Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: A yardstick
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This puzzle again relies on the different meanings of the word foot. In geometry and measurement, a foot is a unit of length equal to twelve inches. In everyday life, a foot is also the lower part of a leg used for walking. The riddle asks for something that has three feet but cannot walk, which prompts you to think about objects that measure length rather than living beings. Such questions are used in aptitude tests to check understanding of basic units and flexible thinking about word meanings.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The object is said to have three feet.
- It cannot walk, so it is not a living creature.
- The phrase three feet likely refers to three units of length.
- The intended answer should be a simple measuring tool or object known to students.
Concept / Approach:
A yardstick is a measuring stick exactly three feet long. In countries that use imperial units, many schools and shops have yardsticks marked with inches and feet. When you say that a yardstick has three feet, you mean that its total length is three feet, not that it has three lower limbs like a living creature. Since it is an inanimate object, it obviously cannot walk. This double meaning of feet is exactly what the riddle exploits to create a humorous effect.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recognise that if you interpret feet as body parts, the description sounds impossible or strange.
2. Recall that foot is also a unit of length equal to twelve inches.
3. Look for a standard object whose length is three feet.
4. Remember that a yardstick is defined as a straight measuring stick three feet long.
5. Conclude that the riddle is referring to a yardstick, which has three feet of length but cannot walk.
Verification / Alternative check:
Check the definition of a yard in imperial units: one yard equals three feet. A yardstick is designed to measure one yard. Therefore, it has three feet of length along its edge. It clearly cannot walk because it is a rigid stick. Now consider a three legged stool or camera tripod; these have three legs, not three feet in the sense of units of measure. A mountain peak and a standing person either cannot be accurately described by the phrase three feet or involve real feet used for standing and walking, which contradicts the riddle. This comparison confirms that the yardstick fits best.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A three legged stool has legs that end in feet, but the riddle focuses on exactly three feet, not three legs, and the wording in teaching materials usually emphasises the measuring meaning. A camera tripod may have three legs but is normally not described as having three feet in textbooks. A mountain peak does not naturally have three feet, and a person standing still has two feet and can walk when choosing to move. These options either misinterpret the unit based meaning or do not match the specific number and inability to walk.
Common Pitfalls:
Because the phrase three feet suggests an image of an unusual animal, some learners waste time imagining fantasy scenarios instead of checking for alternative meanings of common words. This is a reminder that many riddles in reasoning exams rely heavily on simple units and vocabulary rather than on rare knowledge. Whenever you see a word that you know from both everyday life and mathematics or measurement, it is worth considering both senses before deciding on an answer.
Final Answer:
The thing that has three feet as a measurement but cannot walk is a yardstick, which is exactly three feet long and is not alive.
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