Set by Brendan O'Byrne We asked for suggested answers to rhetorical questions

Bit slow on the uptake. No 4048

Excellent. You followed two paths in keeping to the word count: some sent in short replies to lots of questions; others long replies to a few questions. Happily, having the former meant that I could cherry-pick a number of short winners, who can each have a £5 book token. £20 to the three main winners, the best of whom (Glyn Haggett) also gets the Tesco vouchers.

How long is a piece of string? The length depends on a number of variables. One: the length from which it is detached. It must always be shorter than the original. Two: if it has been detached by means of scissors or a sharp knife, the measurement may be more accurately made than, say, if the detachment is achieved by snapping across the knee, where the end is likely to be frayed and thus difficult to measure.

Hath not a Jew eyes? A high percentage of Jewish people are born with two eyes. Most of these continue with that number until death. However, as with other ethnic groups, some Jews have accidents that deprive them of one or both the original sight organs, or suffer the effects of glaucoma with a similar loss. As far as I am aware, there has been no significant body of research on eye count comparing Jew with Gentile.

H M Hogan

How do you do? How do I do what?

How often do I have to tell you not to do that? As often as it takes for you to realise that I pay absolutely no attention to what you say.

Do you think the dishes wash themselves? They might, if you would splash out on a dishwasher.

Where have you been all my life? Well, I reckon for more than half of it I wasn't even born.

Alanna Blake

How on earth did he miss from there? It has something to do with the fact that he failed, on this occasion, to use his head or another part of his body, other than his arms or hands, to propel the ball legitimately, in such a way that it passed beneath the crossbar and between the goalposts and crossed the goal line.

Who knows the secrets of the "Black Magic" box? Anyone with a taste for honest-to-goodness, value-for-money chocolate confectionery, I suspect.

What is he/she like? Just the way nature, nurture and a lifetime of more or less bitter experience have made him/her, probably.

Glyn Haggett

What's going on in here? We're mucking about because it's cold in the playground.

Anne Du Croz

Is that a gun in your pocket or are you pleased to see me? It's a gun, lady. So just gimme the handbag.

Robert Handyside

Are you deaf? Oh, thank you. Mine's a malt.

Keith Norman

No 4051 It's dogma eat dogma

Set by Ian Birchall

Gordon Brown has told us that "this is not the time for outdated dogma". Can you give us an example of a situation in which a politician of your choice explains to us/his party/constituents why now is exactly the right time for outdated dogma?

Max 120 words by 30 October

Email: comp@newstatesman.co.uk

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