READING MINDS

Clues Pick a number from 1 to 10. Multiply that number by 9. If there are two digits in that number, add the two of them together. Subtract 5 from this number. Correspond that number to its position in the alphabet. (1 is A; 2 is B; etc.) Think of the name of a country in Europe that starts with this letter. Use the last letter of that country’s name to choose a large land animal. Use the last letter of that animal’s name to think of a colour.

Hey, guess what? There’s no such thing as orange kangaroos in Denmark.

Mind reading Try this mind reading game on a friend. Ask him or her to follow these instructions (cautioning them to keep their answers in their head): 1. pick a number between 1 and 9; 2. subtract 5; 3. multiply by 3; 4. square the number (multiply by the same number); 5. add the digits until you get a single digit (for example, say your number was 64: 64 = = 10 = = 1); 6. if the number is less than 5, add 5; otherwise subtract 4; 7. multiply by 2; 8. subtract 6; 9. relate the number you now have with a letter in the alphabet where 1 = A, 2 = B, 3 = C and so on; 10. pick the name of a country that begins with that letter; 11. use the second letter of the country and think of an animal that begins with that letter; 12. think of the colour of the animal. When your friend has done all this, tell him or her that they're thinking about a grey elephant from Denmark and watch the surprise in their face as they realise you've successfully predicated the outcome.