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3 MEN AT HOTEL RIDDLE

Q: THREE MEN WENT TO A HOTEL AND RENTED A ROOM. THE MANAGER CHARGED
THEM 30.00 DOLLARS $10.00 APIECE. THE ROOM WASN'T THAT GOOD SO THE
MANAGER DECIDED TO RETURN $5.00, TO SPLIT AMONG THE THREE MEN. THE
BELLBOY WAS SENT WITH THE MONEY AND ON THE WAY HE DECIDED TO KEEP
$2.00 AND GIVE THEM $3.00, $1.00 APIECE. THEREFORE, THEY EACH PAID
$9.00. BUT 9X3=27 AND 27+2>29. WHERE'S THE OTHER DOLLAR?
A: THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO FIGURE IT OUT. THE MANAGER HAS $25.00.
25+5=30

James Callow comment: THE PATRONS HAVE $1 EACH=$3; THE BELLBOY HAS $2. TOTAL $30

Where learned: INDIANA ; University of Notre Dame ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): MONETARY (Q) ; MONETARY ITEMS (A) ; PERSONS (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT LIVES IN A FIRE?
A: A LIVE COAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CAUSAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: THE MORE YOU FEED IT/ THE MORE IT WILL GROW HIGH/ BUT IF YOU
GIVE IT WATER,/ THEN IT WILL GO AND DIE.
A: FIRE.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; STATES OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT GROWS BIG WHEN IT IS FED WOOD, GROWS SMALL WHEN
IT IS FED WATER?
A: FIRE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LIVES IN JAPAN AND LEARNED ABOVE FROM HIS CHILDREN.

Where learned: LETTER ; JAPAN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 07-28-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT ONE THROWS AWAY AFTER CAREFULLY HOARDING IT?
A: GARBAGE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LIVES IN JAPAN AND LEARNED ABOVE FROM HIS CHILDREN.

Where learned: LETTER ; JAPAN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 07-28-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS GREEN AND WHITE AND COLD ALL OVER?
A: GRASS WITH SNOW ON IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LITERAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; STATES OF BEING (Q) COLOR

James Callow Keyword(s): WORD-PLAY: PUN ON "GOLD"

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 11-28-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT GROWS WITH ITS ROOTS UPWARD, LIVES IN THE WINTERTIME,
AND DISAPPEARS IN THE SUMMER?
A: AN ICICLE.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-17-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT ALWAYS FALLS AND NEVER GETS HURT?
A: RAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-17-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS A MOUTH AND A FORK BUT NEVER EATS?
A: A RIVER.

Submitter comment: I WAS ASKED THIS RIDDLE DURING THE COURSE OF CONVERSATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; UTENSIL (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS A MOUTH BUT CANNOT SPEAK?
A: RIVER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-30-1967

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RIDDLE

Q: WITHOUT FEET, WITHOUT ARMS IT STILL CLIMBS FOR THE HEAVENS.
A: SMOKE.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-17-1971

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SMOKE

Q: WHAT GOES AROUND THE HOUSE AND DOES NOT MAKE ANY TRACKS?
A: SMOKE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDING (Q) ; BUILDING (Q) ; TRANSPORTATION (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-02-1971

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: TEVAS NEGIMES, SUNUS PRAZILEZS - THE FATHER IS UNBORN, THE SON
IS GRAY-HAIRED.
A: DUMAI - SMOKE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; PERSONS (Q) ; STATES OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-20-1968

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: SEMAS (PILKAS) JAUTIS DANGUZ LAISO. - THE GREY BULL LICKS THE SKY.
A: DUMAI - SMOKE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMAL (Q) ; NATURAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-20-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT FALLS, BUT NEVER GETS HURT?
A: SNOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-09-1965

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT CAN OUTRUN A HORSE AND CAN CROSS THE WATER WITHOUT GETTING
WET?
A: THE SUN.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; NATURAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: I WENT TO THE WOODS AND FOUND IT. I SAT ME DOWN TO LOOK FOR IT.
I BROUGHT IT HOME WITH ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND IT. WHAT WAS IT?
A: A THORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TRAVERSE CITY

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; NATURAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-02-1970

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RIDDLE

Q: THE GODS GO BOWLING, THE GODDESSES DO THEIR LAUNDRY, AND THEIR
OFFSPRINGS TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF.
A: A THUNDERSTORM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL ; PERSONS (Q) GODS AND GODDESSES

James Callow Keyword(s): LIGHTENING

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

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RIDDLE

Q: THERE ARE FOUR BROTHERS IN THE WORLD. THE FIRST RUNS BUT NEVER
GETS TIRED. THE SECOND EATS BUT NEVER GETS SATISFIED. THE THIRD
DRINKS BUT NEVER GETS FULL. THE FOURTH SINGS BUT HIS SONG IS NOT
PLEASANT TO THE EAR. WHO ARE THE BROTHERS?
A: WATER, FIRE, THE EARTH AND THE WIND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): ELEMENTS

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT CAN RUN BUT CANNOT WALK?
A: WATER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; PRIVATIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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