The Bridge Keeper

 

The Bridge Keeper

You come to a bridge guarded by a keeper. He tells you:

"I will only allow you to pass if you can truthfully answer one of my questions. If you answer truthfully, I will let you pass. But if you lie, the bridge will collapse and you will fall to your death."

The keeper then gives you two options:

1. "What question will I ask you next?"
2. "Will I let you pass?"

This conundrum presents a paradox because:

• If you choose question 1 and answer truthfully, then the keeper's statement about the question being truthful becomes false (because he just told you the next question).
• If you choose question 2 and answer truthfully ("No, you will not let me pass"), then the keeper would have to let you pass according to his initial statement, creating a contradiction.

This seemingly impossible situation forces you to think creatively to find a solution. Can you figure out how to cross the bridge?