[For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

How about quiz games like wordplay and riddles during recreation time at day service centers and other senior facilities? Puzzles that hide meanings in the arrangement, color, or orientation of letters, as well as riddles, are enjoyable brain teasers.

The answers often draw on familiar folk tales or everyday events, so seniors can experience that delightful “I get it!” moment of surprise and accomplishment when inspiration strikes.

The process of thinking stimulates the brain, and smiles and conversation naturally arise when the answer is revealed.

This time, we’ll introduce clever wordplay and riddle quizzes that are sure to get seniors excited and thinking, the kind that make you say, “Wow, that’s clever!”

Trivia and Fun Facts Quiz (1–10)

How many events have been held continuously from the first Olympic Games to the present?NEW!

People tend to think the same events are held every time, but in fact, only five Olympic sports have continued without interruption since the first Games: athletics (track and field), swimming, artistic gymnastics, fencing, and cycling.

Some events that used to be included have been dropped or later reinstated—so it really varies by Olympics.

The Olympic program is decided by the International Olympic Committee at its Session, but if issues arise—such as doping problems or any concerns about the governance capacity of the international federations, commonly called IFs—sports can be excluded.

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sasashina

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Trivia and Fun Facts Quiz (11–20)

If you heat a certain item in the microwave, it will remove unpleasant odors inside. What is that item?

One home appliance that everyone uses is the microwave.

It’s a very convenient item, but since we put food in it, there’s the downside that it tends to get smelly.

We try cleaning it to get rid of the odor, but it can be hard to remove.

There’s a handy method to know for times like that.

Believe it or not, simply heating used tea leaves will eliminate the smell.

This works because of the catechins contained in tea.

By the way, if you leave the microwave closed for a few minutes after heating, it becomes even easier to remove the odor.

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yamamoto

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Scissors that have become dull can be revived by cutting something found in a household kitchen. What is that “something?”

Scissors are stationery that everyone uses daily, but their sharpness inevitably dulls over time.

However, even dulled scissors can be easily revived just by cutting a common household item.

The hint is something from the kitchen: it’s made of metal, yet it can be cut with scissors—this should make it clear.

The answer is aluminum foil.

It’s said that a phenomenon occurs where the aluminum compensates for the worn parts of the scissors.

Since the effect is only temporary, it’s good to remember that properly sharpening them with tools is a more reliable solution.

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kappamaki

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The Arctic is part of the territories of eight countries, but which country does Antarctica belong to?

The Arctic, located at the northern end of the Earth along with its surrounding regions, is considered part of the territories of eight nearby countries.

So what about its opposite, Antarctica—whose territory does it belong to? The answer is “no country’s.” Under the Antarctic Treaty, claims of national sovereignty and military use are prohibited.

Twelve countries were the first to sign the Antarctic Treaty, and the number has gradually increased since then.

Learning about the conflicts over ownership that occurred before it was determined that Antarctica belongs to no nation may also deepen our interest in peace.

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kappamaki

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Besides salt, what seasoning, when sprinkled on a slug, would make it shrink?

Slugs that appear on rainy days.

Everyone knows they shrivel up when you sprinkle salt on them.

In fact, there’s another seasoning that makes them shrink when sprinkled: sugar.

The mechanism is the same as with salt—water is drawn out of the slug’s body.

However, with sugar it’s said to take about six times longer to fully shrivel than with salt.

If you want to learn more, check out videos of actual experiments.

That said, it does feel a bit sad.

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yamamoto

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In the Edo period, what was bush warbler droppings used for?

The bush warbler, which sings beautifully with a “hoo-hokekyo,” had its droppings used for something in the Edo period.

The answer is cosmetics.

In Japan, they had long been used to remove stains from silk fabrics, but by the Edo period they were also used for beauty.

Dried and powdered bush warbler droppings were said to reduce fine wrinkles, refine skin texture, and contain skin-brightening enzymes—and are apparently still used today.

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hiyori