a first mensa puzzle book

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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



' 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



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



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



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



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



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.

9



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.

11



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).

12



\ 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.

13



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.

15



Q u e s t i o n s



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

18



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.

19



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?

20



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



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



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

23



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

24



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



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

26



A l l

b) Add five matches to make nine.

1 IHow many triangles can you find in this diagram?

27



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.

28



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

\

29



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

30



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?

31



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?

32



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.

33



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?

34



- 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

35



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?

36



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

37



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

38



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

39



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

40



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

• •

• •

• • ••

• •

41



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

42



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

43



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 .

44



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.

45



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

46



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

47



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

48



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

52



* * *

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''

53



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?

54



* * *

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



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-

56



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

57



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

58



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.

59



^ 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?

60



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?

61



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

62



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

63



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



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

66



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!

67



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

68



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

70



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

71



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



* * *

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



* * *

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

74



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



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

76



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. •

77



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

78



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!)

79



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.)

80



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?

81



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

82



^ [ | ^

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?

83



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?

85



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?

86



A n s w e r s



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

89



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:

90



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

91



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

92



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

93



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

94



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.

95



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

96



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

97



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

98



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

99



'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

100



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



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

101



| ^ ^ 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)

102



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



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.



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!

a first mensa puzzle book

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