Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Snowman
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This riddle uses poetic language to describe an object as if it were a person, calling it "a cold man without a soul." The second line adds that if there is warmth in it, the warmth will slowly kill it. Such phrasing suggests an object that is made of something that cannot survive heat, and that is often shaped like a person. Understanding the metaphor and linking it with common images from daily life and stories is the key to solving the puzzle.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The phrase "cold man without a soul" immediately suggests a figure shaped like a human but not actually alive. A snowman is literally a man-shaped figure made from snow, which is cold and lifeless. The second part, "If there is warmth in me, it slowly will kill me," makes the idea even clearer: a snowman melts when exposed to warmth, whether sunlight, warm air or fire. As the snow melts, the snowman loses its shape and eventually disappears, which fits the description of being slowly killed by warmth.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret "cold man without a soul" as referring to something shaped like a person but made of a cold material and not alive.
Step 2: Think of a snowman, which is built from snowballs stacked to resemble a person, often with a face drawn on.
Step 3: Consider the effect of warmth on a snowman. When the weather warms up, the snow begins to melt.
Step 4: Notice that melting destroys the structure of the snowman slowly, so warmth really does "kill" the snowman over time.
Step 5: Compare this with an iceberg, which is not specifically shaped like a man, and usually considered part of a natural landscape rather than "a man."
Step 6: A ghost is often described as cold and without a soul in stories, but warmth does not literally kill a ghost, and it is usually not made of snow.
Step 7: A statue can be cold to the touch and without a soul, but warmth does not normally destroy it unless it is made of ice, which is less common in standard riddles.
Step 8: Therefore, the description and especially the melting by warmth point strongly to a snowman.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine each candidate in everyday life. A snowman exists only during cold weather; as soon as temperature rises, it begins to shrink and collapse. Stories and cartoons frequently show snowmen melting when spring comes, reinforcing this idea. An iceberg can also melt, but it is not called a "man" and is not part of typical children's winter play. A ghost is an imaginary being and not literally destroyed by warmth in traditional tales. A statue made of stone or metal stays solid in normal warmth. The only option that naturally fits both parts of the riddle is the snowman.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
An iceberg is a mass of ice, not shaped like a person and not usually called a man. A ghost may be described as cold and without a soul in fiction, but warmth is not said to kill it and it is not literally made of snow or ice. A statue can be cold to touch and soul-less, but ordinary warmth does not harm stone or metal. None of these choices match the melting-by-warmth clue as cleanly as a snowman does.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may overfocus on the phrase "without a soul" and think of ghosts or supernatural beings, ignoring the practical clue about warmth destroying the object. Others might think of icebergs but forget the word "man" in the riddle. When solving riddles, it is important to combine all parts of the clue rather than isolating only one. Here, paying attention to the human shape, the icy material and the melting behaviour quickly leads to the correct answer.
Final Answer:
The riddle is describing a Snowman, a cold man made of snow who melts and disappears when warmth surrounds him.
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