Looking to test your abilities and see how you measure up against others? Tests and challenges like the one below offer a chance to break out of our daily routines and explore our abilities from a broader perspective. The task at hand involves counting the number of Q’s hidden among a sea of O’s in the image below. While the challenge may seem simple, most people are unable to solve it on their first attempt. If you can spot all six Q’s on your first try, congratulations! You are among the top one percent of people who have completed this test.
However, don’t rush through the task at hand as hurrying will only cause you to miss some of the Q’s among the O’s. Take your time and keep count of the Q’s you find, whether on your fingers or on paper.
The purple background further adds to the challenge, as it makes it harder to distinguish the letters. This can decrease legibility when there is a darker background and lighter text characters, but for a test that aims to increase the difficulty of reading, it makes perfect sense.
Aside from being a fun pastime, puzzles like this offer many benefits. For one, they keep your mind sharp by giving your brain a workout. Consider puzzles like this alongside crosswords and Sudokus as weight-lifting for your brain. Additionally, puzzles like this can be shared with friends through email or social media, allowing you to both gain a mental advantage and a social benefit from solving them.
So, did you find all six Q’s among the sea of O’s, or did you miss one? Many people come up with different answers, with some finding only one Q and others spotting as many as 10. Regardless of your score, the task offers a chance to challenge yourself and break out of the monotony of daily life.
