Saturday, December 29, 2007

Dec Virtual Hunt — Curtain Falls (Q1-Q8)

Here are the answers and explanations to the questions:


Q1) Yes, domestic helper found within.

A1) YAMAHA



The question tells the solver to look for the word YES (or something of similar meaning), and then DOMESTIC HELPER is found within it.

YES = YA (in Malay)

DOMESTIC HELPER = AMAH

Therefore, by inserting the word AMAH into YA, we get YAMAHA.






Q2) Have a desire for a fish, so I was told.

A2) WANATUNA SDN BHD


"I was told" is a homophone or sounds like indicator. It tells the solver that the solution involves a word(s) that may be pronounced like another word, but with different spelling(s).

In this case, WANATUNA, when read out, sounds like WANT A TUNA which agrees with HAVE A DESIRE FOR A FISH.






Q3) American champ?

A3) USAJUARA SDN. BHD.



A straightforward question involving a bit of English-Malay translation.

USA agrees with AMERICAN

JUARA agrees with CHAMP






Q4) Victory in the backstreet.

A4) TWINS BEAUTY TREATMENT CENTRE



VICTORY = WIN

STREET = ST (abbreviation which must be found in the dictionary)

back = reversal indicator. Therefore when ST is reversed, it becomes TS.

So now the word WIN must be in the TS (backST). Thus, TWINS.






Q5) A corrupt politician.

A5) APM @ YUNG SOON AUTO PARTS



corrupt = anagram indicator

POLITICIAN = MP (abbreviation of Member of Parliament — again must be found in the dictionary)

The only way to rearrange the MP is to become PM, there is just no other way!

Now combine together with the article "A" (at the beginning of the question), we get APM.






Q6) Come play with the seven figures.

A6) EMCOJUTA SDN BHD (AGENSI PEKERJAAN)



play = anagram indicator

Letters in COME rearranged to become EMCO

SEVEN FIGURES = MILLION = JUTA

Therefore EMCO + JUTA = EMCOJUTA






Q7) Between the first real threats for a ruler on behalf of a young king.

A7) EGEN @ MCL SYSTEM (M) SDN BHD



first = initial indicator

first REAL THREATS = RT

We need to look for something which is inserted between R-T, so that the resulting word is the definition for "a ruler on behalf of a young king."

The word EGEN goes between R-T, becomes REGENT, which is a "ruler on behalf of a young king."






Q8) Not reversed after an endless trip.


reversed = reversal indicator

endless = deletion of ending letter from a word

NOT reversed = TON

endless TRIP = TRI

So, TON after TRI = TRITON, who's an OCEAN KING





Stay tuned for Q9.

2 comments:

CK said...

i got triton but ignorant of the fact that triton means king of sea. stupid me.

Cornelius said...

CK,

That's the point of my trick. I designed the question in such a way that it's quite easy to arrive at TRITON. Then I had expected the solvers to scan through all the pictures for TRITON. But instead it's a general knowledge question with a twist.

The question is similar to the ANGKASAWAN question I posted here in this blog some time ago. By working on the clue, the solver will arrive at ANGKASAWAN, but you can't find that word in the list of possible answers. Instead, you must know that I'm referring to Dr Shiekh.

That's why it's always important to know the pattern of the question. Once you can see the pattern, you will almost certainly get the answer sooner or later.

I've received a number of emails from people who said they've also arrived at TRITON, and it was a dead end for them too! Soooooo easy, and yet sooooo tough, huh?