Brain Teasers
Close Encounters
I was visited each night by an alien from outer space. He couldn't speak English and I couldn't speak his language either. We managed to develop a form of language that we both understood.
The Alien, who I called Eric, was gathering examples of Earth's fauna and flora to take back to his own world for freaky experiments.
On Monday Eric held up 16 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Vegetable to take back the following evening.
On Tuesday Eric held up 10 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Bird to take back the following evening.
On Wednesday Eric held up 20 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Plant to take back the following evening.
On Thursday Eric held up 2 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Insect to take back the following evening.
I didn't turn up on Saturday evening because on Friday Eric held up 21 fingers.
Why didn't I turn up?
The Alien, who I called Eric, was gathering examples of Earth's fauna and flora to take back to his own world for freaky experiments.
On Monday Eric held up 16 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Vegetable to take back the following evening.
On Tuesday Eric held up 10 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Bird to take back the following evening.
On Wednesday Eric held up 20 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Plant to take back the following evening.
On Thursday Eric held up 2 fingers and I knew that he wanted an Earth Insect to take back the following evening.
I didn't turn up on Saturday evening because on Friday Eric held up 21 fingers.
Why didn't I turn up?
Answer
The primitive language was as follows:The number of fingers equated to the number of the letter of the alphabet.
So
16 = P = Pea (a vegetable)
10 = J = Jay (a bird)
20 = T = Tea (a plant)
2 = B = Bee (an insect)
21 = U = You!
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