And we huffed and puffed our neurons!

To the overwhelming response we got from our readers on "Mental Aerobics" published last Sunday, May 7, below are the correct answers.

Among those who e-mailed the author, no one got a perfect score.

Hmmm, maybe we haven’t exercised enough. Let’s head for the gym and never say "die."

Answers:

Block 1 = Forgotten in the end, or Nearly forgotten

Block 2 = The jig is high

Block 3 = One foot on the grave

Block 4 = Fancy that

Block 5 = Oh, missing you (Notice how the letter "U" is missing between the letters T and V?)

Block 6 = Split-second timing

Block 7 = Three Wise Men

Block 8 = High ho, Silver (The young ones could not figure this out. Hmm, The Lone Ranger and Tonto would be extremely disappointed.)

Block 9 = Short of breath

Block 10 = Man on the moon

Block 11 = Button up your undercoat

Block 12 = She is at the end of her rope

Block 13 = Overseas operator

Block 14 = Just between you and me

Block 15 = Football

Block 16 = History repeats itself

1) First aid

2) 3 degrees below 0

3) Knee on lights (Read as "neon lights")

4) Long underwear

5) Don’t understand

6) See-through blouse

7) Six feet under ground

8) Bags under the Is (eyes) or eye bags

9) Reading between the lines

From our readers:

Greetings Ms. Lopez, I personally liked the challenges of these brain teasers, and I know it helped me stay mentally alert. I was actually answering your teasers before I went to bed but was not able to get a number of them then. When I woke up in the morning, the first thing that came to my mind were the answers to some of the teasers. I also encouraged my kids to do the same knowing that it can help them as well especially if they start young. –Jim Umali

* * *

Please kindly send me the correct answers to all your brain teasers. We want to use them for our recruitment exams. Thank you in advance and God bless all your endeavors. –Susan Marie Tan

* * *

I truly enjoyed doing the teasers. I wish the Philippine Star would devote a half-page to cerebral teasers on a regular basis, maybe a portion of the comic page? Thanks for the mental exercise! –Flok Galvey

* * *

It was fun, thanks! Can you give me the answers to the rest, please (and to the ones I got wrong?) Am quite intrigued. Cheers! –Manny Narciso

* * *

Hi, Ms. Lopez. I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your article on mental aerobics. I wasn’t able to answer most, so I would appreciate if you could share with us the correct answers. –Lea Choa

* * *

Hello, here are some of my answers to the brain teasers you published in the Philippine STAR, Sunday Lifestyle section, dated May 7.

Since I was not able to answer all the teasers, and I don’t know if my answers were correct, can you please e-mail me the right answers? It’s good mental aerobics. Thanks! –Ernie Bustamante

* * *

Indeed a fun activity! Couldn’t get through the others though. –Cora Balabar

* * *

Your article whittled away the boredom of a Sunday. Thanks! –Joey Torres

* * *

Could you please provide me with the correct answers? Thank you very much. Your column made my Sunday!!! Keep up the good work. –Alfredo Tambanillo

* * *

Hi! Last night while watching TV I saw the article about Tom Cruise, in the newspaper my Dad bought last Sunday, May 7. And after I read it, that’s when I saw your column when I turned back the newspaper…. –Alfred Alcaling

* * *

If you have some more brain teasers, can you e-mail them to me? –Ernie Santos

* * *

Even with the mistakes I made, I already feel like I’m a winner because of the enjoyment I felt while doing your aerobics. –Jovita

* * *

I had a wonderful time exercising my neurons. I hope I got them all correct.–Realm Alis

* * *

It was fun, Ma’am. Thanks for giving us the answer to the last one. Now my parents and I can stop arguing already. – Geo Lapuz

* * *

This is so cool!!!–Eddie Salvador

* * *

Enjoyed reading all your columns – the last one – I got all the letters, six of them so fast, I think my mind can process OF... but the boxed ones, I could not answer. Dumbo me.

(Name withheld because the author knows this reader who’s a magnificent and gorgeously intelligent woman)

* * *

I demand a recount. Why did you include such tricky, tricky puzzles? I can’t get the answers right!

(Name withheld because this reader is a good chum of the author and she’s therefore disqualified! Tomorrow, she’ll be out on the street wearing red.)