This True or False Quiz for the Elderly is packed with surprising statements, familiar memories, and those fun “wait… is that really true?” moments that make you stop and think. Some questions feel obvious; others catch you off guard - and that mix is exactly what makes true or false games so engaging.
Answer:
False. While freeze-dried ice cream is well known, astronauts didn't actually snack on it during their lunar missions.
The full quiz bundle includes 60 brand-new questions drawn from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, covering everyday life, pop culture, major events, scandals and unexpected facts from those decades. Some questions spark instant answers, while others invite a second look, making each round a little different.
These true or false quizzes encourage recall, reasoning, and problem solving as you decide whether each statement holds up. Along the way, familiar topics often bring back memories and spark conversation... especially when a question surprises you.
Ready? These questions cover a range of topics like geography, animals, music, history, and more. Here's how to turn them into an exciting game of true or false.
How to Play
Read each statement and decide whether it’s true or false... that’s it. You can trust your first instinct or take a moment to think it through.
If you’re playing with others, read the statements out loud and compare answers before revealing the truth. You can keep score if you like, or skip scoring altogether and just enjoy the discussion.
There’s no right pace here. Play a few questions, take a break, or keep going while you’re having fun.
Click on the arrow to reveal the answer.
1. The total length of the Great Wall of China adds up to 13,171 miles. True or False?
Answer: True! That's right, it's nearly half the length of the equator!
2. An ant can lift 1,000 times its body weight. True or False?
Answer: False! Believe it or not, ants can actually lift 5,000 times their body weight! They can carry objects up to 1,000 times their weight with little difficulty. Imagine an 80 kg person lifting a fully loaded Boeing 737 - that's equivalent to what these tiny insects can do!
3. Mozart composed more than 800 works during his lifetime. True or False?
Answer: True! Amazing, isn't it?
4. A dog pants its tongue because it’s sweating. True or False?
Answer: False - dogs sweat through their paws. Fun facts - dogs do not sweat through their tongue, but they pant to regulate their body temperature through evaporative cooling from the tongue. Dogs cannot sweat through their skin.
5 Mt. Everest is located in Nepal. True or False?
Answer: True! It's the highest peak on Earth.
6. The sun is closer to the Earth than the moon. True or False?
Answer: False! The moon is much closer.
7. Dogs have fewer teeth than humans. True or False?
Answer: False! Dogs actually have 42 teeth, but human adults have 32 teeth.
8. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure until the completion of the Empire State building. True or False?
Answer: True! The Eiffel Tower reigned as the tallest for 41 years.
9. Galapagos tortoises sleep up to 16 hours a day. True or False?
Answer: True - and they can go a year without food or water, so they have lots of time for extra sleep.
10. Octopuses have three hearts. True or False?
Answer: True! They really do have three hearts. One heart circulates blood around the body and the other two pump blood past the gills and pick up oxygen.
11. A human can hear a bat's call. True or False?
Answer: False! The majority of bat sounds are ultrasonic, meaning they exist at frequencies higher than what humans can hear.
12. There are 364 days in a leap year. True or False?
Answer: False! Leap years actually have 366 days.
13. The first Olympic Games were held in Rome. True or False?
Answer: False! They were first held in ancient Greece. Historical records indicate that they began in 776 BC in Olympia.
14. The first president of the United States was George Washington. True or False?
Answer: True! He served as the president from 1789 to 1797.
15. The human body has over 1000 bones. True or False?
Answer: False! The adult human body has 206 bones.
16. Snails can sleep for three years. True or False?
Answer: False. Snails cannot sleep for three years straight.
17. The Earth rotates around the Sun in 365 days. True or False?
Answer: True! The earth’s revolution around the Sun takes approximately 365.25 days, resulting in a solar year.
18. Vanilla flavoring comes from the orchid plant. True or False?
Answer: True! It comes from the seed pods of the vanilla orchid.
19. The largest desert in the world is the Sahara. True or False?
Answer: False! The Antarctic desert is actually the largest. But at 3.6 million square miles, the Sahara absolutely is the biggest hot desert in the world.
20. Squirrels plant thousands of new trees each year by forgetting where they put their acorns. True or False?
Answer: True! They are nature's gardeners - the forgotten nuts and acorns can grow into trees, contributing to the growth and regeneration of forests.
21. The capital of Australia is Sydney. True or False?
Answer: False! The capital of Australia is Canberra.
22. The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. True or False?
Answer: True! The subject, Lisa Gherardini, does not have visible eyebrows. It was the fashion in 16th century Florence, Italy to shave them off!
23. Beethoven was completely deaf when he composed his famous 9th Symphony. True or False?
Answer: True! He was completely deaf.
24. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying. True or False?
Answer: False, it doesn’t work.
25. Sloths take two weeks to digest food. True or False?
Answer: True – in fact, they have the slowest digestion of any mammal. On average, it takes a sloth about one month to fully digest a single meal.
26. France is responsible for giving us French fries. True or False?
Answer: False – Despite their name, Belgium actually introduced French fries.
27. Grilled cheese is the most popular sandwich in the United States. True or False?
Answer: True – Grilled cheese was closely followed by grilled chicken and turkey sandwiches, which tied for second place with a 75% likability score. Yes, surveys have been done by YouGov.com!
28. Ketchup was once used as a medicine. True or False?
Answer: True! In the mid-1800s. But it wasn’t the tomato-based ketchup we know and love today; it was made from mushrooms. Dr. John Cook Bennett, an American physician, invented a recipe and claimed that his tomato ketchup could cure ailments like diarrhea, indigestion, and jaundice.
29. Mushrooms are the most popular pizza topping in the U.S. True or False?
Answer: False – it’s pepperoni.
30. Apples and pears are a part of the rose family. True or False?
Answer: True – so are plums and peaches.
The true or false questions above are designed for online play, with answers revealed as you go so you can jump right in.
If you’d prefer a print-and-play option, the True or False Quiz for the Elderly games below are created specifically for offline use.
The full bundle includes 60 additional true or false questions from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, giving you plenty of variety whenever you feel like another round.
Each game comes as a clean, easy-to-read PDF with clear formatting and large text. Print the pages, take turns reading the questions, and enjoy the game at your own pace — no timers, no setup, just play.
If you’re leading this True or False Quiz for the Elderly for a group or one-on-one, a few small tweaks can turn a simple quiz into a joyful, memory-sparking experience. I’ve used these tips myself, and they make a big difference.
Set a relaxed pace
I like to read each statement slowly and clearly, then pause. That extra beat gives you time to think, smile, and sometimes even change your mind - which is half the fun.
Encourage conversation, not just answers
When you answer true or false, I always invite a quick “why do you think so?” This often opens the door to stories, laughter, and unexpected memories. There’s no rush to move on.
Normalize “I don’t know”
Remind everyone upfront that skipping a question is perfectly fine. This keeps the mood light and removes pressure, especially in group settings.
Use visual or verbal cues
If you’re facilitating for a group, I suggest using hand signals, colored cards, or simply calling out answers. It keeps everyone involved, even if writing isn’t ideal.
Celebrate participation over points
Scoring is optional. Some of the best sessions I’ve seen ditch points entirely and focus on shared enjoyment. If you do keep score, keep it playful, never competitive.
Adapt for energy levels
You don’t have to finish every question in one sitting. Breaking the quiz into short rounds works beautifully for attention and keeps the experience fresh.
When you use this quiz as a facilitator, you’re not just asking questions - you’re creating moments of connection. And honestly, that’s where this game really shines.
More True or False Quizzes You Might Enjoy
If you enjoy this style of game, you might also like these:
Spice Up Your True or False Game Night
Ready to take your true or false game to the next level? Let's explore some creative scoring options to up the competition and add excitement to your game nights.
While the scoring system in the true or false quiz for the elderly game above is straightforward, there's room to mix things up. The format awards one point for each correct answer, but let's explore two other ways to make it even more engaging:
1. Weighted Scoring
One option is to use a weighted scoring system with different point values based on the difficulty of the questions. For example, you could award:
This adds an extra layer of strategy as players decide which questions are worth really focusing on versus taking an educated guess.
2. Negative Scoring
Another fun twist is to assign negative points for incorrect answers! This puts players at risk of losing points, so they have to weigh the benefit of guessing versus passing on a stumper. Here's a common approach:
Negative scoring can add a thrilling element of risk, encouraging players to think carefully before answering.
Of course, if you're in the mood for a more relaxed experience, you can always keep it simple with one point per correct answer. No matter how you score it, the foundation of the game stays the same: distinguishing true from false. May the best (and most knowledgeable) player win!
Ready to ace this True or False Quiz? Follow these tips for a winning game:
Check out the True or False Quiz for the Elderly bundle - 3 games for the price of 2! Prefer taking it one game at a time? Click here to see the individual games in the shop.
This bundle offers a fun way to exercise your brain while reminiscing about iconic decades past. Put your knowledge to the test with trivia spanning 30 years of history!
If you’re looking for a ready-to-use printable game that works beautifully for solo play, families, or group activities, this bundle makes it easy. You get 60 thoughtfully written questions across three decades - ready to download and play right away.