A fair riddle survives reasonable alternative answers

Has pages leaves many possibilities open. Add clues that work together, then invite a partner to find another answer satisfying all of them; that test reveals whether the intended solution is genuinely distinguished.

'Has pages' alone fits many objects; added clues narrow the answer.

Test the combined clue set

Try reasonable alternative answers during testing. A riddle becomes fairer when its combined clues exclude unintended solutions clearly.

Choose an answer. Write distinguishing clues. Test alternatives.

What other answer still fits? Use picture-supported riddles.

Avoid clues depending on stereotypes.

Resources

• My Puzzle Strategy — Record a strategy and one specific observation about how it helped.

Further reading

• Australian Curriculum Version 9 — Critical and Creative Thinking

Read next

• An ambiguous drawing can invite several good interpretations
• A puzzle can offer different starting supports
• A maze branch can point towards the exit and still fail

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