Never mind whether you’re smarter than — or even as smart as — a fifth-grader. The question currently on the minds of countless adults is whether they are as smart as a first-grader.
A problem that appeared on an admissions test given to incoming first-graders in Hong Kong is reported to have given the 6-year-olds no trouble whatsoever but has bedeviled parents the world over.
According to IJReview, the kiddies were given 20 seconds to solve the brainteaser, which is reproduced below:
The puzzle shows a car parked in a parking space surrounded by other parking spaces that are numbered but empty. The space in which the car is parked is bordered on one side by space 88, on the other by space 98. Using that information, as well as the numbers of the other spaces, tell what number belongs in the parked car’s space.
The topic came up this past week on NBC’s “Today” show, a video clip of which appears below. Warning: Spoiler alert.