Homework is usually a struggle for kids, but sometimes, it leaves parents scratching their heads too.
That’s exactly what happened to Laura Rathbone, a mom from the UK, who found herself completely stumped by a simple question on her six-year-old daughter Lilly-Mo’s homework. It seemed straightforward—pick the “odd one out” from five words. But the more she thought about it, the more confusing it became.
Desperate for answers, Laura did what any modern parent would do—she turned to the internet.
The Homework That Broke the Internet
Laura, 40, posted the puzzling question in a Facebook group full of fellow moms, hoping someone could help her out. The challenge? Pick the word that doesn’t belong among: friend, desk, toothbrush, egg, and silver.
“At first, I thought I was losing my mind,” Laura told Today.com. “I kept wondering, ‘What am I missing here?’”
Turns out, she wasn’t alone. The responses started pouring in, but instead of clarity, the debate only got messier.
A Battle of Theories
One person confidently declared, “Toothbrush! It’s the only one with two syllables.” But someone quickly pointed out that “Silver” also has two syllables.
Another suggested, “Egg! It’s the only one you can eat.” Someone else countered, “Toothbrush! It’s the only word without an ‘E.’”
One parent chimed in with a more technical take: “Friend is the odd one out because it can’t be phonetically sounded out like the others.”
Then came a totally different angle: “Silver. The rest are nouns, but silver can also be an adjective.”
The debate raged on, with no clear winner.
So, What’s the Right Answer?
After scrolling through a sea of conflicting opinions, Laura decided to go straight to the source—her daughter’s teacher.
The verdict? The correct answer was ‘silver’ because the class had been learning about nouns, and silver isn’t just a noun—it can also be an adjective.
Even with the explanation, some parents still weren’t convinced. “I also asked in my parents’ WhatsApp chat, and no one had the same answer,” Laura said. “It’s a real brain teaser!”
What Do You Think?
If this homework question stumped a whole group of parents, we’ve got to ask—what would your answer have been? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to share this with your friends to see if they can figure it out!
