It only works if the answer is 2

I never understood what this referred to, but they just did the show where this originated.

I don’t remember which episode but the recording that sounds very authoritative was in several episodes, including this one (I think) #2659: Class Dismissed! : The Best of Car Talk : NPR

The original puzzler

https://www.cartalk.com/radio/puzzler/mango-tree-seven-gates