From MENSA- Post your answers and I will post the answers tomorrow.
1. Why are the Muppets left-handed?
a. Jim Henson was left-handed and designed the Muppets that way.
b. Most Muppeteers put their right hand into the puppet's head because they're right-handed. They control the puppet's arms with rods held in their left hand.
c. As an additional way to distinguish them from other puppets.
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2. How do blind people discriminate between different denominations of paper money?
a. Most blind people use a system of carrying each type of bill in a different way, such as folding them differently or placing them in separate pockets or wallets.
b. There is a slight difference in the thickness of paper used between the denominations.
c. Blind people have a heightened sense of touch, and can feel the numbers printed on the bills.
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3. Why does an old person's voice sound higher-pitched than it did in middle age?
a. The elderly have slightly higher female hormone levels, which causes higher-pitched voices.
b. As we age, the vocal chords shrink, causing the voice to become higher.
c. Most elderly tend to speak more slowly and softly than when they were younger, resulting in a higher pitch.
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4. If we see mockingbirds during the day and hear them at night, when do they sleep?
a. Mockingbirds chirp in their sleep at night, as a defense mechanism against predators.
b. Mockingbirds travel in large groups, and actually take turns sleeping, guarding, and hunting.
c. The birds sleep at night, but they sleep on and off, and make noise when they're awake.
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5. Why do construction crews put pine trees on top of buildings they are working on?
a. The swaying of the tree helps them judge wind-speed at the top of the structure.
b. In honor of a tragic construction accident on Christmas Eve, 1902, which killed24 workers.
c. Tradition. The tree celebrates the completion of the basic skeleton of the structure.
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6. Why is the bathtub drain right below the faucet instead of on the other side of the tub?
a. If the faucet leaks, the water will drain immediately. If it were on the other side, the water would drain all the way across the tub, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
b. By combining the water line and the drain in a single supply on the same side, construction and maintenance costs are reduced.
c. So there is one comfortable end to sit at when taking a bath.
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7. Why do frogs close their eyes when swallowing?
a. Frogs cannot swallow unless they use their eyes to push the food down into their stomach.
b. It keeps them from involuntarily opening their mouth and letting their prey get away.
c. It is an instinct to protect their eyes from damage "live" food could inflict.
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8. Why do chefs wear the traditional tall white hats?
a. It comes from the early 1700s, when a famous chef had his staff wear tall white hats to keep hair out of their food.
b. French chefs started the tradition to distinguish themselves from the rest of the restaurant workers.
c. Restaurant kitchens used to be stacked high with supplies and equipment. The tall hats made it easier for waitresses to find the chefs to place an order.
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9. Why do golfers yell ?fore? when warning of an errant golf shot?
a. The ?fore? is short for ?foursome.? It was a quick way to communicate to the four golfers in front of you to watch out.
b. It?s an abbreviation of the English military warning ?beware before,? telling the front line to duck.
c. It stands for ?forewarn,? which is what proper English golfers in the 19th century would call out.
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10. Why does Mickey Mouse have 4 fingers?
a. Hands are the hardest parts of the body to draw. By drawing only 4 fingers, the animators save time and get a more natural look.
b. In the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, Mickey had 5 fingers. Over the years, the animators felt that 4 fingers looked better.
c. That's how many toes a mouse has on its paws.
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11. Why is there no apostrophe on the flashing "DONT WALK" traffic signal?
a. The mistake went unnoticed for years. When it was finally caught, it wasn't deemed worth fixing.
b. Designers thought it looked better to have the letters in "DONT" and "WALK" line up exactly.
c. The apostrophe would use up space needlessly, as it would be too small for people to see.
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1. Why are the Muppets left-handed?
a. Jim Henson was left-handed and designed the Muppets that way.
b. Most Muppeteers put their right hand into the puppet's head because they're right-handed. They control the puppet's arms with rods held in their left hand.
c. As an additional way to distinguish them from other puppets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. How do blind people discriminate between different denominations of paper money?
a. Most blind people use a system of carrying each type of bill in a different way, such as folding them differently or placing them in separate pockets or wallets.
b. There is a slight difference in the thickness of paper used between the denominations.
c. Blind people have a heightened sense of touch, and can feel the numbers printed on the bills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Why does an old person's voice sound higher-pitched than it did in middle age?
a. The elderly have slightly higher female hormone levels, which causes higher-pitched voices.
b. As we age, the vocal chords shrink, causing the voice to become higher.
c. Most elderly tend to speak more slowly and softly than when they were younger, resulting in a higher pitch.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. If we see mockingbirds during the day and hear them at night, when do they sleep?
a. Mockingbirds chirp in their sleep at night, as a defense mechanism against predators.
b. Mockingbirds travel in large groups, and actually take turns sleeping, guarding, and hunting.
c. The birds sleep at night, but they sleep on and off, and make noise when they're awake.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Why do construction crews put pine trees on top of buildings they are working on?
a. The swaying of the tree helps them judge wind-speed at the top of the structure.
b. In honor of a tragic construction accident on Christmas Eve, 1902, which killed24 workers.
c. Tradition. The tree celebrates the completion of the basic skeleton of the structure.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Why is the bathtub drain right below the faucet instead of on the other side of the tub?
a. If the faucet leaks, the water will drain immediately. If it were on the other side, the water would drain all the way across the tub, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
b. By combining the water line and the drain in a single supply on the same side, construction and maintenance costs are reduced.
c. So there is one comfortable end to sit at when taking a bath.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Why do frogs close their eyes when swallowing?
a. Frogs cannot swallow unless they use their eyes to push the food down into their stomach.
b. It keeps them from involuntarily opening their mouth and letting their prey get away.
c. It is an instinct to protect their eyes from damage "live" food could inflict.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Why do chefs wear the traditional tall white hats?
a. It comes from the early 1700s, when a famous chef had his staff wear tall white hats to keep hair out of their food.
b. French chefs started the tradition to distinguish themselves from the rest of the restaurant workers.
c. Restaurant kitchens used to be stacked high with supplies and equipment. The tall hats made it easier for waitresses to find the chefs to place an order.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Why do golfers yell ?fore? when warning of an errant golf shot?
a. The ?fore? is short for ?foursome.? It was a quick way to communicate to the four golfers in front of you to watch out.
b. It?s an abbreviation of the English military warning ?beware before,? telling the front line to duck.
c. It stands for ?forewarn,? which is what proper English golfers in the 19th century would call out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Why does Mickey Mouse have 4 fingers?
a. Hands are the hardest parts of the body to draw. By drawing only 4 fingers, the animators save time and get a more natural look.
b. In the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, Mickey had 5 fingers. Over the years, the animators felt that 4 fingers looked better.
c. That's how many toes a mouse has on its paws.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Why is there no apostrophe on the flashing "DONT WALK" traffic signal?
a. The mistake went unnoticed for years. When it was finally caught, it wasn't deemed worth fixing.
b. Designers thought it looked better to have the letters in "DONT" and "WALK" line up exactly.
c. The apostrophe would use up space needlessly, as it would be too small for people to see.
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