Trick Questions Unveiled: How They Test Your Mind and Quick Thinking
Trick questions, especially those posed in competitive settings like the UPSC interviews, serve a multifaceted purpose. These questions are not just about testing one's knowledge but are designed to gauge a candidate's quick thinking, wit, and ability to handle stress. In this article, we will explore some of these mind-boggling questions from UPSC interviews and the clever answers that candidates have provided.
The Power of Clever Answers
These trick questions are designed to catch even the most prepared candidates off guard. They often require a sense of humor, quick wit, and the ability to think creatively. Let's dive into a few examples:
How Can You Drop a Raw Egg onto a Concrete Floor Without Cracking It?
One selected candidate responded with a straightforward yet surprisingly clever answer: "Concrete floors are very hard to crack!" This response shows both wit and a willingness to think outside the box.
What Looks Like Half Apple?
Another question that stumps many is: "What looks like half an apple?" The answer, as provided by a candidate, is "The other half!" This example highlights the importance of lateral thinking, a crucial skill in handling trick questions.
How Large Are Your Hands If You Have Three Apples in One Hand and Four Oranges in the Other?
A third question presented is: "If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?" The quick and seemingly logical answer is: "Very large hands!" This demonstrates the candidate's ability to count and reason quickly under pressure.
How Can You Lift an Elephant with One Hand?
A candidate who is too smart for the interviewer came up with this response: "It is not a problem since you will never find an elephant with one hand." This clever answer shows the candidate's creativity and reassuring demeanor in the face of seemingly impossible tasks.
What Can You Never Eat for Breakfast?
The candidate who answered this tricky question with "Dinner" demonstrated both wit and knowledge of superstitions. This response highlights the importance of being prepared for unconventional answers in such settings.
Bay of Bengal is in Which State?
Applying a bit of scientific thinking, the selected candidate replied: "In a liquid state!" This answer shows the ability to approach questions from a different angle, adding a layer of complexity to the response and showcasing intelligence.
What If Jamie Leaped Through a Window on the 45th Floor?
A more serious trick question was: "If Jamie looked at his reflection on the window mirror and made a leap through the window but encountered no bruise, how can this be possible?" The candidate replied: "Jamie is a window cleaner who was tired after cleaning the windows on the 45th floor and thus leaped inside the building." This answer not only demonstrates creativity but also suggests a keen sense of observation and logical thinking.
How Do Baby Peacocks Come into Existence?
The question: "How do peacocks get baby peacocks if they do not lay eggs?" The candidate replied with a fact: "The peahen lays eggs." This answer shows the importance of knowing basic but often overlooked facts, enhancing the candidate's intelligence and knowledge base.
Choosing Between Three People in an Emergency
In a moral dilemma, the question asked: "You are driving alone at night in your car and pass by a bus stop where you see three people: an old lady who looks as if she is about to die, an old friend who saved your life, and your perfect partner. Which one would you choose to offer a ride?" The candidate replied: "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with my partner of dreams." This answer showcases moral integrity and prioritization skills.
Conclusion: Trick questions in competitive settings like the UPSC interviews serve as a unique test of one's ability to think flexibly and under pressure. They are designed to challenge candidates in scenarios where quick thinking, wit, and creativity are essential. These questions are not just about knowledge but about how one handles stress and novelty while responding.