Earlier today I presented three puzzles inspired by my new book, the Football School Encyclopedia. Let’s optimize this content for SEO and enhance its creativity and uniqueness while improving syntax and tone. Oh, and we’ll definitely retain those HTML tags! Here we go:
1. Dogged Delivery
Imagine a house surrounded by a five-foot-high wall. The front door can only be reached by a path connected to the main gate. In the garden, a feisty attack dog is leashed to a tree, with just enough slack in the leash for it to reach the path. Now, a delivery driver arrives with a package. The driver needs to walk down the path, but there’s a risk of getting attacked by the dog. How can they safely deliver the package to the front door?
Solution:
Here’s a clever solution. Walk loudly around the house. As you do so, the dog will naturally follow you and end up winding the leash around the tree. This reduces the effective length of the leash. When the dog can no longer reach the path, it’s safe for the delivery driver to deliver the package.
2a. The Three Lions
Now, picture a pen containing three lions. These majestic creatures have a particular fondness for zebras. However, if a lion feasts on a zebra, it becomes drowsy and runs the risk of being food itself, especially if there’s another lion nearby. Eating another lion also induces drowsiness and increases the chances of becoming a meal.
A zebra is placed in the pen. Lions are incredibly logical and self-preserving, so they only eat other animals when they’re certain they won’t end up on the dinner menu themselves. Additionally, when a zebra is eaten, it’s consumed by a single lion, not shared among the pack. So, in this scenario, does the zebra survive?
Solution:
Unfortunately, no. The zebra meets its demise.
To solve this puzzle, let’s start with a single lion in the pen and observe what happens before introducing more lions.
– One lion, one zebra: The lion devours the zebra.
– Two lions, one zebra: Neither lion dares to eat the zebra since it would mean being eaten by the other lion.
– Three lions, one zebra: One lion confidently consumes the zebra because it realizes that neither of the other two lions will risk eating it while it’s drowsy. This is due to the situation being analogous to the “two lions, one zebra” scenario, where neither lion feasts on the zebra.
2b. The Four Lions
Now let’s add more excitement to the equation. We still have a pen, but this time it contains four lions. Can the zebra survive this time?
Solution:
Yes, indeed! The zebra manages to stay alive.
Continuing from the previous workings:
– Four lions, one zebra: No logical lion will eat the zebra because doing so would recreate the “three lions, one zebra” scenario. With a combination of three hungry lions and one drowsy lion, the drowsy lion becomes the meal.
3. Dogged Defending
Now, take a look at this situation. Does it result in a goal or no goal?
Illustration: Spike Gerrell/Walker Books
Solution:
Find the answer in the Football School Encyclopedia.
Illustration: Spike Gerrell/Walker Books
I hope you thoroughly enjoyed today’s puzzles. I’ll be back next week with more brain-teasers. Woof woof! Don’t forget, The Football School Encyclopedia is available for purchase through The Guardian Bookshop and other online retailers. It’s a spectacular large-sized hardback, filled with colorful pages and packed with everything you need to know about football – history, geography, science, statistics, rules, psychology, quizzes, jokes, and more. The Daily Telegraph loved it, awarding it 5 stars and declaring it the must-have book for football-loving children. TalkSport even hailed it as the perfect stocking filler, although parents might just end up stealing it from their children after Christmas lunch. Alright, enough self-promotion. You’re all set! Now it’s your turn to tackle these puzzles. 😉 By the way, feel free to suggest any great puzzles you may have by emailing me.
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