C K
w 0 R
I s T E a| d
The contents of the bottle are not what you
might think according to the label. What does it
really contain?
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- I * * I -
Draw this figure in one continuous line without anywhere crossing a
line or going over any part of a line twice.-
Enter the maze at the top left hand square and escape to the bot-
tom right by moving from square to square horizontally, vertically and
diagonally and visiting every square once only to spell out a phrase.
ENTER-
r "L
•
U T F
E o O H
'S T T E
G E R E!- EXIT
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m n
Q32 j j j ^ R J f t F T i J B ^ M
My sister hSs a string of beads. I have noted that each time shewears them she alters the position of the beads, and, being methodi-cal, she does so in a logical sequence. This is how she has worn themon the first three occasions:
From the choice below, what should be the position of the beads the
next time she wears them?
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Sunday tea had ended in uproar because someone had put salt in
grandma's tea, and father was interrogating his three sons to try tofind the culprit. "I'll get to the bottom of this" he said and pinned up
one statement from each of his sons, who together admitted that at
least one of the statements was true and at least one was false.
From this information can you work out who did put the salt in
grandma's tea?
A L A N
"BARRY DIDNOT PUT SALTIN GRANDMA'S
TEA"
BARRY
"I DID NOTPUT SALT ING R A N D M A S
TEA"
C O L I N
"I DID PUTSALT IN
GRANDMA'STEA"
1 5$C 1 H H H H M H
Magic Square
The numbers already inserted form a magic 3x3 number square
where each horizontal, vertical and corner-to-comer line totals 39.
Your task is to insert the remaining numbers from 1-25 which have
not already been used up in the
centre so that each horizontal,
vertical and corner to coiner line
totals 65 in the 5x5 square.16 9 14
11 13 15
12 17 10
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Q 3 5-I * 1 m i b
Someone is missing from the above group. From the choice below who
is the one you would choose to join them?
KEN SUE AL LA N JEAN PAT
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1 * » I
Definitive RebusQ 3 6
What phrase is represented by the following?
A10
What word can be placed in front of the five words shown to form, in
each case, another word9
A G E
C A R D
M A c T DM A o 1 t rf
S C R I P T
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J sk sfc L
Q 3 8
i
2 7
3 8
S
6
CluesAcross:
2. End of the cue
3. What exams have to be if you fail them
4. Large house
5. Sharp end
6. Decay
Down:1. A specific task or duty
2. Male singing voice
3. Talking instead of singing - a hit!
7. Emulsion
8. Very small child
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Triangles
How many triangles are
there in this pattern?
Here are shown four views of an opened-out dice, but only one of the
four is correct. Can you say which one it is without looking at the real
thing7
• •
• •
• • ••
• •
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Study the numbers in the circles and try to work out how the numberin the middle of each circle has been arrived at. Then work out themissing number in the bottom circle
Corner Cutting II
Draw the figure in one continuous line without anywhere crossing a line
or going over any part of a line twice
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Change the pos^on of
one counter only to pro-
duce two straight rows
with three counters in
each row.
Complete the word in each colu mn - they all end in G. The scr ambl ed
letters in the section to the nght of each column are an anagram of a
word: that word will give .i cine to the wo rd you aro trying to find to fitin th e column
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Cryptophone
Can you decipher the coded quotation below the dial? Each number
represents one of the letters sh own with it on the telephone dial. A
number does not necessarily represent the same letter each time.
15 56735377 37 1 515 835 771677 1 165778562
679942 8373 1 25757135 6 2 5 .
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Q 4 6 Enigmagram III A 95
L T 0 R 1 A
s «"T TOCCUPATIONS
4 4
S
c«"T TOCCUPATIONS
4 4
T
0
«"T TOCCUPATIONS
4 4
Y
R
«"T TOCCUPATIONS
4 4
T
N
«"T TOCCUPATIONS
4 41
E
«"T TOCCUPATIONS
4 4 P
p R E R 0 T
4 4KEY
4 A NA G
4 4RAM
4 4 4
The four 6-letter words have been jumbled. Solve the four anagrams
of occupations and then transfer the arrowed letters to the key ana-
gram to find a fifth occupation.
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Q47— c o — Arthurian Rebus A12
What phrase is represented here?
1
1
-CO-
What word can be placed in front of the five words shown to form, ineach case, another word7
HI I
o| No| N
S T 0 N E
R A N T
. Q49i • 1 r -
See-Through Words A76
In each of the following find an eight-letter word reading clockwise.
You have to provide the missing letters.
/ \ T /C U J X
I \/ c i1 ( \r 1 1
I /\ /
\ s J
V L D E J X
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A man has four so-^s who
are all Keen gardeners.
How can he divide hisgarden up into tour equal
plots of identical size ana
shape9
soft » < 50ft
M p B M N H — 4 * * 1 ^ • • • H
Magic Word Square
A 5 x 5 magic word square is one in whicn
the same five words can be read both hori-
zontally and vertically, as in the exa mpl eon the right.
From the choice given beiow can you find
the five words which, when placed correctly
in the grid, will form another magic square 7
BRACE
RESTS
EVENTRURAL
ELATE
PIPES
REBEL
PAPER
ABEAM
ALIVE
1 R A T E
R A V E N
A V E R T
T E R S E
E N T E R
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Disordered Sports
A computer was programmed to print out a list of sporting events,
but something went wrong and it printed out the twenty-four words
given below. When these words are placed together correctly they willgive you ten sports. Can you find them7
BALL WATER ICE ON NET BY
TEN GREY FOOT SKIING PIN
WRESTLING RACING ALL
HOUND BOWLING SKATING
RUG MINT HOCKEY IN BAD
BALL ICE
Insert the numbers 1 to 9 in the circles. So that for any particular cir-
cle the sum of the numbers in the circles connected directly to it
equals the value corresponding to the number in that circle, as given in
the list below.For example:
1 = 7 (4+3)
4 = 11 (1+7+3)
3 = 5(4+1)
7 = 4
1 =19 6 = 12
2 = 11 7 = 17
3 = 4 8 = 5
4 = 19 9 = 12
5 = 10
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Each square contains a circle, a square a nd a dot which are moving ir
a predictable pattern.
• o • • o• ® on •
1 2 3 4
From the choice below, select the next square.
O I • o •
• • a A B C D
* * *
Letter-Maze
By starting somewhere in the letter- maze belo w, an d movin g one let-
ter at a time ( movi ng left, right, up or down) it is possible to spell out
the names of fou rte en different ki nds of sport. It doe s not mat ter
which sport you first identify, provided you make the right turnings the
names will eventually lead you through the whole pattern of one hun-
dred letters. E B R I C K E Y M N
S A C G N I T G S A
A L L J u L C G T I
B G N I ID C Y N S C
E S T L 0 R L I B A
R W G NIC U N I M ; D
S W I I T A T 0 N i F
Y E M M I K S !L L i OC K I N i N G F G A 0
0 H: S N E IT H O B T
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* * *
Boys' Names
Hidden in the grid are 12 boys' names. They can be found in any direc-
tion but always in a straight line. Letters can be used more than
once.
T 0 M M Y G
R S N A S E
E T E X S 0
V E K N 0 R
0 V I C R G
R E G G I E
Missing Letters
Place the letters in the grid to
form two words.
C D R R S S S W
How many triangles arethere in this pattern''
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Q 6 41 * * * 1
Hole Numbers A116
A man digs a hole in 6 hours, another man can dig the same size hole
in 3 hours, a third man takes 4 hours and another takes 5 hours.
If they all worked together at their respective speeds , an d didn't get ineach other's way, how long would it take to dig that hole ?
This picture represents the name of an animal. Ca n you discover it?
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* * *
Noughts and Crosses
How can you win in 7 different way s if you go first in the top left -hand
corner? That's assuming of cour se your oppone nt convenient ly picks
all the wrong squares!
There are two numbers that will fill the gap. What are they 7
55
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1 % 1 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Notable Rebus
This picture represents a profession. Can you find it?
- I * »-----,—
Scales
What weight would be needed to balance the scales 7
I b s l
AW 7' 5'
1*53-Centre of Gravity
Where would you find the centre of gravity of this meta l plate?
A . B o r C ?
4 cm
C • B• —• A
-1 ocm-
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This picture represents a musical term. Can you discover it?
r l i l i<
[ D l f j l j i
r S J
At which temperature does the Fahrenheit scale equal the Centi-
grade (Celsius) scale 7 (to convert from Centigrade to Fahrenheit,
multiply by 9, divide by 5 then add 32.)100 -c 212-F
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This picture represents a now obsolete British coin.
Can you discover it?
Fit the following words into the six spaces encircling an appropriate
number on the diagram so that each word correctly interlinks with the
two words on either side (you will see that each word has two consec-
utive letters in common with the word on its side). (Note: to arrive at
the correct solution some words will have to be entered clockwise and
some anti-clockwise.) Four words have been entered to start you off.
ROTUND
PANZER
CAPERS
SHROUD
ORDERS
ASHCAN
TOUCAN
ERASES
SAPPER
ANTLER
PAM PAS
SECTOR
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Q75 Dice I I A26
What are the chances of scoring 9 with 2 dice 9
Triangular numbers are numbers which can be arranged in a triangle,
such as the first 5 shown here. Count up the number of points within
each triangle and you will see that they equal 3,6,10,15, etc.
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^ 1»-i< * I
^ ^ Q H Matches
Rearrange the 9 matches without breaking or bend ing t hem so as to
make three squares.
• I • •
66 Rebus
This picture represents a mathematical term. Can you find it?
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A 1 2 6
Hidden in the grid are 11 girts' names. They can be found in any
direction but always in a strai ght line. Letters can be used mo re
p E T U L A
H E A S 1 L
A N G Y L T
R E 0 G L H
0 J U D Y E
N 0 S 1 L A
m Playing Cards
What are the chances of picking an ace from a pack of 52 playi ng
cards?
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Birds and Beasts
In Peru there is a sign provided to help foreign visitors, which reads:
TOTI EMU
LESTOn r
What does it mean 7
A square 13 in x 13 in (=169
sq. ins) is broke n into 4
pieces and the pieces are
rearranged into a rectangle
21 in x 8 in (=168 sq. ins).
Where is the missing square
inch?
1 3
13
8 8
1 3
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This picture represents a boxing term. Can you find it 9
The rungs of the ladder on the side of the ship are 11 in apart; the tide
raises the level of the water in the dock basin by 6ft. How many rungs
will be covered by the water 7
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mm
Q85 A79
Place the odd numbers in the grid so that all lines including the corner
to corner lines add up to 34.
1 6 2
10 8
6 12
4 14
1 J 3 4 5 S 7 8 9 4Q 1145 1344 15 4&
What number should fi l l the space 7
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Start each word with the central V. Each wo rd consis ts of 7 letters
which go from square to square in any direction, hor izontally, vertically
or diagonally. Apart from the central V, each letter is used on ce only.Find the eight 7-letter words.
G E E G E R Y
L A N T A C 0
0 L 1 1 1 D A
N L 0 V E R N
A C E A E R T
1 T S R 1 T 1
G E S U 0 0 G
* * Annie Oakley Rebus
This picture represents an astronomical term. Can you find i f
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Words read the same across and down. Place the letters in the
square to complete the grid. The vowels have been placed for you.
A A C & & & & W L L L N N P P R S S S S T T T T
The factorial of a number is expressed as follows:
6!
Which means the number multiplied by every number below it:
6! = 6x 5x 4x 3x 2x 1= 7207! = 7x 6x 5x 4x 3x 2x 1= 5040
What is the v alu e of: 10!
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1 * * * 1
Square CountQ 9 3
How many squares are there in this figure?
A4
Cannon balls are stacked in the shape of a thr ee-s ided pyramid.
How many cannon balls in this pile 7
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Country Rebus
Three words are represented here. They all end in 'A'
Can you find them?
Hidden in the grid are the names of 10 birds. They can be found in any
direction but always in a straight line. Letters can be used mor e than
once.
H N W 0 R C
S W 1 T 1 T
U R K B E L
R E 1 R 0 C
H N N 0 A R
T E N N 1 L
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Arrange the 14 three-letter bits to make 7 six-letter words.
QlOO
Hidden in the grid are the names of 10 trees. They can be found in any
direction but always in a straight line. Letters can be used more than
once.
w 1 L L 0 W
p E A R A B
1 L K L S 1L M N A H R
U U K R 0 C
T L E Z A H
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M B Telescope
The makers of this telesco pe hav e called it the 'MOO N-ST ARER '
why is the name doubly appropriate for the kind of person who might
use it.
* *
Broom Boom Rebus
This picture represents a type of boat. Ca n you dis cov er it?
72
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* * *
Alphabet X-Word
Using all 26 letters of the alphabet, com plet e the cros swor d.
Q P J
V
N H Y •Z K
X
A B C D E F G+f l xJ 'K 'L MH O W J 3 R S T U- VW XY -a T
Q104
This picture represents the name of a bird. Can you discover it?
73
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* * *
Q I G S Newspaper
T!il- : :: \r.
|5S
A boy found 2 sheets of a newspaper.
O n e s he et w as n um be re d 1 - 2 - 7 1 - 7 2
the other was numbered 13 -14 - 7 - 7
The other two numbers had been torn off. What were they 7
Q106
11
11
14
7
8
11
16
20 15
9
What number should appear on the last card 7
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Q107
Which letter and number should be on the last tile?
B_
7
G
11 15
Q
19
?9
Q108
This picture represents a piece of jewellery. Can you discover it?
75
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Q109 Routes
How many different ways can a traveller get from A to B (without
going backwards)7
B l f f i ] Drink UP
C A N N O T
WATER DRINK
A LEAD YOU
BUT MAKE C AN YOU
HORSE HIM T O
This old saying has been mixed up. Can you rearrange it correctly7
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What is the total of the numbers on the reverse of these three
standard dice?
This type of puzzle was known in ancient China, in which numbers
have been changed into letters.
Solve this one. •
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Q113
Visit each room in the p yramid once to spel! out a n ne-lerter wor d
Clue: Hiding place for a mummy's offsDnng7 (the word is hyphenated)
Q114 Optician
On the optician's chart, which letter is the odd one ou t 7
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1 -!' * -I: 1
Animals
TEACHEHLUGSALE
LOGLIAR
LEGLAZE
PEARDOL
Re-arrange the letters and find the word which is n ot a mammal .
Q116
This picture represents an anima l. C an you disc over it?
/ 1 1 |FREEZER IC r a 1
'
- ? " A
••vVf ••
(Clue: Fur!)
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Q117 Clock A 98
This clock is be ing v i ewed in a mirror. Wh at is the correct t i me 7
A man bets on no . 20 on a roulette wheel 10 times in succ essi on, an dloses each time.
On the 11th spin he cannot decide wheth er to bet on 20 or change to
10. Which will give him the best chance?
If he does bet on 20 again what are the odds of winning?
(There is no zero on this wheel , just the numb er s 1 to 36.)
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1 * * 1
Golden Spelling
During a spelling test the teacher asked the class to spell the follow-
ing words:
DEBT
DISCUS
DEBUT
P N E U M O N I A
P S A L M
He was trying to test som ethin g com mon to all the words, but being
a bad speller himself, he wrongly included DISCUS. Why was this
incorrect?
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U N S H O D
C A N O E
What connects these three flags 9
J * * *
Numbers 4 Letters
The teacher wrote this sum on the blackb oard. At first glance it
looked to be incorrect, but if you substitute numbers for letters, the
sum makes sense.
What numbers should replace the letters 7
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^ [ | ^
Unlucky for Some
We ail know that one plus twelve = thirteen. Using the letters in ONE
TWELVE can you find two more numbers which, when added together
make thi r teen7
13
Q124- G 5 3 -
Steps
Can you change MALE to LASS in four steps c han gin g on e letter at
a time and making a new word each time?
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Using all the letters on the flags can you find name for ship?
What is unus ual abo ut the nam e of this Greek baker 's sho p?
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Q129
A coin is in a fixed position and another coin is rolled right around the
edge of it. How many times will the moving coin revolve?
Q130
Thi s pic tur e rep res ents a capita l city whi ch on e?
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A n s w e r s
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Magic Squafe
Matches
>}!>> • AD
s P L 1 T
p L A N E
L A C E S1 N E R T
T E 3 T S
Temperature
-40° as...
Centigrade: -40°x9/5+32° = -4 0° F
Fahrenheit: (-40°-32°)x5/9 = -40°C
Trees I
WILLOW, WALNUT, TULIP, BIRCH,
HAZEL, PEAR, ELM, CORK, ASH, OAK
20
Cannon Balls
Crocodi le HtKira
Sorry!... the best way to do this oneIs by algebra
Let x=total length
then x=11+10+1/5*
Therefore x-1/5x=11+10
4/5x=21
x-26.25fe3t
(The head is 5.25 ft long).
Square Count
Centre of Gravity
Definitive Rebus
The long and the short of it.
Cards
45
8, the numbers on each card add
up to 29.
Newspaper
59,60
Arthurian Rebus
Long ago
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Empire State <j.r >7 • A IK String of Beads
450 metres.
Maze
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!
Tiles
V, (jump 5 letters each time) and
23, (jump 4 numbers each time).
I Hour Glass Figures
6. Multiply the two numbers inside the
hour glass ie 24 x 2 = 48. The two
numbers outside the hour glass should
also make 48 when multiplied ie 8 x £.
B. Each time she wears them she
swaps the position of one round bead
with one square bead in strict rotation.
Alphamet ics
91
+10
101
Animals
CHEETAH
SEAGULL
GORILLA
GAZELLE
LEOPARD.
Twenty.
One suggested method of arriving at
the answer is to number the separate
sections 1-10. Triangles are then
formed by the following sections:
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1 1-2 1-2-4 1-2-4-10 2-3-4-5-9-10
3 3-2 3-5-9 7-8-9-10 4-5-6-8-9-10
6 4-5-6 S6-8-9
7 7-8 7-8-9 2-3-4-5
65
3-5
A 2« [Z Dice II • (i7f>
1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1
1-2 2-2 3-2 4-2 5-2 6-2
1-3 2-3 3-3 4-3 5-3 6-3
1-4 2-4 3-4 4-4 5-4 6-4
1-5 2-5 3-5 4-5 5-5 6-51-6 2-6 3-6 4-6 56 66
4 in 36 or 8 to 1 against.
Heart Locat ion
^ ^ ^ Hi r ing a Bus
7. Because it's $49.27- ie an odd num-
ber at the end there must be an oddnumber of people on the bus. Then it's
a question of seeing which number will
divide exactly into 4927 - 19,17 and
15 won't. 13 will.
Home
n w Dr ink Up
You can lead a horse to water,
but you cannot make him drink
36. The number in the middle is arrivedat by multiplying together the other
four numbers: 0 x 3 x 0 x 3 = 0
2 x 2 x 3 x 5 = 60
2 x 3 x 2 x 3 = 36
V
VICEROY
VERDANT
VERTIGO
VARIOUS
VESTIGE
VOLCANO
VILLAGE
VINTAGE.
QKtt • A 2» Roll Around
A) 5 B) No C)1
try it with ten identical coins
Golden Spel l ing
DISCUS because all the other words
include silent letters
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m Gal lopers II
ALARMING (SCARING)
LAPWING (PEEWIT)
LEARNING (TUITION)
OBLIGING (AGREEABLE)PRANG (CRASH)
EARWIG (INSECT)
RISING (REBELLION)
SLOG (TRUDGE)
< j i i • A:;:, I Magic Word Square I
p A P E R
A L 1 V E
P 1 P E SE V E N T
R E S T S
AGOG (EAGER)
LONG (LENGTHY)
LIVING (ALIVE)
OBLONG (RECTANGULAR)
PARTING (DIVISION)
EXACTING (TOUGH)
AN OPTIMIST IS A MAN WHO
STARTS A CROSSWORD PUZZLE
WITH A FOUNTAIN PEN.'
Magic Word Square
What happened previously has no
effect on future spins, so 20 has
exactly the same chance as 10
ie 1 in 36 or 35 to 1
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Number Plate i}5f> | v i i Matchplay
V. They are the initial letters of the
colours of the rainbow, Red, Orange,
Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet \ / / \
m j Square Cut ^ f l j j j
The Diagonal line is not true, there is a
small converging space, which equals 1
square inch.
Now that was a really sneaky one I
Birds
ROBIN, ROC, THRUSH, CROW,
WREN, LARK, LINNET, TERN, TIT,
LOON
Target •
25 50 5025 31 18
25 10 18
25 10 106 5 10
106 106 106
Disordered Sports
FOOTBALL, RUGBY, NETBALL,
BADMINTON, ICE HOCKEY, ICE
SKATING, WATER SKIING, TEN-PIN
BOWLING, ALL-IN WRESTLING,
GREYHOUND RACING.
Conundrum
My Son.
Connections
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Royal Rebus
Half-Crown.
66 Rebus
Square Root
U7:i • 52 Letter-Maze
CURLING, GYMNAST ICS.
BADMINTON. FOOTBALL
GOLF, SKATING, TENNIS.
HOCKEY, SWIMMING,
WRESTLING, BASEBALL,CRICKET, CYCLING. JUDO
Swap Round
12 - the '6' can be turned over and
used as a 9'
316, 361, 136,163.613.631,319, 391,139,193,913,931.
C. The dol and the square swap cor-
ners each time. The circle visits each
corner in turn clockwise. Triangles HI
13
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Fair Shares <<r>(t | AH.S Noughts and Crosses!
1 1 House
1
. - - -
2
3 2 2 ;4l
3 3 ] 4 14t i
Key: Your first go - i
Your opponents first go - <
Optician
M, which is made up of 4 lines: all other
letters have 3.
Your second gc • etc
® O i L l O 9
© © 0
@ (J- .3' a
rt) J L ® 9 (3;
O ©
<S> 1 « 1 •
® © @
1®
lUnlucky For Somel QI2 :t • \ H ( Knockout Rebus
TWO and ELEVEN Counter-punch
Birds and Beasts
TO TIE MULES TO
Q » i I A«r>
144
Square up
Eastern Rebus Ql.'tO • A66 Figure Facts
DAM-AS-CUS 10' = 1 0 x 9 x 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 * 2 x 1
=. 3.628,800
Oc tagon K f l jZH
10 or 2 V2 Each numDer is half or dou-ble the number opposite.
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Letters Q3 7 • A 71 Middles
POST CAN-NOT-ICE TIN-POT-ASH
WAS-HER-MIT FAT-TEN-ANT
IMP-AIR-MAN TIP-TOE-CAP
ANY-WAY-LAY SUN-SET-TEE
T el es co pe V i l l i
'MOON-STARER' is an anagram of
'ASTRONOMER' Twins
JEAN - to form three pairs of anagram
twins - MAY/AMY, RONALD/
Magic Square
2 1 1 2 22 19
23 16 9 14 3
6 11 13 15 20
8 12 17 10 18
7 25 24 4 5
AlansStatemen
Barry's
Statement
Colin'sStatement
If it
was AlanTRUE TRUE FALSE
If il
was BarrvFALSE FALSE FALSE
If it
was ColinTRUE TRUE TRUE
Alternatives are possible
It was Alan who was the culprit.
If it had been Barry all statementswould be false.
If it had been Colin all statements
would be true.
I Broom Boom Rebus
Mine-sweeper
Hanging Rebus
Diamond Pendant
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ATI) (/I Ht
16 3 2 13
5 10 1 1 8
9 6 7 1 2
4 1 5 14 1
Chinchilla
Corner Cutting I
Catchpenny
Pick up any one of the four counters
and place it on top of the counter diag-
onally opposite.
Diamond Crossword!
M2
T I7
P3
Ft E S A•
T
4
m A N S 1 0 Ns
p 0 1 N T6
R 0 T
N
Alphabet X-Word
Q m T |U B R | A | VE | D |
| N 1 G i H i m Y w ® Fz s [ m ] o C| K|
l x
Routes
What's in the Bottle ?
LEMONADE
3 x 4 = 1 2
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Dice III g i l l • V I Trees II
2 = 5 (If you remembered that A WASP ENTERED THE
4 = 3 the opposite sides always POPULAR CHURCH AS THE
5 ^ 2 . add up to 7, this one's easy) p o p e ARRIVED
ASPEN LARCH PEAR
A88 [Annie Oakley Rebus (}l)0
Shooting star
| Py ram id Sell ing
66
A«0 Shaggy Dog Rebus ({25
Tall story.
At t l Rope-Ladder Q K l
None. The ship will rise with the tide!
A92 Dice I <j lO
C. The opposite sides of dice always
add up to seven.
A»:s Volkswagen Wheels
Enigmagram I I I
TAILOR
CENSOR
TYPIST
PORTER Key Anagram: OPTICIA N
Cryptic Note
TO OPEN DOOR PUSH
Spider's Web
ICICLE, ENCORE, UNTRUE,
TOUPEE, POLICE, OBTUSE,
UMPIRE, DEDUCE, IODINE, SNOOZE,
Clock
25 minutes past one.
Wave Word
Original, Reliable FLAG
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40 mph, which is calculated as follows:
say, for example, the distance trav-
elled was 60 miles, then:
(i) The journey from A to B would be60 mph for 60 miles = 1.0 hour
(ii) The journey from B to A would be
30 mph for 60 mites = 2.0 hours
3.0 hours
for 120 mites or 40 mph.
FAT SCORE = FORECAST
NO MOONS = MONSOON
REACH RUIN = HURRICANE
SHE ROWS = SHOWERSHURT NED = THUNDER
BIN A ROW = RAINBOW
TAN DOOR = TORNADO
HOT DRUG = DROUGHT
CAR STOVE = OVERCAST
A, B and D can be fo lded to form a
cube
CATGUT, DEPORT, CANDID,
VORTEX, PARROT, ROBUST
MONGOL
Connect ions QO.'i I A I OH Enigmagram IV
WALRUSKITTEN
GOPHER
DONKEY Key Anagram: ELEPHANT
The Square Boggle
2704 is the smallest square numberwhich cannot be read boggle style.
^ y j En igmag rgrn n j ^ U
TRIFLE
GAMMON
POTATO
CHEESE Key Anagram: OMELETTE
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'R
'1 O 'N
' s N 0 0 'P
Xl o N S T E R
' p E T E R
'R E 0
R
Hammerhead Shaft
Steps
MALE
MALT
MAST
MASS
LASS
Hexagon
1 Shroud2 Toucan
3 Antler4 Erases5 Sector6 Rotund7 Orders
8 Sapper9Pampas10 Panzer
11 Capers12 Ashcan
Triangles I
24
Heads and Tails
Playing Cards
or
or
4 in 52,
4 against 48,
12 to 1 against
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Hole Numbers ( { t i l • M i l l Bricks
6-hr man: take reciprocal 1/6 = 0167
3-hr man: take reciprocal 1/3 = 0 333
4-hr man: take reciprocal 1/4 = 0250
5-hr man: take reciprocal 1/5 = 0200
0.960
take reciprocal of 0.950 = 1.053 hrs
- 63 minutes
(Reciprocal = the number divided into 1)
Looks pretty unpleasant explained like
this! But all you are doing to begin with
is working out how much of the hole
each man will dig in one hour.
The message
NURSE I SPY GYPSIES RUN'
spells out the same message when
reversed.
Cipher
Total up each group of three numbers
and take the corresponding letter in the
alphabet to reveal the message:
'MEET ME TONIGHT
B ^ U f l B oys' Na mes
ERNEST, GEORGE, TOMMY,
TREVOR, REGGIE, ROSS, STEVE,
VIC, MAX, KEN, RON, KEV.
Notable Rebus
Music Publisher
Al l Di fferen t
0 O A Oo Do A
o A oOOo A0 A OQO
Missing Letters
CROSS-WORDS
Pyramid
CUBBY-HOLE
Numbers 4 Letters
138x138 = 19044
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| ^ ^ F o r e s t Man R e b u s ^ ^ |
Orang Utan
j g f l Girls' Names [ ^ J
PEGGY, PETULA, AITHEA,
ALISON, NORAH, LILLY, LISA,
JUDY, JOY, JEN. JO.
A I2 7 1 Coins 1 QI2H
Twice.
A I2H Scales | <it>»
70x7 4• 5 = 4 9 0 /5 = 98 lbs
A I2H Flags I < j !2 I
'UNSHOD' is an anagram of
HOUNDS', 'CANOE' is an anagram
of 'OCEAN', and LAGER' of
'REGAL1
m | J Flags I I m m
Yes, you can find 'NAME FOR SHIP'
in 'HMS PINAFORE' (anagram)
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M E N S A S O C I E T I E S
UK CANADABritish Mensa Ltd, Mensa Canada Society,
Mensa House, P.O. Box 505,St John's Square, Station'S',Wolverhampton, Toronto,WV2 4AH. Ontario M5M 4L8
AUSTRALIA INDIA
Australian Mensa Incorporated, Mensa InternationalP.O. Box 213, c/o Excel Industries Ltd,
Toorak, 184/87, S.V. Road,
Victoria 3142. Jogeshwari (West),
Bombay-400 102
USAAmerican Mensa Ltd, INTERNATIONAL2626 E14 Street, Mensa International Ltd,
Brooklyn, 15 The IvoriesN Y11235 6-8, Northampton Street
London-N12HY
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A First Mensa Puzzle Book
A s t he na me s ugg est s , th i s book is des ign ed and w r i t t en to
he lp you d i scover and sharpen your puzz le so lv ing sk i l l s . A s
you g o a lo ng th is ment a l obs tac le cours e , you w i l l encounte r
a n d o v e r c o m e N o u g h t s a n d C r o s s e s , M a g i c S q u a r e s ,
A lphame t i cs , Le t te r Mazes , C ryp tophones , Rebuses and ove r
130 o ther ha i r - tear ing puzz les . And in ca se yo u f ind s om e o fthe puzz les o n the eas ier s ide , (wh ich is not l ikely, un le ss y ou
a re a po ten t i a l Men sa member ) yo u ca n ev en se lec t the
d e g r e e of d i f f icu l t y you w an t to tack le . All puz z l es a re g r ad ed
f ro m mo de ra te to d i f f i c u l t— w i th an sw er s g iv en at the back
of the book.
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A
MENTAL ASSAULTC O U R S E
Why not launch your brain cells over this
mental course? It won't quite kill them. In
fact it may reveal you as a genius-in-making.
Mensa,UK, members Philip Carter and Ken
Russell have written this book specifically for the
budding genius. Find out if you are one.
Of course you don't have to be brilliant to
enjoy these puzzles: they are graded so thateveryone can find his or her own level.
Picturegrams, number sequences, magic
squares, crosswords and anagrams — all
provide a thorough intellectual workout.
Challenge yourself or your friends to a
brain-draining contest!