[For Seniors] Great for killing time! A fun three-choice trivia quiz

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.

Energize your brain with a multiple-choice quiz everyone can enjoy! This time, we’re bringing you a collection of trivia questions you’ll be itching to share with others.

We’ve gathered problems from a wide range of fields, from surprising facts hidden in our daily lives to handy tidbits worth knowing.

For example, questions about the human sense of taste or whether the Arctic or Antarctic is colder—plenty that can be solved with the knowledge and common sense many seniors possess.

The three-choice format also makes it easy to join in.

Why not take on a quiz that expands your knowledge while having fun?

General knowledge and common-sense questions (1–10)

What does the “choux” in choux cream (cream puffs) mean?

cabbage
Chinese cabbage
Broccoli

See the answer

cabbage

The outer part that forms the shell of a cream puff is called a “chou.” Because its fluffy appearance resembles a cabbage, the French word for cabbage, “chou,” was used in its name.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

What was the occupation of Abraham Lincoln, who was the president of the United States, before he became president?

salaryman
professional wrestler
chef

See the answer

professional wrestler

With a blessed physique—192 centimeters tall and weighing 85 kilograms—he was a history-making professional wrestler who fought in around 300 matches and suffered only a single loss. His transition from such a stellar wrestling career to becoming president is astonishing, isn’t it?

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

What does the shoe type “loafer” mean?

lazy person
hard worker
a fortunate person

See the answer

lazy person

The meaning of loafers, which you wouldn’t guess from their crisp shape, is “lazy person.” The reason is that you can wear them without tying laces—just slip your feet in—so they came to be called “lazy people’s shoes.”

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

General knowledge and common-sense questions (11–20)

Which one is not part of human taste?

spiciness
umami
astringent taste

See the answer

spiciness

It sounds like an answer that makes you think, “No way, right?” That sensation of eating something spicy and feeling like you’re breathing fire while shouting “Spicy!!” — what is it? It’s actually pain that stimulates the pain receptors, not taste. Humans have five basic tastes: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and umami.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

What fish is born in the sea and raised in rivers?

salmon
Ayu
eel

See the answer

eel

Was it a bit of a trick question? The answer was eel. Eels are born in warm seas, and when they grow to about five centimeters, they become glass eels and swim up rivers, where they feed in rivers and lakes and grow into adults.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Which is colder, the Arctic or the Antarctic?

the Arctic
the South Pole
Neither is any different.

See the answer

the South Pole

Both the Arctic and the Antarctic are extremely cold places, but it’s said that the Antarctic is colder. The reason lies in their different geography. The Arctic has no land and is covered by ocean and sea ice, while the Antarctic is a vast landmass covered with ice. Air warms less easily over land like in the Antarctic. In addition, the ice in the Antarctic is thicker and at higher elevation, which makes the temperatures even lower.

Raise the rankinglower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

From what age can you enter the racetrack?

15
20
No age restriction

See the answer

No age restriction

There’s no age restriction just to enter the racecourse. Even babies can come in. Admission is 200 yen, and it’s free for those under 15. The age restriction applies only when buying betting tickets, which you must be 20 or older to purchase. Although the legal age of adulthood was lowered to 18 in 2022, the minimum age to buy horse racing tickets has not changed.

Raise the rankinglower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem