[For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions
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!”
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Tonchi and Riddle Quiz (21–30)
Even though you went to the trouble to attach it, what kind of “mochi” can’t be eaten?
The phrase “even though it finally stuck” is the key to this riddle.
If you follow the associations of “something that sticks” and “mochi,” you’ll naturally arrive at “falling on your butt” (shirimochi).
By the way, do you know why falling on your backside is called shirimochi? In fact, shirimochi originally referred to a custom where a child under one year old was made to carry mochi on their back and then gently toppled onto their bottom.
That’s why even today, falling on your backside is called shirimochi.
Incidentally, because a baby’s fall was considered a good omen, shirimochi was also seen as something auspicious.
There are four rocks swimming in the sea. What on earth could they be?
The key points are “in the sea,” “rock,” “four,” and “swimming,” right? First, since it’s swimming in the sea, we can infer it’s a fish.
Then, combining “rock” (iwa) and “four” (shi), we get “iwashi,” sardine.
By the way, the origin of the word iwashi is said to be “weak” (yowashi), named because they die easily.
There are many riddles that can be solved with similar wordplay, so this seems like a good practice problem.
Definitely try looking for similar ones and give them a shot.
Health and Body Knowledge Quiz (1–10)
Natto is said to have a blood-thinning effect. What time of day is best to eat it to achieve a greater effect?
Natto is one of the foods that embody Japanese tradition and is strongly associated with being healthy.
In fact, natto is good for your health and contains components that help thin the blood.
Did you know there’s a recommended time of day to eat it to draw out its health benefits even more? Considering the times when blood vessels are said to be more prone to clogging, you can figure out the timing that may help prevent that.
The answer is “at night.” Blood vessels are considered more likely to clog while you sleep, so the idea is that consuming the beneficial components about four hours before bedtime is best to help prevent it.
What are the two nutrients needed for strong bones?
As we get older, we tend to become more concerned about bone strength, and many people want to keep their bones as strong as possible.
So, what are the two nutrients needed to strengthen bones? One of them is obvious because it always comes up in discussions about bones, but the other might be less straightforward.
It’s easier to think of it not so much as a component of bones, but as something essential for overall health.
The answer is calcium and vitamin D—vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium into the bones.
The calves are also called the “second heart.” Using a part of the body, what is it called as the “second” what?
The calf, located on the back of the lower leg, has a nickname that uses the name of a body organ: “the second ___.” What is it? The hints are that it’s an internal organ and an indispensable organ not only for humans but also for animals.
The answer is the second “heart”! Blood tends to pool in the legs, but by actively moving the calves, blood circulates better and can be sent back to the heart more effectively.
That’s why they’re called the “second heart.”
What is the source of tears?
When we’re sad, happy, or deeply moved.
Older adults who have lived long lives have shed all kinds of tears, haven’t they? So what exactly are tears to begin with? Because they look like clear water, we tend to assume they’re just the body’s fluids, but that’s not actually the case.
Here’s a hint: it’s something even older adults have definitely seen before, and it isn’t transparent.
The answer is blood! Tears are said to flow after components like hemoglobin—the red parts—are removed from the blood, which is why they don’t appear red but come out clear.
What kinds of emotions are considered beneficial for health?
The answer is “laughter.” There’s a saying, “Laughter is the best medicine,” or literally, “Laughter is the chief of all remedies.” When you laugh, the excitement is transmitted to the diencephalon, which controls immunity, leading to active production of neurotransmitters.
These flow throughout the body via the blood and lymph, activating natural killer cells that eliminate harmful substances, thereby boosting immunity.
Laughing also stimulates brain activity, and the deep, abdominal-like breathing that occurs when you laugh heartily is similar to deep or diaphragmatic breathing—making it especially beneficial for older adults as well.
How many hours before going to bed should you eat dinner?
While you may want to lie down right after a delicious dinner, it’s best to wait a bit.
So how long should you wait after dinner? The answer is three hours.
Food takes about two to three hours to digest.
If you go to bed sooner than three hours, it puts a burden on your digestive system as it’s still working, and that activity can also make it harder to fall asleep.
If you have no choice but to eat late, have a small snack in the late afternoon and keep your dinner to about 70% full.
Nails are part of a certain part of the body. Where on the body are they?
You might think a nail is just a nail, but in fact it’s simply a part of another part of the body.
So, what exactly is it? Rather than overthinking it, it might help to go with the first body part that comes to mind.
The straight answer: skin! Nails are formed when the skin hardens and changes, becoming something harder and different from soft skin.
By the way, if you lose your nails, you may have trouble gripping objects properly, protecting your fingertips, and—in the case of toenails—keeping your body stable.
So take good care of them.
When your eyes are tired, what color should you look at to relieve eye fatigue?
The answer is “green.” Green is said to have a psychological effect of helping you relax and easing tension in the mind and body.
Perhaps the reason we place houseplants in our rooms is that we modern people are unconsciously seeking healing and relaxation.
Have you also heard that it’s good to look at distant mountains when your eyes are tired? It seems that looking into the distance rather than at something nearby allows the eye muscles to relax.
This, too, is the wisdom of those who came before us.