For moderately tech-savvy people who are not programmers: Write pseudocode to sort a list of numbers. Have a human, perhaps the moderator, execute the steps on a blackboard with a particular list. Repeat until you get the expected results. For extra credit, drill down on steps such as “exchange two numbers”.
Ask for ways in which 2012 laws are better than 1912 laws. (Year is arbitrary.) Drill down on abstractions; for example, if “unions have more power” is given as an answer, ask for specific ways in which this is an improvement. For added weirdness, ask for examples of how the laws are worse now.
“Why did the United States secede from Britain?” Again, drill down on abstractions. If someone responds “Taxation without representation”, ask what was being taxed. Allow Googling.
For moderately tech-savvy people who are not programmers: Write pseudocode to sort a list of numbers. Have a human, perhaps the moderator, execute the steps on a blackboard with a particular list. Repeat until you get the expected results. For extra credit, drill down on steps such as “exchange two numbers”.
Ask for ways in which 2012 laws are better than 1912 laws. (Year is arbitrary.) Drill down on abstractions; for example, if “unions have more power” is given as an answer, ask for specific ways in which this is an improvement. For added weirdness, ask for examples of how the laws are worse now.
“Why did the United States secede from Britain?” Again, drill down on abstractions. If someone responds “Taxation without representation”, ask what was being taxed. Allow Googling.
“Where do forks come from?” Trace all the inputs.