Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: An egg
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is a classic word riddle that plays on the idea of usefulness. Usually, when something is broken, it becomes damaged and less useful. However, some things only become useful after being broken in a specific way. The riddle asks you to think beyond the normal idea of breakage as destruction and identify an object that is actually needed in a broken state for its main purpose.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to think of an object whose value lies inside, not in its outer covering. In such a case, the outer shell must be broken open before the item can be used for cooking or eating. Among everyday objects, an egg is the best example: as long as the eggshell is intact, you cannot cook or eat the contents. Only by breaking the shell do you access what is useful. The other options, like a glass or plate, usually become less useful when broken.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the object "An egg." It has a hard shell that protects the liquid inside.
Step 2: In order to use an egg for cooking, baking or eating, you must crack or break the shell.
Step 3: Notice that before breaking, the egg in its shell cannot be used directly in a pan or mixing bowl; its usefulness is unlocked only after the break.
Step 4: Compare this with "A glass." When a glass is broken, it cannot hold liquids properly and becomes dangerous, so its usefulness is reduced.
Step 5: A plate and a stick also lose their intended function when broken.
Step 6: Therefore, the only option whose usefulness increases when broken, in a normal and expected manner, is the egg.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine a kitchen. A whole egg with the shell intact must first be cracked into a bowl or pan before you can fry it, scramble it, or use it in a cake. The action of breaking the shell is exactly what makes the egg usable. In contrast, a glass, plate or stick are all designed to function in their unbroken form, and breaking them usually means they are thrown away. This confirms that the riddle is pointing to an egg.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"A glass" is less useful and even unsafe when broken, because it cannot hold liquids and can cause cuts. "A plate" becomes chipped or shattered when broken, making it unusable for serving food. "A stick" can sometimes be snapped into smaller pieces, but its original strength and function are usually reduced, not improved. None of these items are intentionally broken to make them more useful in everyday life.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may mistakenly think of things like sticks or logs that can be broken for firewood and conclude they are "more useful" when broken. However, the riddle traditionally focuses on common household items where the clear, primary purpose depends on breaking a protective shell. Another pitfall is to overlook the obvious answer because it seems too simple. In many riddles, the simplest real-world example is often the intended solution.
Final Answer:
The object that becomes more useful when it is broken is An egg.
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