Reader's Digest New Zealand Feb/ Mar 2026

A B C D C B D A E A E A C D B D C D B E E B E A C EMILY GOODMAN (YEAR OF THE …?). FRASER SIMPSON (DO THE MATH, GIMME FIVE). KOTOFFEI/GETTY IMAGES (ANIMALS) Do the Math MediuM Use any of the following mathematical symbols (+, –, ×, ÷) to complete the equation below. You may use symbols more than once. Ignore the standard order of operations, but the result at each step must be a positive whole number. 3 [ ] 5 [ ] 2 [ ] 8 [ ] 6 = 4 Gimme Five easy Divide this grid into five sections of five letters—each containing the letters A, B, C, D and E only once. (Hint: The regions will not all have the same shape.) Year of the … ? easy The Lunar New Year begins on Feb. 17. Do you know which Chinese Zodiac sign is associated with it? It’s one of the four below. But of their statements, only one is true. Determine who is telling the truth, and who represents this new year. For answers, turn to page 143 . For more Brain Games, go to rd.com/braingames . “It’s not me.” “It’s not me.” “It’s not the horse.” “It’s the rooster.” reader ’ s digest 120 February/March 2026 1. cogently adv. ('koh-juhnt-lee) A cautiously B collectively C convincingly 2. gratis adv. ('gra-tuhs) A free of charge B in appreciation of C with cheese 3. discreetly adv. (dih-'skreet-lee) A piece by piece B avoiding notice C at once 4. alfresco adv. (al-'freh-skoh) A freehand B altogether C outdoors Adverbs pack a punch. They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs and even whole sentences. These grammatical workhorses explain a lot: When? Where? In what way? For each one below, read the options closely and select your answer decisively. Turn the page quickly to see if you chose correctly. 9. in situ adv. (in-'sigh-too) A at first glance B by the book C in the original position 10. pell-mell adv. (pel-'mel) A so-so B wildly C neatly 11. eminently adv. ('eh-muh-nuhnt-lee) A highly B shortly C widely 12. asunder adv. (uh-'suhn-dr) A underground B second C apart 13. hitherto adv. ('hih-thr-too) A therefore B until now C farther 14. duly adv. ('doo-lee) A doubly B appropriately C plainly 15. prolifically adv. (pruh-'li-fik-lee) A wastefully B handsomely C plentifully 5. ostensibly adv. (ah-'sten-suh-blee) A supposedly B falsely C awkwardly 6. plumb adv. (pluhm) A on both sides B underfoot C in a vertical line 7. askance adv. (uh-'skans) A in a hurry B with distrust C upside down 8. blithely adv. ('blighth-lee) A cheerfully B inhumanely C mistakenly BY Sarah Chassé WORD POWER readersdigest.co.nz 121 Brain Games