Brain Teasers
The Cockroach
Bobby Bigelow was an average sixth grader. That is, except for the fact that he had the mind of Sherlock Holmes himself. One day, while walking around the block, he noticed two of the students at school arguing over something.
The two boys were Jeremy and Jacob. Jeremy was accusing Jacob of killing his pet cockroach! As Bobby looked at the shiny back of the creature, Jacob explained his story.
"Jeremy let me take care of his cockroach for the day," began Jacob, "I kept it with me the whole day. About half an hour ago, I noticed that the cockroach had not moved for a long time. When I found that it didn't move when I tapped the cage, I called Jeremy. I left the cockroach exactly as it was, and here we are. Jeremy accusing me of killing his cockroach."
After a few moments, Bobby concluded that Jacob had indeed killed the cockroach.
Why was he so sure?
The two boys were Jeremy and Jacob. Jeremy was accusing Jacob of killing his pet cockroach! As Bobby looked at the shiny back of the creature, Jacob explained his story.
"Jeremy let me take care of his cockroach for the day," began Jacob, "I kept it with me the whole day. About half an hour ago, I noticed that the cockroach had not moved for a long time. When I found that it didn't move when I tapped the cage, I called Jeremy. I left the cockroach exactly as it was, and here we are. Jeremy accusing me of killing his cockroach."
After a few moments, Bobby concluded that Jacob had indeed killed the cockroach.
Why was he so sure?
Answer
When cockroaches die naturally, they roll over on their back. Yet, the cockroach was laying right side up as Bobby saw "the shiny back of the creature". Jacob must have killed the cockroach, then flipped it over to cover himself, not knowing the bit of science that Bobby knew.Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Only someone who studies cockroaches would know that. I won't even go near 'em!
i went over the teaser again & again trying to fid a clue to the answer not knowing the first thing about cockroahes i would never have got it
good teaser keep up the good work, and maybe one day ull be editing them
i really liked that riddle! I figured out the answer only because every year our house gets sprayed for bugs and sometimes we find cockroaches on their back. I noticed that when the roaches back was described and he said he looked at it's "shiny back" that it should have been it's stomach! that was a great one keep it up!
Good teaser. I knew the answer immediately because we spray our house for bugs several times a year. Cockroaches our our most hated bug besides the fire ant and red wasps of course. Luckily we usually never get the bugs in the house and see them on the ground outside dead. Keep up the good work.
What kind of red wasps? Cowkillers? Or those superfast when flying but superslow when walking red hornets?
Or paperwasps?
Cowkillers are kind of fat sometimes, and are furry a little.
The red hornets (which I've never known what they were) are in the shape of hornets, and, if you look closely at its neck, you'll see a little yellow dot.
And paperwasps are red, white, and yellow. With a little black.
Or paperwasps?
Cowkillers are kind of fat sometimes, and are furry a little.
The red hornets (which I've never known what they were) are in the shape of hornets, and, if you look closely at its neck, you'll see a little yellow dot.
And paperwasps are red, white, and yellow. With a little black.
This was a stupid riddle. Though only a child getting average marks would find it hard.I for one, found it extremely boring.
Since I also know nothing about cockroaches (except that there is no good cockroach like a dead one) I did not get the answer. I have my house and grounds sprayed every month but have been lucky enough not to see any of these lying around belly up!
Well, I don't study cockroaches. I just knew from general knowledge. I suppose average students would find it rather hard. Thanks for the comments.
that was hard. i dont kno anything about cockaroches.
I didnt know that about cockroaches! That was rather awesome
"I suppose average students would find it rather hard."
omg... full of yourself much?
omg... full of yourself much?
Yea, but if he killed the darn thing, how did he do it? Obviously it wasn't smashed. -my favorite way of killing the things.
Good teaser but who the hell knows about cockroaches???
interesting.. pretty easy
One possible solution to how he killed it could have been with some sort of a chemical. Smashing it would give him away.
Great one!
Three points:
1. A cage for that bug is not a good place to have it. I would put it in a jar or something.
2. If the bug was on a jar, and the guilty boy closed it with a hermetic lid, then the bug may have died for lack of oxygen!
3. This teaser also applies to trivia, wouldn't you think?
Three points:
1. A cage for that bug is not a good place to have it. I would put it in a jar or something.
2. If the bug was on a jar, and the guilty boy closed it with a hermetic lid, then the bug may have died for lack of oxygen!
3. This teaser also applies to trivia, wouldn't you think?
I agree with willy....i think this would belong in Trivia....
good one though
good one though
llllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllll
Well, you learn something new every day.
Cute, but how many people know the death throes of cockroaches,or care?
Cute, but how many people know the death throes of cockroaches,or care?
Cute, but how many people know the death throes of cockroaches,or care?
while i have no idea whether or not cockroaches do roll onto their backs when they die a natural death, i'm wondering about all the people who commented that they have their houses sprayed for bugs they find the cockroaches on their backs...poisoning the cockroaches isn't a natural death people...
shoulda been a science teaser
You are smart.
Thanks Doris. It's just from reading loooottttttttssssss of mystery books. i also find reading my science books helpful. Tip: dont read the boring books. I fell asleep.
I knew that when it said "the shiny black creature" that that was a clue, but i didn't know the science to put it together...god one...might have been better under the science category tho
I agree, it could go under science/trivia, but that would give it away, don't u think?
May 18, 2005
Just because the cockroach died dosn't mean Jacob killed it....
Why would Jacob kill a croackroach, anyways????? WEIRD.....
someone with the mind of sherlock holmes himself? sherlock holmes isnt even real!!!!!!
who would have a pet coakroach anyway?
Padme: It's true, Sherlock Holmes isn't a real person, but he is so famous that nowadays, people often refer to him as an extremely intelligent detective. Thank you all for posting. (Sheesh, I'm starting to sound like my english teacher!)
LOL!! This one was a good one.
I never guessed it. Now I know that they roll over when they die.
I never guessed it. Now I know that they roll over when they die.
maybe you could add a hint as not that many people would know that little fact about cockroaches.
i HATE cockroaches!!!! But, i loved your story! keep up the good work!
Yes, don't we all. I chose cockroaches just to drive you away from the answer a wee bit.
he sure is a sherlock holmes knowing about cockroaches maybe it wood be better if it was not a stupid bug!!
EEEEWWWWW!!!!
I HATE ROACHES!!!! That was a really good teaser though!
Should have been in trivia!!!
I HATE ROACHES!!!! That was a really good teaser though!
Should have been in trivia!!!
putting it in trivia or science would give it away!
Good One even though I hate cockroaches!
cockroaches eeewwww!!! nicely written, but i'm scared of them! really, really scared
really cute, but knowing that little tidbit really weirds me out
very good. Didn't know that about la cucarachas
I did enjoy it and I hate to do this to you but here goes
1 in the wild most roaches die right side up. that is the one that aren't eaten first.
2 most insecticides are nerve agents causing roaches to go through spasms before they die flipping them on their backs.
and
3 roaches have a hard time flipping back over if they fall on their backs and will die if they don't flip back over.
I give you credit for a good try keep them coming.
1 in the wild most roaches die right side up. that is the one that aren't eaten first.
2 most insecticides are nerve agents causing roaches to go through spasms before they die flipping them on their backs.
and
3 roaches have a hard time flipping back over if they fall on their backs and will die if they don't flip back over.
I give you credit for a good try keep them coming.
It's a ok greywolf. If everyone posted nothing but approvals, I would never learn! Thank you for the tips, I will remember not to overlook them on future teasers.
Dec 01, 2005
sherlock holmes just put an innocent man in prison.
I really enjoyed that one. it was short and somewhat easy! keep up the great work
yep.
I LIked this taser a lot.I know it is really hard to write teasers and you did a WONDERFUL JOB GOOD WORK and THANKS.
CONGRATS ON A FABULOUS MARVELOUS QUIZ
CONGRATS ON A FABULOUS MARVELOUS QUIZ
Just because the kid flipped the roach over doesn't mean he killed him. Maybe he was checking on the roach and flipped him over only to discover he was already dead. You have to take some leaps in logic to say Jacob killed the thing.
great quiz--i know zilch about cockroaches, so i had no idea still fun
Why does he even HAVE a pet cockroach?
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