A first-grade teacher named Ms. Brooks was having a hard time with one of her students.
One day she asked,
“Mike, what seems to be the problem?”
Mike confidently replied,
“I’m too smart for first grade. My sister is in third grade, and I’m smarter than she is. I think I should be in third grade too!”
Ms. Brooks decided she had heard enough and took Mike to the principal’s office.
While Mike waited outside, she explained the situation to the principal.
The principal said,
“I’ll give him a test. If he can answer the questions correctly, he can move up to third grade.”
Ms. Brooks agreed.
Mike was brought into the office, and the principal explained the challenge. Mike happily accepted.
The principal began asking questions.
“What is 3 × 3?”
“9,” Mike answered.
“What is 6 × 6?”
“36.”
The questions continued, and Mike answered every one correctly.
The principal smiled and said,
“I think Mike is ready for third grade.”
Ms. Brooks spoke up.
“Before you decide, let me ask him a few questions.”
The principal and Mike agreed.
Ms. Brooks asked,
“What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?”
Mike thought for a moment and answered,
“Legs.”
Next she asked,
“What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?”
The principal looked surprised by the question.
Mike answered,
“Pockets.”
Ms. Brooks continued,
“What does a dog do that a person steps into?”
“Pants,” Mike replied.
The principal leaned forward in his chair.
Ms. Brooks asked another question.
“What goes in hard and pink, then comes out soft and sticky?”
Before the principal could react, Mike answered,
“Bubble gum.”
Ms. Brooks smiled.
“What does a man do standing up, a woman do sitting down, and a dog do on three legs?”
“Shake hands,” Mike replied.
The principal was now completely amazed.
Finally, Ms. Brooks asked,
“What word starts with ‘F’ and ends with ‘K’ and means a lot of heat and excitement?”
Without hesitation, Mike answered,
“Firetruck.”
The principal let out a deep breath and said,
“Forget third grade. Put Mike in the fifth grade—I got the last six questions wrong!”