A Fun Brain Twister from 1962

[Jack Flash]

I found this puzzle while I was going through some old papers. I had fun solving it and thought some of my fellow Forum Members might like to try it.

The Zebra Puzzle

1. There are five houses.
2. The Englishman lives in the red house.
3. The Spaniard owns the dog.
4. Coffee is drunk in the green house.
5. The Ukrainian drinks tea.
6. The green house is immediately to the right of the ivory house.
7. The Old Gold smoker owns snails.
8. Kools are smoked in the yellow house.
9. Milk is drunk in the middle house.
10. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
11. The man who smokes Chesterfields lives next to the man with the fox.
12. Kools are smoked in the house next to the house where the horse is kept.
13. The Lucky Strike smoker drinks orange juice.
14. The Japanese man smokes Parliaments.
15. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.

Now, who drinks water? Who owns the zebra?

In the interest of clarity, it must be added that each of the five houses is painted a different color, and their inhabitants are of different national extractions, own different pets, drink different beverages and smoke different brands of American cigarettes. One other thing: in statement 6, right means your right.

— Life International, December 17, 1962​

 

[DWalt]

There are books written containing many similar logic puzzles. It usually takes me about 5 minutes to get frustrated enough to quit.

 

[Jack Flash]

This one isn't too bad, but I'm glad I didn't time myself (it took a while).

By the way, if someone feels inclined to give their answers, please preface your post with
Spoiler Alert!

 

[THEMULE]

I think I got it......PM on the way. If I'm right, I don't wanna ruin it.
Bob

 

[billwill]

My head hurts. That is like the trains leaving at different times...and which one gets there first...blah, blah. I need to refill a glass.

 

[Chuck24]

My brain was already twisted.

 

[Jack Flash]

... I need to refill a glass.

With what?

• Tea
• Milk
• Orange Juice
• Coffee
• Water

Or something more potent ??

 

[Texas Star]

I don't believe the clues. Hard to picture the Englishman in the red house. Maybe it's red brick, though?

He probably drinks tea, but I bet they all drink water some of the time. Who doesn't? Just because the Ukrainian drinks tea doesn't mean the Brit can't, too. The Norwegian probably drinks coffee, no matter who else does.

Where are these houses? Doesn't the city ban keeping large wild animals like the zebra? The Fish and Wildlife regs probably ban keeping the fox. Doesn't the author of this riddle watch, "North Woods Law" on Animal Planet?

None of these people should be smoking. The riddle promotes smoking, and is probably banned in some jurisdictions. (Boy, have times changed!)

BTW, I lived for a year in Newfoundland. Until I saw it first hand, I couldn't believe the gaudy house colors there. Maybe it cheers them up in the winter.

 

[OFT II]

Where's the Home Owner's Association when you need them?

 

[Gulfecho]

I looked up the answer on Wikipedia and I still don't understand it!

 

[PALADIN85020]

Since my brain doesn't work in any manner except where I can visualize a concept, I prepared a spread sheet, listing each house and the data in each one, clue by clue.

Once that was done, the answer showed itself.

I was then unconfused!

John

 

[dougb1946]

Whats the cheat code? I can't get past the Ork.

 

[ralph7]

Since neither water nor zebra were mentioned in the prior statement, I would say this is just an elaborate waste of time.

 

[THEMULE]

Since my brain doesn't work in any manner except where I can visualize a concept, I prepared a spread sheet, listing each house and the data in each one, clue by clue.

Once that was done, the answer showed itself.

I was then unconfused!

John

That's basically how I figured it out. A tic tack toe grid thing..... After awhile I figured it out. I showed the riddle to my wife, she figured it out in 5 minutes. An hour later, I was still in awe about how fast she figured it out. I asked her how she did it......her answer.......Google & Wikipedia.
Bob

 

[Lt JL]

piece of cake.

 

[joeintexas]

Looks like I picked a bad week to give up sniffing glue!

 

[Pbchucker]

I got the water-drinker right, but I messed up and got the zebra-owner wrong. I'm fried.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I got the water-drinker right, but I messed up and got the zebra-owner wrong. I'm fried.

Me too!
Peace and Happy New Year folks!!!
Gordon

 

[Xfuzz]

Ya lost me at the donut shop...

 

[Texas Star]

Ya lost me at the donut shop...

Which home owner works at Krispy Kreme?