Seniors Social - Dec 30th

Movies & Music

100

Which singer had the nickname “Ol’ Blue Eyes”?

a) Tony Bennett

b) Frank Sinatra 

c) Dean Martin 

d) Bobby Darin 

b) Frank Sinatra 

200

"Unchained Melody” became hugely popular again after being featured in the 1990 film Ghost. Which group originally recorded the 1965 hit version of the song?

a) The Everly Brothers

b) The Platters

c) The Righteous Brothers

d) The Temptations 

c) The Righteous Brothers - This powerful and emotional recording became iconic, especially after being used in the pottery scene in Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

300

In the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, what is the name of the popular TV game show that the young protagonist, Jamal Malik, appears on, leading to him being suspected of cheating because of his seemingly impossible knowledge?

a) Kaun Banega Crorepati (Who Will Become a Millionaire) 

b) Bigg Boss (Big Brother)

c) Indian Idol 

d) MasterChef India 

a) Kaun Banega Crorepati - This is the Hindi title for the Indian version of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and the film's plot is structured around how Jamal knows the answers to each question from his difficult life experiences.

 

400

The entire plot of the film Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India revolves around a desperate wager between the drought-stricken villagers of Champaner and their British colonial rulers. What sport did the villagers have to learn and play to win a 3yr exemption from the crippling land tax (Lagaan)?

a) Cricket 

b) Polo

c) Field Hockey 

d) Soccer 

a) Cricket - Captain Andrew Russell challenges the villagers to a game of cricket, a sport entirely alien to them, with the fate of their taxes resting on the outcome of the three-day match. Winning the game against the British officers was the only way to avoid the triple tax they would face if they lost.

500

Which legendary actor and dancer starred as Don Lockwood in the 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain, and famously performed the iconic title number while splashing and dancing through a sudden downpour?

a) Fred Astaire

b) Gene Kelly 

c) Donald O'Connor 

d) Frank Sinatra 

b) Gene Kelly - He both starred in and co-directed the film, which is now considered one of the greatest movie musicals ever made.

600

Who was the first woman of color to win the Oscar for Best Actress?

a) Whitney Houston

b) Tina Turner 

c) Halle Berry 

d) Angela Bassett

c) Halle Berry - Halle Berry won for Monster’s Ball (2002). She remains the only Black woman to win Best Actress, a significant moment in film history. 

Math & Science

100

Which organ in the body is primarily responsible for filtering toxins from the blood?

a) Colon 

b) Kidneys 

c) Lungs

d) Pancreas 

b) Kidneys - The kidneys filter waste from the blood and regulate fluid and mineral balance, playing a crucial role in overall health. 

200

Which planet is known as the “Morning Star” or “Evening Star” because it’s often the brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon?

a) Mars

b) Jupiter 

c) Venus 

d) Mercury 

c) Venus - Venus reflects sunlight extremely well, making it shine brightly at dawn and dusk. 

300

This number sequence appears in sunflowers, pinecones, and seashells.

a) Prime Numbers

b) Fibonacci Sequence 

c) Even Numbers

d) Pythagorean Triples 

b) Fibonacci Sequence  -Each number is the sum of the previous two: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8…  

400

This ancient civilization was the first to use the concept of zero as a number in mathematics.

a) Greek

b) Egyptian

c) Mayan

d) Roman

C) Mayan - The Maya developed the zero symbol centuries before it appeared in Europe.  

500

This element is the most abundant metal in Earth’s crust.

a) Iron

b) Aluminum

c) Copper

d) Magnesium

b) Aluminum -  Although iron is common deep inside Earth, aluminum is the most plentiful metal in the crust.  

600

This planet rotates in the opposite direction from most planets in our solar system, meaning the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.

a) Mars

b) Neptune

c) Venus

d) Saturn

c) Venus- Venus spins backwards (retrograde rotation), making its day longer than its year.  

Around the World

100

Which country is home to the ancient city of Petra, a famous archaeological site carved into rose-colored stone cliffs? The site was featured as the Holy Grail temple in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 

a) Egypt

b) Jordan 

c) Greece

d) Turkey 

b) Jordan - Petra, located in modern-day Jordan, was once the thriving capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. It's renowned for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. 

200

This iconic French landmark, completed in 1889 for the World's Fair, is often referred to as the "Iron Lady."

a) Nortre-Dame Cathedral 

b) Eiffel Tower

c) Louvre Museum 

d) Arc de Triomphe

b) The Eiffel Tower - designed by Gustave Eiffel, was initially met with criticism but has since become one of the most recognizable structures in the world. 

300

Which island nation is famous for its tea production, particularly known for the Ceylon variety?

a) Sri Lanka 

b) Taiwan 

c) Japan

d) India 

a) Sri Lanka - once known as Ceylon, is a major producer of high-quality tea, especially the distinctive Ceylon tea enjoyed worldwide

400

Which African country is known as the "Pearl of Africa" due to its breathtaking natural beauty and rich biodiversity?

a) Kenya

b) Uganda

c) South Africa

d) Nigeria 

b) Uganda - Winston Churchill referred to Uganda as the "Pearl of Africa" because of its lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and varied ecosystems. 

500

The ancient city of Angkor, featuring the world’s largest religious monument, Angkor Wat, is located in this Southeast Asian country.

a) Thailand 

b) Cambodia

c) Vietnam 

d) Laos 

b) Cambodia - Originally a Hindu temple complex, Angkor Wat later became a Buddhist site and is a national symbol of Cambodia. 

600

Often called the “Crossroads of Europe and Asia,” this city sits on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, separating two continents.

a) Athens

b) Rome 

c) Istanbul 

d) Budapest 

c) Istanbul, Turkey - is the only city in the world that spans two continents, Europe and Asia, making it historically vital for trade and culture. 

World Food, Cooking & Culinary Traditions

100

Which cheese, traditionally made from sheep’s milk, is a key ingredient in Greek dishes such as spanakopita and Greek salad?

a) Halloumi 

b) Ricotta 

c) Feta 

d) Cottage Cheese

c) Feta is brined, crumbly, and tangy. Authentic Greek feta is protected by designation and must be made primarily from sheep’s milk.

200

What Latin American staple food is made from masa dough and has been eaten for thousands of years?

a) Arepa

b) Tortilla 

c) Tamale  

d) Empanada

b) Tortilla - Corn tortillas date back to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations and remain central to Mexican and Central American cuisine.

300

This method of preserving food uses salt to draw out moisture and prevent bacterial growth.

a) Fermentation 

b) Pickling 

c) Smoking

d) Curing 

d) Curing - has been used for centuries to preserve meats like ham and bacon, long before refrigeration was available.

400

Which herb is traditionally paired with tomatoes, mozzarella, and olive oil in Italian cuisine?

a) Oregano 

b) Parsley 

c) Basil  

d) Thyme  

c) Basil -  Basil’s sweet, slightly peppery flavor complements tomatoes perfectly and is a signature herb in Italian cooking. 

500

This hearty Scottish dish traditionally combines sheep’s organ meats with oats, onions, and spices.

a) Black pudding 

b) Cullen skink 

c) Shepherd's pie 

d) Haggis 

d) Haggis - is often served with “neeps and tatties” (turnips and potatoes) and is closely associated with Scotland’s national identity. 

600

This Mediterranean grain, often mistaken for a type of rice, is actually a form of wheat and is a staple in dishes like tabbouleh.

a) Couscous

b) Farro 

c) Bulgar

d) Quinoa

c) Bulgur - is cracked wheat that’s been parboiled, making it quick to cook. It’s commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine, especially tabbouleh and pilafs. 

Potpourri (Fun Mix)

100

This household invention, introduced in 1945, became famous for its ability to seal leftovers fresh with a simple press

a) Aluminum foil  

b) Wax Paper 

c) Tupperware 

d) Plastic wrap  

c) Tupperware - parties became a social phenomenon in the 1950s, especially empowering women through home-based businesses. 

200

This board game, first sold in 1935, was inspired by real-life economic struggles during the Great Depression

a) Scrabble

b) Clue

c) Monopoly 

d) Risk 

c) Monopoly - Monopoly was designed to teach lessons about money, property, and economic inequality. 

300

This TV show, which debuted in 1951, featured contestants answering questions for prizes and is still running today.

a) Jeopardy!

b) The Price Is Right 

c) Wheel of Fortune 

d) Hollywood Squares 

b) The Price Is Right - It’s one of the longest-running game shows in television history and a daytime TV favorite. 

400

This common phrase comes from an early telephone system where callers had to wait for an operator to connect the call.

a) "Hang up and try your call again"

b) "Wrong Number"

c) "Can you hear me?"

d) "Hold the line"

d) “Hold the line” - Telephone operators manually connected calls, asking callers to stay on the line during the process.

500

Which toy, first released in the late 1970s, allowed kids and teens to design colorful spiral patterns?

a) Etch a Sketch 

b) Rubik's Cube 

c) Lite-Brite 

d) Spirograph 

b) Spirograph - combined art and math, becoming popular again in the 1970s after its original 1960s release. 

600

The spice “allspice” comes from which single plant rather than a blend of spices?

a) Cinnamon Tree

b) Pimenta tree

c) Nutmeg tree

d) Clove bush

b) Pimenta Tree - Allspice is harvested from the dried berries of the pimenta tree, giving flavors reminiscent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.