Questions and answers

I got this material from a Viber group; this stuff makes me laugh and it made me think.

The title is: STUDENT OBTAINED 0% IN AN EXAM! The author says: “I would have given him 100%! Each answer is grammatically correct and funny too, but the teacher has no sense of humor.

Q1: In which battle did napoleon die?

Answer: His last battle.

Q2: Where was the declaration of independence signed?

Answer: At the bottom of the page.

Q3: River Ravi flows in which state?

Answer: lIquid.

Q4: What is the main reason for divorce?

Answer: Marriage.

Q5: What is the main reason for failure?

Answer: Exams.

Q6: what Can you never eat for breakfast?

Answer: Lunch & dinner

Q7: What looks like half an apple?

Answer: The other half.

Q8: if You throw a red stone into the blue sea what will it become?

Answer: Wet.

Q9: How can a man go eight days without sleeping?

Answer: No problem, he sleeps at night.

Q10: How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

Answer: You will never find an elephant that has one hand

Q11: if You had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have?

Answer: Very large hands.

Q12: If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?

Answer: No time at all, the wall is already built.

Q13: How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?

Answer: any way you want, concrete floor are very hard to crack.

A teacher without a sense of humor would have given this student a “zero.” But thinking deeper, could it also be that the questions were vague and a little bit unclear? Perhaps.

We refer to students like these as “pilosopo” in the local dialect meaning “philosopher” in the technical sense yet in urban slang and everyday street practice we refer them as “wisecracking sarcastic person who believes he or she is smarter and wittier than everyone else.” It is somewhat of a derogatory term who thinks that they are something more special than they are.

I have been labeled as such in my early college days. I recall asking my philosophy professor questions, and instead of answering them, the professor got mad and told me to “shut up!” because I was too much of a disturbance. I remember engaging in our class discussions, and when I disagreed with the professor’s viewpoint I asked her questions after questions she slammed her hand on the table and asked me whether I am an activist or a “pilosopo?” Many refuse to ask questions for fear that the ensuing response may be harmful, insulting, and offensive, so most people feel it safer to clam up and not ask questions.

Situations like these still happen today in the workplace. The boss dominates the conversation even during Zoom meetings. When someone in the team suggests an idea it is answered by: “That’s a stupid idea!” Somebody asks a question, and the ill-trained manager responds by saying, “Why do you keep on asking senseless questions and wasting all of our time? Let’s move on to more important matters.” People ask questions regarding the teachings in church and they are labeled as infidels or backsliders. This should not be the case.

When people ask questions, it affords the leaders to know what the needs of the people are. When someone in your team suggests an idea, it reflects the individual’s concern to contribute to the team and help achieve goals. Welcome them.

I conduct a lot of webinars these days. I always encourage the participants to take advantage of the chatbox to ask questions. And if their issues are too hard for me to answer, I would tell them I don’t have an answer for them, but if they want, I can do research and communicate with them privately. It doesn’t diminish my worth and value as a speaker. But when I try to cover up a question I could not answer with an insult or an offensive retort, it inevitably reflects my inadequacies in knowledge and character.

The same principle applies to children. Do not discourage them from asking questions. Their natural sense of curiosity and wonder is being developed. You may be bothered because sometimes the deepest questions come from little children. Do not tell them to shut up, instead encourage them and try to answer them in an interesting and fun way. And if you still find this difficult, get an Alexa or a Google Home.

(Connect with Francis Kong at www.facebook.com/franciskong2. Or listen to “Business Matters” Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. over 98.7 DZFE-FM ‘The Master’s Touch’, the classical music station.)