Grandparents always ask their grandchildren the same questions, so why don’t their grandchildren have a quiz of their own for Grandma and Grandpa? After telling them how school is, your favorite subjects and the names of your best friends, you should have a chance to quiz them back. If grandparents were offered a choice of answers, everyone would have more fun, especially the grandchildren, who will find out what sort of granddad he or she has.  Here are a few tactful questions for a trial quiz.

Grandparent’s possible answers (choose one and say whose it is)

1. My school was the best one on the east coast. I was valedictorian of kindergarten.
2. My father only drove me if the snow hadn’t been cleared away. It was only about half a mile or so.   
   

1. I guess I’d say my favorite subject was sports.
2. American history was always fascinating, but I liked English too.
   

1. My best friend was the Shah of Iran; a great person. I just called him Shah.
2. Really all the neighborhood kids but the best friend lived next door to us. He’s Italian and we traded languages.

Although anyone from middle school to college can think of his or her own questions for unique grandparents, here are a few to give grandchildren more scope. The game works for grandmothers too.

What was your granddad’s happiest day? Why did he go to boarding school? If he did go to boarding school, what did he enjoy most? Least? What extra-curricular activities did he choose?

Did he decide his college major in high school?  What inspired him? If not, when did he make up his mind?

And here are a few possible answers. Your granddad or grandma only needs to pick one out of two. It really isn’t multiple choice, just selection, but it could tell you a lot about yourself.

1. My happiest day was when I graduated summa cum laude from Harvard law school and was invited to be an associate professor of constitutional law.
2. My happiest day should be obvious. No idea why you had to ask me that. Silly Sally.
   

1. I went to Exeter because I was offered a full scholarship and it’s famous for its history department. Least? Maybe lunch on Tuesdays.
2. I didn’t go to boarding school because there were no girls there then. Girls prefer guys in uniform. That’s why I chose a military academy. Also, we didn’t waste time reading old books.
   

1. My extra-curricular activity was being a four-star athlete.
2. At Exeter I remember taking turkeys around town for Thanksgiving and tutoring foster kids.

1. I didn’t decide my major until college. I knew I wouldn’t be a French professor or an economist. I was pre-law by 1968, inspired by that series of tragic current events.
2. I always knew what I wanted. I didn’t need inspiration from teachers or anyone.
   

1. I guess what I enjoyed most was our great parades. I may also have been interested in math, though I don’t remember much of it.
2. I liked just about everything, but especially English and languages. I had no idea how valuable that would become.

Just remember not to ask about anything too personal, like family secrets or love letters. You’ll eventually find all that out.