How to pass common sense tests like kids do

TL;DR

Answer: think simple and avoid overthinking. The majority in the test overcomplicate basic problems, while kids tend to use straightforward reasoning. Each question hinges on common-sense pivots, such as lighting the match first, realizing survivors are buried, or that all months have at least 28 days. The video demonstrates quick, clear reasoning to improve everyday problem solving.

Transcript

90% of people fail this common-sense test it looks like common sense isn't so common because according to research 90% of adults get these questions wrong yet kids do just fine that's because grown-ups over complicate things while children use their common sense and don't overthink so follow their lead and let's start one which word would you use i... Read More

Key Insights

• The test demonstrates that overthinking common tasks leads to wrong answers.
• Kids tend to apply direct, practical logic rather than overanalyzing every variable.
• Lighting the match comes before lighting any other item in a room with limited resources.
• Survivors of a plane crash should be buried, but survivors are not buried at all, highlighting a trick in wording.
• If a problem involves order of operations like lighting items, start with the prerequisite step, here lighting the match.
• Ask who is actually affected by the problem instead of assuming the worst case, as with the ark or the noon day questions.
• The riddle about months shows counting logic; all months have at least 28 days, showing inclusive thinking.
• Every riddle in the segment tests whether you overcomplicate reasoning versus applying simple, practical knowledge.
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Questions & Answers

Q: How to think like kids in common sense tests to avoid overthinking?

To think like kids you keep questions simple and focus on the most obvious, practical solution. The approach avoids unnecessary assumptions and considers only what is necessary to answer the question. By resisting the urge to overanalyze, you arrive at the correct response quickly and with minimal cognitive load, which is the essence of common sense in these prompts.

Q: What is the correct response to the border plane crash question and why?

The correct response is that you do not bury the survivors. The question is a trick that relies on misdirection. Survivors are living people and cannot be buried, so the sensible answer is to address the fact that burial is for those who have died, while survivors remain alive and require assistance and evacuation.

Q: What should you light first if you have a match and three items in a dark room?

First you light the match. This is the prerequisite action to light any other item. The riddle highlights how many people overcomplicate by choosing between the lamp, newspaper, or kindling without recognizing that lighting the match is the necessary first step before any other lighting action can occur.

Q: Why are the pink stairs a trick in the bungalow question?

The trick lies in assuming there must be stairs, whereas the scenario describes a bungalow, which traditionally has no stairs. This pushes you to question the assumption that every description includes staircases and to recognize that the pink decor does not imply stairs exist, illustrating how overthinking can mislead basic interpretation.

Q: How does the bald man not get his hair wet in the rain?

The man is bald, so he has no hair to get wet. This answer uses a direct fact about the subject to resolve the problem. It demonstrates that the simplest explanation, grounded in visible attributes, resolves what seems like a paradox when overanalyzed.

Q: Why does everyone die in the plane crash except two survivors, and who are they?

All the people who died were not a trick about the survivors who were married. The two survivors are the ones who are married, dividing the group into those who died and those who survived. The prompt uses wordplay to prompt careful reading of the phrasing so the correct interpretation is that the married couple survived.

Q: What do you sleep on, sit on, and brush your teeth with, and why is this a trick?

The answer is the bed, chair, and toothbrush respectively, emphasizing how the phrasing leads you to consider all three items together rather than sequentially. This illustrates that clues in wording can cue a multi-step answer, but the simple response aligns with the prompt’s own guidance to avoid overcomplication.

Q: How many months have 28 days and why is this tricky?

All twelve months have at least 28 days. The question provokes a forced choice between a precise count or a trick that many overthink. The correct interpretation is inclusive: every month includes 28 days, so the answer is twelve, reflecting a common test-taking trap that relies on misdirection.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A simple quiz shows how overthinking can derail basic reasoning and how straightforward answers often resolve tricky questions.

• The video pairs each riddle with a quick lesson on avoiding unnecessary reasoning and sticking to practical logic.

• Readers are encouraged to respond in the comments and practice with similar quick-thinking prompts.