Level: pre-intermediate and above

Brief description:

This puzzle is designed to practice your lateral thinking.

An unusual paragraph

Instructions: Read the paragraph and try to answer the question. Don’t be lazy; try hard to figure it out! If you cannot think of the solution, read the clues for help.

What is unusual about this paragraph?

This is an unusual paragraph. I’m curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out.

Clue 1: If you translated the text into another language it would no longer be unusual.

Clue 2: There are no grammar or punctuation mistakes in the paragraph. Clue 3: There are no spelling mistakes in the paragraph. However, the strange thing about the text is connected to spelling.

Clue 4: The words in the text are completely normal . . . but the letters in the text are a little unusual.

Answer:

There are no letter E’s in the text. E is usually the most common letter in English.

Glossary:

• Unusual (adjective): different from others of the same type in a way that is surprising, interesting or attractive (opposite of usual) (Bất thường, khác thường)

• Lateral thinking (noun): a way of solving a problem by thinking about it in a different and original way and not using traditional or expected methods (Tư duy một chiều định hướng/phá cách)

• To figure something out (phrasal verb): to finally understand something, or find the solution to a problem after a lot of thought (Vỡ ra, hiểu ra)

• To work at something (phrasal verb): to try hard to achieve something (Cố gắng, ráng làm điều gì đó)

• Odd (adjective): strange or unexpected (Kỳ quặc)

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).