Manages The Class By Halves

(One of my teachers has our class help create a packet of summer work for his future classes. My sister, who will be in his class the next year, has just taken her first close look at her packet.)

Sister: “What is this?! What kind of mad scientists are you guys? You’d think you would be merciful!”

Me: “We just did as he asked. He said 50 students were signed up for the class, and he only wanted 25 in it. So, 10 have to try the packet and give up, and 15 have to take one look and run screaming into the night.”

Sister: “I think I’m going to run screaming into the night.”

Mother: “Fine with me, as long as you come back and finish the packet.”