7 MENSA PUZZLES

As one of the very few cruise lines partnering with Mensa – the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world – we love making these challenging quizzes part of the daily fun on board. Put your knowledge to the test and see how many you can crack below. No peeking, the answers are just below the photo.

1. Billy is three times as old as Paula was two years ago. In two years, he will be twice as old as she is now. How old are Billy and Paul now?


2. What two seven-letter words that are anagrams of each other can be used to complete the sentence below?
   
   The orator had made an effort to ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ a list of insulting words and phrases to use in his ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ against his opponent.


3. How many common English words can you make from the letters below, using all six letters once in each word? We found four words.
   
   B E I R S U


4. A simple substitution code has been used to conceal a “quote.” Work out the code to decipher the original words.
   
   Old King Cole:
   
   21-12-9-20-22-7 7-19-22 25-12-4-15. 18 4-26-13-7 7-19-9-22-22
   25-12-7-7-15-22-8 12-21 26-15-22


5. We’ve removed all the vowels from a well-known proverb. Can you put them back where they belong?
   
   D N T C N T Y R C H C K N S
   B F R T H Y H T C H


6. The local toy store prices toys according to its own logic. A doll costs $17, a scooter costs $26 and a kite costs $14. Under the same system, how much will a top cost?


7. The name of a bird is hidden in each of the three sentences below. Can you find all three? (The letters are in consecutive order.)
   
   “You’re three over par, rotten luck,” said the caddie.
   
   Both awkward dancers fell down.
   
   I am disgusted with rush hour traffic.








ANSWERS



1. Billy is 6 and Paula is 4. B = 3 (P – 2) and B + 2 = 2P
2. Compile, polemic
3. BRUISE, BURIES, BUSIER, RUBIES
4. Forget the bowl; I want the three bottles of ale. (Code: Z = 1, A = 26, B = 25, etc.)
5. DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH.
6. $12, ($5 per consonant, $2 per vowel)
7. parrot, hawk, thrush