Once upon a time, there was a teacher who thought they could outsmart their students by asking tricky questions. Little did they know, they were about to encounter a student who was just as clever.
The teacher decided to test their class with a math problem. “If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?” they asked Johnny, one of the students.
Without hesitation, Johnny confidently replied, “Seven.” The teacher was taken aback by this unexpected answer. They couldn’t understand how Johnny arrived at seven.
Determined to make Johnny understand, the teacher asked the question again, this time emphasizing each set of cats. “No, listen carefully,” the teacher said. “If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?”
Johnny maintained his composure and responded with the same answer, “Seven.” The teacher was growing more frustrated by the second. They tried to simplify the question by using a different example.
“Alright, Johnny,” the teacher said, holding up two apples. “If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?”
Johnny smiled and confidently answered, “Six.” The teacher was pleased that Johnny finally understood the concept. But their joy was short-lived.
The teacher couldn’t resist asking the same question once again, hoping for a different response. “Now, if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?” they asked.
To the teacher’s astonishment, Johnny replied with the same answer, “Seven!” The teacher couldn’t contain their confusion any longer and blurted out, “Johnny, where in the world do you get seven from?!”
Johnny chuckled and gave the teacher a knowing look. “Because,” he replied, “I already have a cat!”
And with that simple yet clever response, both Johnny and the teacher learned a valuable lesson. The teacher realized that intelligence comes in many forms, and it’s important to respect and value the unique perspectives of each student.
Next time you come across a challenging question, remember Johnny’s witty answer and let it bring a smile to your face.
