According to this riddle, what has a ring but no finger?

Introduction / Context:
This question uses the double meaning of the word "ring". In everyday speech, "ring" can refer to a circular piece of jewellery worn on a finger, and it can also refer to the sound made by a phone or bell. The riddle asks for something that has a ring but no finger. The correct answer is a telephone, because telephones are said to ring when someone calls, yet they obviously have no fingers to wear jewellery. Such wordplay problems encourage learners to consider multiple meanings of common words.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The object in question "has a ring".
• It does not have fingers, so it cannot wear physical rings.
• The word "ring" is likely being used in its sound related sense.
• The answer must be a familiar device or object associated with ringing.

Concept / Approach:
To solve the puzzle, we interpret "ring" as the ringing sound. Telephones historically produce a ringing tone to alert users to incoming calls. Modern mobile phones still use the word "ringtone" for the audio alert, even if the sound is a melody and not literally a ringing bell. Since the riddle highlights that there are no fingers involved, it draws our attention away from jewellery and toward sound. Among common objects, a telephone is the one most directly described as "having a ring".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the phrase "has a ring" can refer either to wearing circular jewellery or to making a ringing sound. Step 2: Note that the riddle explicitly prevents the jewellery meaning by stating that there are no fingers. Step 3: Focus on devices that ring or make a ringing noise, such as telephones, bells, alarm clocks and doorbells. Step 4: Recall that the standard expression is "the phone is ringing" and that we speak of a phone having a particular "ring" or "ringtone". Step 5: Choose "A telephone" as the best answer among the options, because it most clearly matches the wording of the riddle.

Verification / Alternative check:
Although bells, alarm clocks and doorbells also ring, we usually describe them as "ringing" rather than "having a ring". In contrast, we often say "give me a ring" to mean "give me a telephone call", which shows a strong language connection between ringing and telephones. A boxing ring is a circular area where matches are held, but it does not "have a ring" in the sound sense; instead, it is itself called a ring for its shape. Comparing all these possibilities, the telephone satisfies the sound based meaning and the exact phrasing of the riddle most naturally.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A bell: A bell rings, but we less often say it "has a ring" in the sense used in playful idioms about phone calls.
An alarm clock: Also rings, but again the common phrase "give someone a ring" specifically refers to telephones.
A boxing ring: The word "ring" describes the fighting area, not a sound, and the riddle focuses on having a ring without fingers, not being a ring.
A doorbell: Similar to a bell; it rings, but the strongest wordplay connection in the language is between "ring" and "telephone call".

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may quickly answer "bell" because they immediately link ringing with bells. Others might be confused by the presence of several ringing devices in the options. The best way to avoid this is to look carefully at the exact wording and consider set phrases from daily speech. In English, the idea of "having a ring" is strongly attached to telephones and calls. Recognising these idiomatic expressions improves performance on many word based reasoning questions.

Final Answer:
The thing that has a ring but no finger is a telephone, which rings when someone calls but has no fingers to wear a ring.