Riddle of the Week
Here is one of my favorite childhood riddles:
Do you know why birds fly to south in the winter?
Okay, nobody guessed the answer this week, but I will give a bonus point to Hanane for trying. And in fact, she did get half the answer right: birds fly south for the same reason I flew south to Sanya this week - because it’s much too far to walk! (My legs would be really tired if I came on foot, though flapping my arms all the way is pretty exhausting too!)
To understand a riddle like this, you have to think literally. Normally, we just assume that birds (or tourists) will fly to their destination, so we focus on the end of the sentence and think of why they go south. But this answer surprises us by focusing on the how - flying instead of walking. I guess another answer could be, “Because taking a taxi would be too expensive”!
hanane Said,
February 25, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
Hi Dear Teacher Joe,
To look for a warmer place where to spend a vacation. The same as Teacher joe in S S.
Regards
teacherjoe Said,
February 26, 2009 @ 4:56 am
That’s a good guess, Hanane. However, I see fewer birds here in Sanya than from my apartment in Beijing! To answer this question, you have to think literally. Look at each word and try to think of a different point of view. Good luck!