Word Codes

If CAT = 3, DOG = 3, ELEPHANT = 8, then FISH = ?

• A4✓
• B5
• C6
• D7

Answer: The code equals the number of letters: CAT (3), DOG (3), ELEPHANT (8), FISH (4).

If BOOK = 8, CAR = 6, HOUSE = 10, then TREE = ?

• A4
• B6
• C8✓
• D12

Answer: Each value is the number of letters × 2: BOOK 4×2 = 8, CAR 3×2 = 6, HOUSE 5×2 = 10, so TREE 4×2 = 8.

If APPLE = 12, ORANGE = 18, GRAPE = 12, then MANGO = ?

• A12✓
• B16
• C18
• D20

Answer: Each value is the number of vowels × 6. MANGO has 2 vowels (A, O), so 2 × 6 = 12.

If RED = 9, BLUE = 12, GREEN = 15, then YELLOW = ?

• A12
• B14
• C16
• D18✓

Answer: Each value is the number of letters × 3. YELLOW has 6 letters, so 6 × 3 = 18.

If STAR = 24, MOON = 24, SUN = 18, then PLANET = ?

• A28
• B32
• C36✓
• D40

Answer: Each value is the number of letters × 6. PLANET has 6 letters, so 6 × 6 = 36.

If CLOCK = 5, WATCH = 5, TIMER = 5, then ALARM = ?

• A4
• B5✓
• C6
• D7

Answer: All three clue words have five letters, and each one is worth 5, so a word's value matches its number of letters. ALARM also has five letters, so it is worth 5.

If TABLE = 9, SOFA = 6, SHELF = 12, then CUPBOARD = ?

• A8
• B9
• C12
• D15✓

Answer: Each value is the number of consonants × 3. TABLE has 3 consonants (T, B, L), SOFA has 2 (S, F) and SHELF has 4 (S, H, L, F). Word length cannot be the rule, because TABLE and SHELF both have five letters but different values. CUPBOARD has 5 consonants (C, P, B, R, D), so 5 × 3 = 15.

If HAPPY = 5, SMILE = 5, CHEERFUL = 8, then GIGGLE = ?

• A5
• B6✓
• C7
• D8

Answer: Each word is worth its number of letters: HAPPY and SMILE have five letters and CHEERFUL has eight. GIGGLE has six letters, so it is worth 6.