Riddle: Bind it and it walks, loose it and it stops – what everyday object is described?

Introduction / Context:
This riddle uses the words bind it and walks in a figurative way to describe the working of a familiar device. The challenge is to understand that walks here does not literally mean walking with legs, but rather moving or running in time. Such questions often appear in logical reasoning and puzzle sections to test lateral thinking.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The object is something that can be bound or wound in some way.
- When it is bound, it walks, meaning it starts operating or running.
- When it is loose, it stops, meaning it no longer operates.
- The options are all man made devices that can move or function.
- Only one option should naturally fit the description of binding and loosening in an everyday sense.

Concept / Approach:
In older mechanical devices, the verb to wind or bind refers to tightening a spring by turning a key or knob. A classic example is a mechanical clock or watch. When you wind or bind the spring, the clock starts ticking, and people may say the clock is walking or running. When the spring is unwound or loose, the clock stops. This metaphor of walking for the movement of time is very common in informal speech.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret bind it as winding a spring or tightening a mechanism. Step 2: Interpret walks as runs or continues to work over time. Step 3: Recall which devices traditionally need to be wound in order to function. Step 4: A mechanical clock exactly matches this idea. You wind the clock, and it starts ticking or walking in time. Step 5: When you do not wind it and the spring becomes loose, the clock stops working, satisfying the second part of the riddle.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify the reasoning by checking each option against the clues. A mechanical clock is classically wound by hand. The language of a clock running or walking is used in many languages, not only in English. Toys, robots, and fans may move or spin, but they are usually powered by batteries or electricity, not by binding in the sense used here. This strong fit between the riddle and a manual clock confirms the chosen answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A battery powered toy car can move when switched on, but binding or winding is not its main method of operation. A robot works through programmed electronics and power sources, not through binding in the riddle sense. A ceiling fan rotates when electricity flows but cannot be started simply by binding or loosening something. Therefore these options do not match the specific wording of bind it and loose it.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may misinterpret bind as tying with a rope and search for moving animals or vehicles. Others might think of toy cars that need to be pulled back and released. However, those devices are usually described as pull back toys, not as bound objects. Remember that many older riddles were created when mechanical clocks and watches were very common, so winding them was a familiar daily action.

Final Answer:
The object that walks when you bind it and stops when you loose it is a mechanical clock.