Hi Guys!
It’s Sunday morning, a day for us to unwind and enjoy a well deserved rest after a busy week. You know, as I was thumbing through a book while savouring a cuppa, this particular page attracted my attention.
It throws a challenge to us asking whether we can find something unusual in a given short paragraph! There seemed nothing wrong with it, no matter how many times it was scrutinized by my eyes and the ever cooperating buddy, the brain.
Finally I was forced to give in though normally I don’t admit defeat that easily. I simply couldn’t believe myself when I checked the answer on the last page of the book. It’s truly amazing! How is it possible…? But I learned one thing; at times our very own eyes could deceive us. In short, don’t believe in everything that your eyes see….!
Well! I want you to put your thinking cap on and see whether you can pinpoint the ‘peculiarity’ I'm talking about...!
Here’s the paragraph! Good Luck...!
…………… - : - ………………
Just zap through this paragraph. It is an unusual paragraph. I’m curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would think nothing is wrong with it. Syntax and vocabulary look all right…! In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, though you still may not find anything odd. But, if you work at it a bit, you might find out.
…………… - : - ………………
PS – I’ve done some minor changes to make the paragraph more interesting.
~ GS ~
23th October, 2011
Replies
Oops…!
I have forgotten the tradition…;
the answer must come from the horse’s mouth
while announcing the winner(s) …
All the letters in the English Alphabet are present except …‘ e ’…!
This is a commonly used vowel letter in English,
yet it’s missing although some rarely used letters
have won to engage their rights in the paragraph.
This is amazingly unusual, isn’t it…?
~ GS ~
"Keeper of the Secret Codes"
We’ve Got Winners..!
not
1 “One” … BUT … 2 “Two”
They’re Our
1st Participant:
&
1st-Timer
Prashanth…!
I thought my challenge was, after all that mumbo jumbo and the kind of hype I created, a real killer but it was easy-peasy for you. Were you looking over my shoulder because it seemed you were prepared for every eventuality? (Just kidding, my friend!) Thanks a heap for your enthusiastic participation.
Remark: Although Prashanth gave the correct answer, he was not proclaimed as the winner then because we came to a mutual understanding whereby we both wanted the show to go on! However, reading between the lines of my comments, one will see that he has got the answer correct.
(Didn’t I mention there, “We’ll meet again, anyway, bro…!"?
Note: Prasanth, your winning present has been couriered to your "residence". Hope you like it!
. ----------->:<-----------
Irra…!
I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that you could do it! You’ve shown me great potential as a solver of complicated matters. There’s a wealth of young talent in you. Don’t keep locked the capabilities inside you; seek, discover and tap them, instead. You can break away the obstacles on your life path and make all your dreams come true. Good Luck..!
Remark: Your winning price has been delivered to your immediate abode – “My Page”. Please acknowledge receipt. TQ
Note: Actually, Irra came with an answer which was correct under the circumstances but due a blemish and oversight by yours truly, she was denied her rightful victory..! I bitterly regret for allowing my own eyes to deceive me..!
Note of Appreciation:
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the others as well for your particiaption and making the challenge enjoyable for all of us. God bless you. Till we meet again, wish you good luck and take care..!
Master of the...
"Mystery Zone"
~ GS ~
Hello Gabriel!
You gave us a very confusing puzzle. Let me guess too, perhaps here missed a symbol "§", if we are talking about how correct to stand out a paragraph.
Hello Valentine!
Thanks for dropping into my world; you deserve a warm welcome…! It’s regrettable that I don’t have the yardstick to evaluate as I failed to learn what this symbol “§“ stands for – cross my heart and hope to die! I may sound as a new kid on the block but the reality is I don’t perform standing on my head. I know it sounds pathetic, but……… (Shame on me…!)
Thanks again for being such unpretentious guest, unlike your host who ever gloats over others.
Please accept this small gift from me as a souvenir to mark our new found friendship...!
God Bless You…! Take Care…!!
Regards,
~ GS ~
Ye Gods! Jase...! I couldn’t even cover myself as your blows rained down on me. Your comments only served to confuse me to the maximum. I was keeping very calm – anyone else would be tearing their hair out. You showed no mercy to your host. You deserve a medal for putting me through the mill…!
Joking apart! Jasmine, I had a good laugh while reading your response! (I pissed myself laughing, to be precise – no vulgarity intended!) People may consider me as the King of Psychopathology … but … You are the Queen of *Humourology…! (*It’s not part of a terminology in your dictionary.)
I enjoyed your company here at my “Mystery Zone”; you were lively and full of fun. I’ll be seeing you...!
Please don’t forget to close the door behind you on your way out, Jase! Thank You….! (Smile!)
Yahooooooo…., she has gone (Sigh...)!
~ GS ~
PS - Sorry for the late acknowledgement, Dear...!
Hi Irra!
When I wrote this paragraph, I didn’t give a serious thought at all that it would be bound to come under the scrutiny of an “aficionado”…! You looked at it with the eye of a detective buff, Girl…! I’m more than glad that I’ve found you at my “Mystery Zone” – Welcome!
(Please don’t forget to collect your “Membership Card” at the vestibule on your way out…; oops, just kidding!)
You know what…, it really breaks my heart for I couldn’t declare you as the *Winner*, because you hit the nail on the head and only narrowly missed. Ow…! How sad!
However, as a token of my gratitude for your participation, here’s something from my personal possession. Solve my future "challenges" armed with this “Mystery Magnifier” Good Luck…!By the way, I learned from your page that you like Oscar Wilde’s quotes! Here are a few I’d like to share with you. Hope they’ll heal you from the disappointment that I caused you!
1. No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.
2. It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.
3. In modern life nothing produces such an effect as a good platitude.It makes the whole world kin.
4. Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
5. The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read.
Regards,
~ GS ~
Hi Ireneo!
special marks… punctuation marks… distinguishing marks…
…………. ? ! . : “ * , ~ & @ # / - ; ………….
Oh, you poor thing..! How long are you going to walk back and forth? Even if you start with one category of the ‘marks’ in use, that is one too many, bro! However, I’ve no objections at all as long as you don’t go around checking birthmarks :-P I think it’s time to use the mark ( . ) because you’re way off the mark. Sorry, I really have to go as I have to mark the others’ present.
Regards,
~ GS ~
PS - Ireneo, I know pretty well that anyone who steps into my zone will be under a lot of strain. Hope you’ll bear with my blabbering as this is how we were trained to undertake the bizarre trade. On the contrary, I’m a nice guy by heart… thus, I wish you a pleasant day ahead at MyEC.
Take Care, man..! :-)
Hello Gabriel!
I've just printed your paragraph and want to give my students to solve. Our lesson will be the day after tomorrow. Then I'll tell you the results.
One of the versions is: the paragraph is unusual because there is no paragraph at all. This piece of writing is about nothing.
Galina Dear…!
You deserve a pat on the back…! Because, unlike others, you don’t close the door behind you once you’ve finished answering my puzzle. Instead, you take the trouble to lug my mystery up to your classroom. And this is not the first time you’re doing it; you’ve made it a commitment!
Every single time when you relate to me how you used my challenge in your classroom as a relaxation technique, I feel my writings here at “MyEC” are something to be proud of.
It’s always heart-warming to hear of your success with my ideas, especially where your students unwind after a long study session - it’s the icing on the cake. You’re one fine example to teachers out there! Not only you are dedicated but affectionate towards your students. Well done! Keep up the good work, my dear!
Now, talking about your suggested answer – well that is not exactly what I’m looking for. Sorry! Oh no…, don’t pout your lips in sulk! May be the next time luck will be on your side, you never know. Good Day, Teacher…!
~ GS ~
PS- Please convey my regards to your students, especially the girl who won the previous challenge!
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next