A master hunter shared with me his experience of the good old days when he first started hunting many years ago. He said during the very first hunt that he joined, one of the questions was merely about spotting a circle which was found at a bus stop (or was it a signboard elsewhere?).
Over the years there was a gradual evolution of treasure hunt questions. These days they are becoming increasingly cryptic in nature. It follows, therefore, that in order to excel in this sport, one must have a minimal knowledge in the art of cryptic clueing. Q3 is something of a cross-breed between a typical cryptic crossword clue and that of the treasure hunt question.
Q3) It takes us together with her make-up.
Almost all cryptic clues have a definition; and the definition is usually located at either end of the clue. It is up to the solver to spot where is the definition. In Q3 above, the definition is “make-up”. Then there rest of the words in the sentence is the cryptic riddle which must be solved and the result must then agree with that definition. In other words, we can more or less create an equation like this:
It takes us together with her = make-up
Now it is slightly easier to see the nature of the question. We need to solve the left side of the equation in order to solve the riddle.
That word “It” must be referring to the answer which is found on the signboard. This is how the solver should see the riddle:
IT takes US together with HER = MAKE-UP
[ANSWER] + USHER = MAKE-UP
And now the solver has to think of what should the ANSWER be so that when joined to the word USHER, the resulting word would agree with MAKE-UP. This is where general knowledge comes in again.
A word about the scope of search for the purpose of treasure hunt questions. I have said before that whenever the question involves a scope of search, then it cannot be too wide so as to render the search without limits. In the above case, there must be hundreds of MAKE-UP, ranging from lipstick, powder, toner, mascara, face cream etc. However, I feel that I have been fair because I have narrowed the scope of search substantially. The solver has to search only for a word that ends with USHER. Now it is just a matter of time before he will think of the word BLUSHER. Therefore the required answer must be the letters BL. The next thing to do is to spot that BL on the signboard.
Over the years there was a gradual evolution of treasure hunt questions. These days they are becoming increasingly cryptic in nature. It follows, therefore, that in order to excel in this sport, one must have a minimal knowledge in the art of cryptic clueing. Q3 is something of a cross-breed between a typical cryptic crossword clue and that of the treasure hunt question.
Q3) It takes us together with her make-up.
Almost all cryptic clues have a definition; and the definition is usually located at either end of the clue. It is up to the solver to spot where is the definition. In Q3 above, the definition is “make-up”. Then there rest of the words in the sentence is the cryptic riddle which must be solved and the result must then agree with that definition. In other words, we can more or less create an equation like this:
It takes us together with her = make-up
Now it is slightly easier to see the nature of the question. We need to solve the left side of the equation in order to solve the riddle.
That word “It” must be referring to the answer which is found on the signboard. This is how the solver should see the riddle:
IT takes US together with HER = MAKE-UP
[ANSWER] + USHER = MAKE-UP
And now the solver has to think of what should the ANSWER be so that when joined to the word USHER, the resulting word would agree with MAKE-UP. This is where general knowledge comes in again.
A word about the scope of search for the purpose of treasure hunt questions. I have said before that whenever the question involves a scope of search, then it cannot be too wide so as to render the search without limits. In the above case, there must be hundreds of MAKE-UP, ranging from lipstick, powder, toner, mascara, face cream etc. However, I feel that I have been fair because I have narrowed the scope of search substantially. The solver has to search only for a word that ends with USHER. Now it is just a matter of time before he will think of the word BLUSHER. Therefore the required answer must be the letters BL. The next thing to do is to spot that BL on the signboard.
A3) BL @ BL BLIND MASSAGE CENTER
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