you.
Why This Riddle Is So Tricky
When we read a short story, our brains automatically fill in missing information.
We make assumptions about the people involved, their relationships, their ages, and what is happening.
But a good riddle takes advantage of those assumptions.
The important clue may be a single word that seems completely ordinary.
That’s why reading the question several times can help.
Instead of asking, “What would normally happen?” ask yourself:
“What exactly does the riddle say—and what am I assuming that it doesn’t say?”
Look for the Hidden Assumption
Try breaking the puzzle into individual facts.
Who is speaking?
Who is being described?
What relationship is actually stated?
Is there anything in the wording that could have another interpretation?
Sometimes the answer isn’t hidden in a complicated calculation. It’s hidden in the difference between what the puzzle says and what we automatically assume it means.
