Official Mensa® Challenge – December 2025 | LOCAL Life SC

Like tinsel or a star atop the tree, a sharp mind brightens up life this time—and any time—of year. For a holiday head scratcher, our December Mensa puzzles test your creative thinking, refresh your algebra skills and present a problem with a whimsical toy-maker. Use your noggin’ to solve this challenge, and you’ll feel like one smart cookie.

Questions

1. What three letters can be placed in the blanks below to make five different words?

______ TAKE ______ CHIEF ______ LAY ______ PLACE ______ SING

2. Jake is one-fourth of Molly’s age. Two years ago, he was one-seventh her age. How old are they now?

3. A well-known statement has been put into a fancy language below. Can you put it back into everyday English?

An overabundance of individuals engaged in culinary activities related to the preparation of liquid nourishment may produce a totally unsatisfactory result.

4. The names of three cities are hidden in the sentences below. Can you find them? (The letters are in consecutive order.)

Children on holiday may forget to stamp and mail postcards home.

The bear had his den very well hidden.

5. Our local toy store prices its merchandise according to the owner’s whim. A doll costs 70¢, a train costs 80¢, a drum costs 70¢ and a dollhouse costs $1.40. According to this system, how much will a jumping jack cost?

Answers

1. MIS (MISTAKE, MISCHIEF, MISLAY, MISPLACE, MISSING)

2. Jake is 4; Molly is 16.

3. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

4. Reno, Tampa, Denver

5. $1.90 (Vowels are worth 10¢, consonants are worth 20¢.)

Just for LocalLife readers: Take the Mensa Practice Test for just $5! Visit americanmensa.org/mht and use offer code: Local21. Quiz © 2018 Dr. Abbie F. Salny. Mensa provides official tests and answers to LOCAL Life as part of an exclusive license agreement.