Minute mysteries
Are you ready to use your sleuthing skills?
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What are minute mysteries?
What are minute mysteries?
These short mysteries describe an unusual scenario and your job is to figure out what's going on. The puzzles may seem open ended, but they generally have only one answer, one solution. Each mystery takes only a minute to read, and then enjoy the sleuthing process.
How do I solve them?
How do I solve them?
Begin by asking yes or no questions. Read the mystery very carefully and come up with creative ideas. When solving these puzzles be open minded, flexible and creative. Good luck!!
Let's start off with some "easy" ones
Let's start off with some "easy" ones
As a burglar reaches for something on the mantle, he accidentally knocks over a clock. It falls to the floor, breaks, and stops. The next morning, however, police aren’t able to determine what time the robbery took place. Why not?
Robbie goes into a restaurant and orders a deli sandwich and a cola for lunch. Afterward, he pays his bill, tips his waitress, and goes outside. He slowly takes in his surroundings. The sky is black and the city streets are deserted. What happened?
Hard-boiling an egg takes approximately ten minutes, but it isn’t always as simple as that. Many factors can alter the time it takes. For example, in different parts of the world, hard-boiling an egg can take up to forty minutes. Why?
A man is looking at a clock that displays the correct time, but he doesn’t know what time it is. Why not?
Clue
Clue
-The police could see the clock.
-The burglar did not alter the clock in any way after it fell.
-The police didn’t expect to be able to read the clock.
-What kind of clock is it?
Clue
Clue
-Nothing supernatural happened. --The man was on his lunch break.
-It was like this before he went to lunch.
-What time is it?
Clue
Clue
-Elevation doesn’t matter in this case.
- Outdoor temperature doesn’t matter in this case.
- What other factors affect cooking time?
- What kind of bird are you assuming the egg came from?
Clue
Clue
-The man can see and tell time perfectly well.
- The clock is normal and in plain sight.
-More than one clock is in the room.
Answer
The burglar knocked over a digital clock. When it broke and stopped, it no longer displayed the time.
Answer
The man worked the night shift and took his lunch break in the middle of the night.
Answer
Some eggs are larger than others. Ostrich eggs can weigh three to six pounds and can take between 45 minutes and two hours to hard-boil. One ostrich egg is equivalent to two dozen chicken eggs.
Answer
Each clock in the room is displaying a different time, so he doesn’t know which one is correct
Ben tells an offi cer that his house was robbed the previous night. “What seems to be missing from your house?” the offi cer asks. “As far as I know, nothing.” Ben replies. How does Ben know he was robbed?
A burglar breaks into a stranger’s home late at night. He doesn’t plan on stealing anything or causing harm, and he isn’t seeking refuge. What is going on?
Two burglars enter a wealthy neighborhood late one night and take everything they can get their hands on. A police offi cer is upset with what he sees but doesn’t do anything about it. Why not?
A burglar robs many homes throughout the day. At the last house, he breaks in through the back door. This house has more valuables than any of the other houses, and nothing is there to stop him from taking them, but he doesn’t take anything. How come?
Clue
Clue
• Something was stolen.
• No evidence was left behind.
• Nothing was missing from house.
• Everything Ben owned was stolen.
• What kind of house did Ben live in?
Clue
Clue
• The burglar wasn’t looking for anything.
• He has a good reason to be in the house.
• He is new to burglary, but he isn’t practicing.
• The burglar had been in the house before.
• He felt very guilty and wanted to make things right.
Clue
Clue
• The officer isn’t restrained and is present.
• There is nothing the officer can do. • The burglars aren’t breaking the law.
• The officer is very jealous of the burglars.
• A scarecrow, a pirate, and a princess are also envious.
Answer
Ben’s motor home was stolen along with everything in it.
Answer
The burglar, after feeling guilty for robbing the house earlier that night, was returning the items he stole.
Answer
It is Halloween. The older kids, dressed as burglars, were getting more candy than the younger boy, who was dressed as a police officer.
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