[Cajunlady]

Originally Posted by therese johnston

My son has a question from his school:
What can a person survive on that does not come from something that is or was alive. Since you can't survive indefinitely on water alone, there is another answer and we can't figure it out.
Any ideaS?

The answer must be water. The question does not specify to survive indefintely on one thing. I thought of oxygen but then photosynthesis produces oxygen.

[scorch]

I would say a nice fixed blade. but to the question i'm lost.I'd guess i go with your own knowledge and self preservation.


They give these questions to 4th graders.

[tjwilhelm]

How about "knowledge" or "skills" or "wits?"

[AlpineZone]

Originally Posted by tjwilhelm

How about "knowledge" or "skills" or "wits?"

TJ, yeah thought the same thing. But then I realized it comes from a live thing. Kind of like my hope answer.

It's quite possible the teacher or therese johnston is trying to stifle us with a riddle instead of an actual question and where eating it. Or one that doesn't make a lot of sense when we hear the answer.

[LaRemnant]

What kind of classes is that kid taking??!!!

Personally, IMO, there is no answer, period. It is an imponderable, perhaps designed to merely get people to think and interact rather than get an answer, to help them develop critical thinking/social skills, but again, that is JMHO.

[LaRemnant]

So, can you update us on the answer? Was it explained?

[Bowman1911]

Originally Posted by Cajunlady

The answer must be water. The question does not specify to survive indefintely on one thing. I thought of oxygen but then photosynthesis produces oxygen.

Pretty sure if it's a tangible answer they're wanting, you are correct.

[Cajunlady]

Sent Theresa a message about a week ago in reference to this but received no reply as of yet.

[sypher96792]

what the heck??....no reply yet....i wanna know what the heck the answer is....lol

[Ron Fontaine]

The air we breath only has oxygen in it because of the good work of the earths living green plants (such as Forests and ocean algae). Pave over the world or kill off the green plants, and we die. And, of course, honey comes from bees and the plants that produce the nectar the bees harvest.

I agree, it could be the teacher is attempting to get the students thihnking about the great web of life and how all living things (including humans - which all to many people do not know!) depend upon this web of life for survival.

It may be possible to live off of artificially or chemically created foods, though these may not be viable until sometime in the future.