You need eyes of a sniper to find hidden pencil lead in just 7 seconds

Put your visual skills to the ultimate test with this mind-boggling brainteaser. It's quite literally like trying to find a needle in a haystack... With the summer holidays in full swing, it won't be long until our little ones start complaining that they're bored. Solving riddles and cryptic puzzles is a great way to occupy them - even if it's just for a couple of minutes - and can actually have a positive impact on their central nervous system.

Now, this won't magically transform them into a genius, or guarantee that they'll get into Oxford University, but it could help improve their attention span and concentration levels. Plus, it's better than them spending hours on their Xbox every night.

The image above first appears to be a complete jumble. As previously reported, there's so much going on it's all pretty chaotic - and if you stare at it for too long, it might make your eyes ache as the patterns start to blend into one.

But persist in scrutinising the image, as hidden amongst the whirls of colour is a very specific object - a pencil lead. You need to find it in just seven seconds or less to prove you have the eyes of an eagle.

We're not giving away any clues on this one, but zooming in on the image may help you spot the rogue object quicker. If you're still feeling utterly stumped, you can scroll down to the bottom of the article to find the answer - but no cheating!

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If that deceptively difficult brainteaser didn't even make you break a sweat, check out this super challenging quiz that's bound to fool you. At first glance, all of these questions may seem like your standard pub quiz, but each one is strategically designed to trip you up.

You can only spend three seconds on each question before you have to move on to the next, and you can only read each question once. Most people score just seven out of 10, so you need to get at least eight correct to prove you're a genius. Once you're done, you can check your answers here.

Which part of the human body contains the three smallest bones?

According to legend, which King would gather with his knights at the round table?

What animal is the largest land carnivore by mass?

What bird completes the title of the famous book 'To Kill A...'?

In what decade did India gain independence from Britain?

In the human body, what is the scientific name for the voice box?

Caracas is the capital of which South American country?

What is the scientific study of the weather called?

Who played Bane in the 2012 Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises?

"Load up on guns, bring your friends. It's fun to lose and to pretend," are lyrics from which famous song?

ANSWER: The lead is lurking just above the middle of the photograph. You may need to magnify the image to spot it properly, but if you focus on the centre of the snap, the pencil lead should be positioned diagonally up towards the left - roughly at 11 o'clock if you imagine a clock.

Up for yet another mental workout? Check out our full collection of tricky brainteasers, baffling riddles, and mind-boggling puzzles here - or, learn more about your hidden personality traits with these fascinatingoptical illusions.

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