In the abbreviation puzzle “3 BM (SHTR)”, which well-known English nursery rhyme is represented?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Three Blind Mice (See How They Run)

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question uses another common abbreviation style puzzle, where a clue such as “3 BM (SHTR)” stands for the initial letters of a familiar phrase. In many general knowledge and puzzle books, these types of questions are used to test knowledge of nursery rhymes, proverbs, or famous sayings as well as the ability to decode patterns of initials.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The coded form is “3 BM (SHTR)”.
  • The number 3 likely refers to the word “three”.
  • BM are initials of a two word phrase, and SHTR are initials of four words in brackets.
  • The options are full expansions constructed to resemble nursery rhyme lines.


Concept / Approach:
One of the most famous English nursery rhymes begins “Three blind mice, see how they run”. If we take the initials of the main words, we obtain “3 B M (S H T R)”. Here, “3” stands for “Three”, “BM” stands for “Blind Mice”, and “SHTR” stands for “See How They Run”. This pattern exactly matches the code in the title, making that rhyme the intended solution.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Expand the number 3 to the word “Three”. Step 2: Look for a phrase starting with “Three B M ...” and recall common nursery rhymes such as “Three Blind Mice”. Step 3: Interpret the bracketed part “SHTR” as the initials of “See How They Run”. Step 4: Compare this full phrase “Three Blind Mice (See How They Run)” with the answer options and choose the exact match.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by analysing each option. Only option A is a real, well known nursery rhyme line used in English speaking countries. The other options are artificial sentences created merely to resemble the pattern of initials and have no traditional or widely recognized status. Since abbreviation puzzles almost always refer to famous rhymes or sayings, that confirms option A as the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Three Brown Monkeys (Swing High Through Ropes)”, “Three Big Mountains (Standing High Together Rocky)”, and “Three Brave Men (Sail Home To Rescue)” are not standard nursery rhymes or common English phrases. They are grammatically possible sentences, but they lack the cultural familiarity that this type of question relies on. Therefore, they are distractors rather than valid solutions.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners might try to decode every letter mechanically without first thinking about famous rhymes. Another pitfall is assuming that any sentence that fits the initials must be correct, even if it is not a known phrase. When dealing with such puzzles, always ask whether your decoded phrase is genuinely familiar from songs, nursery rhymes, or proverbs.


Final Answer:
The abbreviation “3 BM (SHTR)” represents the nursery rhyme line Three Blind Mice (See How They Run).

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