READING MINDS
Clues
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Pick a number from 1 to 10.
Multiply that number by 9.
If there are two digits in that number, add the two
of them together.
Subtract 5 from this number.
Correspond that number to its position in the
alphabet. (1 is A; 2 is B; etc.)
Think of the name of a country in Europe that
starts with this letter.
Use the last letter of that country’s name to choose
a large land animal.
Use the last letter of that animal’s name to think of
a colour.
Hey, guess what?
There’s no such thing as orange
kangaroos in Denmark.
Mind reading
Try this mind reading game on a friend. Ask him or her to follow these instructions
(cautioning them to keep their answers in their head):
1. pick a number between 1 and 9;
2. subtract 5;
3. multiply by 3;
4. square the number (multiply by the same number);
5. add the digits until you get a single digit (for example, say your number was 64:
64 = 6 + 4 = 10 = 1 + 0 = 1);
6. if the number is less than 5, add 5; otherwise subtract 4;
7. multiply by 2;
8. subtract 6;
9. relate the number you now have with a letter in the alphabet where 1 = A, 2 = B,
3 = C and so on;
10. pick the name of a country that begins with that letter;
11. use the second letter of the country and think of an animal that begins with that
letter;
12. think of the colour of the animal.
When your friend has done all this, tell him or her that they're thinking about a grey
elephant from Denmark and watch the surprise in their face as they realise you've
successfully predicated the outcome.