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Senior Trivia Questions and Answers: 150+ Questions Including Funny Trivia for Seniors

May 18, 2023

Senior trivia is one of the best ways for older adults to stay sharp, have fun, and connect with others. Whether you're planning a trivia night at a senior center, looking for activities at an assisted living facility, or just want to challenge yourself and your friends, these senior trivia questions and answers cover everything from classic movies and oldies music to historical events and laugh-out-loud funny facts.

In this article, you'll find over 150 trivia questions designed specifically for seniors — including a dedicated section of funny trivia for seniors that's guaranteed to get the whole room laughing. We've also got tips for hosting the perfect senior trivia night and links to even more trivia with answers for every occasion. Plus, we'll introduce you to Quizado, the easiest way to create custom trivia games for any group.

Why Senior Trivia Is Great for the Mind and Soul

Playing senior trivia isn't just entertaining — it's genuinely good for you. Research shows that trivia and quiz games can help seniors sharpen their memory, improve recall, and keep cognitive skills active. But the benefits go beyond brain health.

Trivia games for seniors also create opportunities to socialize, share stories, and bond with friends and family. Whether you're playing one-on-one or in a group at your local senior center, there's something special about the way a great trivia question sparks a memory, starts a conversation, or gets everyone laughing together.

If you're interested in the science behind how quizzes benefit older adults, check out our deep dive on using quizzes for the elderly.

seniors playing chess Photo by Julia Vivcharyk on Unsplash

Senior Trivia Questions and Answers: Classic Categories

Below, you'll find a mix of easy and challenging trivia questions for seniors. We've included a variety of topics — from everyday knowledge to pop culture and history — so there's something for everyone. These "Name a..." style questions work perfectly for group play, where everyone can shout out answers and earn points.

1. Name a popular flower.

Rose (43 points)
Tulip (32 points)
Sunflower (22 points)
Daisy (18 points)
Lily (11 points)

2. Name a famous fictional detective.

Sherlock Holmes (38 points)
Miss Marple (29 points)
Hercule Poirot (23 points)
Nancy Drew (11 points)
Inspector Morse (10 points)

3. Name a classic board game.

Monopoly (33 points)
Scrabble (28 points)
Chess (15 points)
Clue (12 points)
Checkers (7 points)

4. Name a common household chore.

Vacuuming (44 points)
Washing dishes (35 points)
Dusting (27 points)
Laundry (19 points)
Mopping (14 points)

5. Name a popular vacation destination.

Hawaii (37 points)
Paris (29 points)
Rome (27 points)
New York City (17 points)
London (11 points)

6. Name a famous painter.

Leonardo da Vinci (45 points)
Vincent van Gogh (38 points)
Pablo Picasso (26 points)
Michelangelo (21 points)
Claude Monet (19 points)

7. Name a traditional Thanksgiving food.

Turkey (52 points)
Mashed potatoes (43 points)
Stuffing (29 points)
Cranberry sauce (18 points)
Pumpkin pie (13 points)

8. Name a classic Disney movie.

The Lion King (41 points)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (36 points)
Cinderella (29 points)
Beauty and the Beast (18 points)
Aladdin (15 points)

9. Name a common pet.

Dog (49 points)
Cat (37 points)
Fish (26 points)
Bird (18 points)
Hamster (12 points)

10. Name a popular fruit.

Apple (35 points)
Banana (28 points)
Orange (21 points)
Strawberry (17 points)
Grapes (13 points)

11. Name a well-known actor.

Tom Hanks (38 points)
Robert De Niro (27 points)
Leonardo DiCaprio (19 points)
Denzel Washington (12 points)

12. Name a famous landmark.

Eiffel Tower (45 points)
Statue of Liberty (37 points)
Great Wall of China (25 points)
Taj Mahal (16 points)
Sydney Opera House (11 points)

13. Name a common breakfast food.

Cereal (34 points)
Toast (28 points)
Eggs (20 points)
Pancakes (15 points)
Oatmeal (9 points)

14. Name a popular ice cream flavor.

Chocolate (37 points)
Vanilla (31 points)
Strawberry (27 points)
Mint chocolate chip (19 points)
Cookies and cream (12 points)

15. Name a classic rock band.

The Beatles (45 points)
Led Zeppelin (34 points)
The Rolling Stones (23 points)
Queen (18 points)
Pink Floyd (11 points)

16. Name a famous athlete.

Michael Jordan (51 points)
Serena Williams (45 points)
Muhammad Ali (32 points)
Usain Bolt (23 points)
Simone Biles (18 points)

17. Name a common mode of transportation.

Car (43 points)
Bicycle (36 points)
Train (24 points)
Bus (13 points)
Walking (11 points)

18. Name a popular fast food chain.

McDonald's (44 points)
Burger King (32 points)
KFC (27 points)
Subway (19 points)
Wendy's (10 points)

19. Name a well known superhero.

Superman (45 points)
Batman (39 points)
SpiderMan (27 points)
Wonder Woman (24 points)
Iron Man (18 points)

20. Name a common type of pasta.

Spaghetti (47 points)
Penne (34 points)
Fettuccine (26 points)
Linguine (19 points)
Ravioli (13 points)

21. Name a famous historical figure.

George Washington (42 points)
Abraham Lincoln (38 points)
Cleopatra (25 points)
Albert Einstein (17 points)
Joan of Arc (8 points)

22. Name a popular snack food.

Potato chips (34 points)
Popcorn (27 points)
Pretzels (19 points)
Chocolate bars (13 points)
Nachos (9 points)

23. Name a classic movie monster.

Dracula (48 points)
Frankenstein's monster (36 points)
The Wolfman (24 points)
The Mummy (18 points)
Godzilla (12 points)

24. Name a common kitchen appliance.

Refrigerator (39 points)
Oven (31 points)
Microwave (25 points)
Blender (20 points)
Toaster (11 points)

25. Name a famous rock 'n' roll band.

AC/DC (41 points)
The Rolling Stones (34 points)
Led Zeppelin (23 points)
Queen (18 points)
The Beatles (13 points)

26. Name a classic TV game show.

Wheel of Fortune (42 points)
Jeopardy! (36 points)
The Price Is Right (28 points)
Family Feud (19 points)
Let's Make a Deal (11 points)

27. Name a type of dance.

Waltz (38 points)
Twist (31 points)
Foxtrot (24 points)
Jitterbug (17 points)
Cha-Cha (12 points)

28. Name a famous children's book.

Green Eggs and Ham (41 points)
Charlotte's Web (33 points)
The Cat in the Hat (26 points)
Goodnight Moon (18 points)
Where the Wild Things Are (13 points)

29. Name something you'd find in a toolbox.

Hammer (46 points)
Screwdriver (38 points)
Wrench (27 points)
Pliers (19 points)
Tape measure (11 points)

30. Name a famous comedian.

Bob Hope (39 points)
Lucille Ball (32 points)
Red Skelton (24 points)
George Burns (18 points)
Carol Burnett (14 points)

Senior Trivia: Classic Movies and TV Shows

Test your knowledge of the golden age of Hollywood and beloved TV shows from the 1950s through the 1980s. These questions are perfect for seniors who love reminiscing about the entertainment that defined their generation.

1. What 1939 film features the line "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"? Answer: The Wizard of Oz

2. Who played the title character in the TV series Columbo? Answer: Peter Falk

3. In I Love Lucy, what was the name of Lucy's husband? Answer: Ricky Ricardo (played by Desi Arnaz)

4. What 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart ends with the line "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"? Answer: Casablanca

5. What TV show featured a family living at 1313 Mockingbird Lane? Answer: The Munsters

6. Who directed the 1960 horror classic Psycho? Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

7. What was the name of the spaceship on the original Star Trek TV series? Answer: USS Enterprise

8. In The Andy Griffith Show, what was the name of the town? Answer: Mayberry

9. What 1961 film starred Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly? Answer: Breakfast at Tiffany's

10. Who played Archie Bunker on All in the Family? Answer: Carroll O'Connor

11. What classic TV show opened with the line "Space: the final frontier"? Answer: Star Trek

12. In The Honeymooners, what was Ralph Kramden's job? Answer: Bus driver

13. What TV show featured a group of castaways stranded on a deserted island? Answer: Gilligan's Island

14. Who played the Scarecrow in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz? Answer: Ray Bolger

15. What was the name of the bar in the TV show Cheers? Answer: Cheers (officially "Cheers — where everybody knows your name")

16. In the 1954 film Rear Window, who starred alongside Grace Kelly? Answer: Jimmy Stewart

Senior Trivia: Oldies Music and Classic Hits

How well do you remember the songs that topped the charts? From Elvis to The Beatles to Motown, this round covers the music that defined an era.

1. Who was known as "The King of Rock and Roll"? Answer: Elvis Presley

2. What Motown group sang "My Girl" in 1964? Answer: The Temptations

3. What was The Beatles' first number-one hit in the United States? Answer: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1964)

4. Who sang "Respect" and became known as the "Queen of Soul"? Answer: Aretha Franklin

5. What husband-and-wife duo hosted a popular 1970s variety show and sang "I Got You Babe"? Answer: Sonny and Cher

6. What 1950s singer recorded "Johnny B. Goode"? Answer: Chuck Berry

7. Which band recorded "Hotel California" in 1977? Answer: The Eagles

8. Who sang "What a Wonderful World" in 1967? Answer: Louis Armstrong

9. What girl group sang "Stop! In the Name of Love"? Answer: The Supremes

10. Who was the lead singer of The Doors? Answer: Jim Morrison

11. What song by Bobby Darin begins with "Somewhere beyond the sea"? Answer: "Beyond the Sea"

12. What instrument was Louis Armstrong famous for playing? Answer: Trumpet

13. Who recorded the 1957 hit "Great Balls of Fire"? Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

14. What 1961 hit by Del Shannon was the first song to feature an electronic keyboard sound? Answer: "Runaway"

15. Which singer was known as "The Man in Black"? Answer: Johnny Cash

16. What 1960s folk trio sang "Puff, the Magic Dragon"? Answer: Peter, Paul and Mary

Senior Trivia: Historical Events from the 1950s to 1980s

Take a trip down memory lane with these questions about the events that shaped the world during your lifetime.

1. In what year did Neil Armstrong walk on the moon? Answer: 1969

2. What wall divided East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989? Answer: The Berlin Wall

3. Who gave the famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963? Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.

4. What was the name of the first satellite launched into space in 1957? Answer: Sputnik (launched by the Soviet Union)

5. Which U.S. president resigned from office in 1974? Answer: Richard Nixon

6. What major music festival took place in upstate New York in August 1969? Answer: Woodstock

7. What year did the Vietnam War officially end? Answer: 1975

8. Who was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981? Answer: Sandra Day O'Connor

9. What disaster struck the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania in 1979? Answer: A partial nuclear meltdown

10. What year did Elvis Presley pass away? Answer: 1977

11. Who became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962? Answer: John Glenn

12. What famous speech included the words "Ask not what your country can do for you"? Answer: John F. Kennedy's inaugural address (1961)

13. What 1955 event in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked a major civil rights boycott? Answer: Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott

14. What was the name of the U.S. space program that put the first Americans on the moon? Answer: The Apollo program (Apollo 11 specifically for the first landing)

15. In what year did the Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time? Answer: 1964

16. What country hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics where a tragic hostage crisis occurred? Answer: West Germany (Munich)

Funny Trivia for Seniors

Ready for some laughs? This round of funny trivia for seniors features lighthearted, surprising, and downright silly questions that are guaranteed to get everyone chuckling. These are perfect for breaking the ice or lightening the mood during your trivia night.

1. What was the name of the first TV remote control, invented in 1955? Answer: The "Lazy Bones" (made by Zenith)

2. What is a group of flamingos called? Answer: A flamboyance

3. What flavor is the white Gummy Bear? Answer: Pineapple

4. In what year were sliced bread first sold, making everything else "the best thing since"? Answer: 1928

5. How many years did it take to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Answer: About 200 years (1173-1372)

6. What animal can sleep for up to three years? Answer: A snail

7. What is the fear of long words called? Answer: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (yes, really!)

8. What was the original color of Coca-Cola? Answer: Green

9. How many dimples does an average golf ball have? Answer: 336

10. What is the only food that never expires? Answer: Honey

11. What were the first ice cream cones made of at the 1904 World's Fair? Answer: Rolled-up waffles (when an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes, a nearby waffle vendor helped out)

12. What animal's fingerprints are nearly identical to human fingerprints? Answer: A koala

13. In 1932, Australia lost a "war" against what animal? Answer: Emus (The Great Emu War)

14. What is the dot over the letter "i" or "j" called? Answer: A tittle

15. What was bubble wrap originally invented to be? Answer: Textured wallpaper

16. How long is the memory of a goldfish, despite the popular myth? Answer: At least several months (not 3 seconds!)

17. What country has a unicorn as its national animal? Answer: Scotland

18. What household item did the average American use about 100 rolls of per year? Answer: Toilet paper

19. What did people use before toilet paper was invented in the 1800s? Answer: Corn cobs, leaves, and even seashells (makes you appreciate modern conveniences!)

20. What was the first toy to be advertised on television? Answer: Mr. Potato Head (in 1952)

21. Why were Graham crackers originally invented? Answer: To curb "unhealthy urges" — Reverend Sylvester Graham believed bland food would calm the passions

22. What popular board game was originally rejected by major toy companies before selling millions? Answer: Monopoly — Parker Brothers initially turned it down, calling it "52 fundamental errors"

23. What is the longest word you can type using only the top row of a keyboard? Answer: "Typewriter"

24. In the 1960s, what did the Swedish national TV network convince viewers to do to see color TV? Answer: Put a nylon stocking over the screen (a famous April Fools' prank in 1962)

Tips for Hosting Senior Trivia Night

Want to make your senior trivia event a hit? Here are some practical tips for caregivers, activity coordinators, and anyone planning trivia for a group of older adults.

Use larger print. Print question cards and answer sheets in at least 16-point font. If you're displaying questions on a screen, make sure the text is large enough for everyone to read from the back of the room.

Keep a relaxed pace. Give plenty of time for each question — at least 30 seconds for standard questions and up to a minute for tougher ones. There's no need to rush. The goal is fun, not stress.

Play in teams. Team trivia is often more enjoyable than individual play for seniors. Groups of 3-4 work well. It encourages conversation, takes the pressure off any single person, and makes the event more social.

Mix difficulty levels. Start with easier questions to build confidence, then gradually introduce more challenging ones. Ending on a fun, easy round keeps the energy positive.

Include multiple choice options. For some questions, offering 3-4 answer choices makes the game more accessible and keeps everyone engaged, even if they're not sure of the exact answer.

Choose familiar categories. Classic movies, music from the 1950s-70s, historical events, food, and geography tend to be crowd favorites. Avoid topics that might feel too modern or niche.

Celebrate everyone. Give small prizes for participation, not just winning. Candy, bookmarks, or funny certificates keep the mood light and inclusive.

Use Quizado to make it easy. With Quizado, you can create custom trivia games tailored to your group in minutes. Choose from game show formats like Family Feud, Jeopardy, or classic trivia — and display questions on any screen. It takes the hassle out of organizing and lets you focus on having fun.

Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Trivia

What are good trivia topics for seniors? The best trivia topics for seniors include classic movies and TV shows, oldies music, historical events from the 1950s-80s, geography, food and cooking, sports, and general knowledge. Choosing topics that connect to shared memories makes the experience more engaging and enjoyable.

How many questions should a senior trivia game have? A good senior trivia session typically includes 20-30 questions, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. You can always adjust based on your group's energy level. Shorter rounds with breaks in between work well for longer events.

Is trivia good for seniors' mental health? Yes! Trivia games help keep the mind active by exercising memory, recall, and problem-solving skills. They also provide social interaction, which is important for emotional well-being. Many senior centers and assisted living facilities use trivia as a regular cognitive activity.

How do I make trivia accessible for seniors with hearing or vision challenges? Use large-print question cards, speak clearly and slowly, and consider using a microphone in larger rooms. Displaying questions on a big screen helps those with hearing difficulties follow along visually.

Can I create custom trivia games for my senior group? Absolutely! Quizado lets you create personalized trivia games with your own questions. You can tailor categories and difficulty levels to your specific group, making sure everyone has a great time.

What is funny trivia for seniors? Funny trivia for seniors is a category of lighthearted, surprising trivia questions designed to make older adults laugh while still exercising their brains. These questions often feature quirky historical facts, silly word origins, and unexpected truths about everyday things — all drawn from eras that seniors know and love.

How do I keep senior trivia from feeling condescending? The key is to include a range of difficulty levels and let participants choose their comfort zone. Avoid overly simple questions or childish themes. Focus on topics seniors are genuinely knowledgeable about — classic entertainment, history, and life experience — and treat every answer with enthusiasm and respect.

Senior Trivia: Summary

We hope this updated collection of over 150 senior trivia questions has given you plenty of inspiration for your next game night. From classic movies and oldies music to historical events and funny trivia for seniors, there's something here for every group and every occasion.

Looking for even more questions? Browse our massive collection of trivia with answers covering general knowledge for every occasion, or explore our complete guide to trivia games for groups, parties, and bars.

Ready to take your senior trivia to the next level? Try Quizado to create custom trivia games in minutes — perfect for senior centers, assisted living activities, family gatherings, and more.

Don't forget to check out our other trivia questions and answers for different categories: