English is a rich and fuzzy language. I have more trouble translating problems like this into human than I do solving them. Sometimes interviewers will respon

English is a rich and fuzzy language. I have more trouble translating problems like this into human than I do solving them. Sometimes interviewers will respond to questions about the question. Others will only repeat the question as-stated. With the latter, I'd be sunk. Pólya's first principle.