The facts essential to solving the problem-which can indeed be solved by combining deduction, analysis, and sheer persistence-are as follows:

1. There are five houses, each of a different color and inhabited by men of different nationalities, with different pets, drinks and automobiles.

2. The Englishman lives in a red house.

3. The Spaniard owns a dog.

4. Coffee is drunk in the green house.

5. The Ukrainian drinks tea.

6. The green house is immediately to the right of the ivory house.

7. The Ford driver owns snails.

8. A toyota driver lives in the yellow house.

9. Milk is drunk in the middle house.

10. The Norwegian lives in the first house on the left.

11. The man who drives the Chevy lives in the house next to the man with the fox.

12. A Toyota is parked at the house next to the house where the horse is kept.

13. The Dodge owner drinks orange juice.

14. The Japanese owner owns a Porche.

15. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.

Now, who drinks water and who ownes the zebra?