Can You Pass This General Knowledge Quiz From 1999?

By: Ashley Ehman
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Pass This General Knowledge Quiz From 1999?
Image: Psivewri via YouTube

About This Quiz

The year of 1999 was filled with tragedy. John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and his sister were lost at sea after their aircraft disappeared off the coast of Massachusetts. Columbine High School became one of the most notable school shootings in the United States. Kosovo was torn apart by war, while Turkey was rattled with an earthquake that killed more than 15,000 people. Despite all the bad things that happened in the 365 days of 1999, there are also a number of good things that came from the turn of the century. 

Technology was one of the things that saw a lot of monumental changes. With the production of Nokia cellphones, handheld devices were becoming more popular than ever. Computers were getting smaller and becoming more accessible to the general public. Floppy disks were a common sight to see, and many people met the familiar drone of dial-up internet on a daily basis. With the bad came the good, and 1999 was no exception. 

If the thought of pixelated phone games and "The Nanny" bring on feelings of intense nostalgia, then this is the quiz for you. Let's see just how much you can recall about the year before the 2000s took over!

Floppy Disk
Afrank99 via WikiCommons
Which form of digital storage started at an 8-inch size and gradually became smaller over time?
External hard drive
USB flash drive
Optical discs
Floppy disk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Floppy disks were used much like the external hard drives used today. They could provide a user with a means to back up their computer, as well as transfer data from one location to another.

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Nokia 3310
J-P Kärnä via WikiCommons
Released to the public in 1999, which cellphone is said to be the most popular of all time?
Nokia 3310
Motorola Timeport
Ericsson R290
Siemens C25
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to their supreme ability to handle falls and excessive wear, the Nokia 3310 was one of the first of its kind to attract a younger market. With the color-changing covers, mobile game and early picture messaging options, it was a top choice among teens and young adults.

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Snake on phone
unlokia via WikiCommons
If someone asked to play a game on your phone in 1999, they would end up playing which game?
Tic-Tac-Toe
Hangman
Snake
Solitaire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

First released in 1997, "Snake" was a popular pre-installed game on most Nokia brand mobile devices. As it stands, it is estimated that the game has been installed on over 350 million devices around the world.

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Home Improvement Tim Allen
ABC
This popular television show often showed two neighbors talking over a fence. Which show was it?
"7th Heaven"
"All That"
"Home Improvement"
"Angel"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The popular sitcom, "Home Improvement," was on-air for almost 8 years between 1991 and 1999. Starring Tim Allen, the show is said to have been the launching pad for Pamela Anderson's "acting" career.

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Videotape
MichiK via WikiCommons
When renting a movie from a local video rental establishment, the tapes would have a sticker on them that said "Be kind, ____." What word was found in the blank?
Return on time
Rewind
I'm fragile
Look inside
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the creation of Netflix and other video-streaming services, movies were watched on VHS tapes. Some of the movies released on VHS in 1999 include "Antz", "101 Dalmatians" and "Mighty Joe Young."

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Overhead Projector
Bomas13 via WikiCommons
If you were a student in 1999, you likely copied notes that were shown on what device?
Digital projector
Smartboard
Overhead projector
Chalkboard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Overhead projectors enabled educators and presenters to write and draw things at a normal size and then project it up onto a screen that made things appear bigger. Towards the '90s, these were made so they could be attached to a computer output.

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CDs
Dietmar Rabich via WikiCommons
In lieu of making each other Spotify playlists, how would people in 1999 share music with one another?
Record over music tapes
Burn CDs
Download MP3s and email them
Swap vinyl records
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Burning CDs became possible with the creation of the CD-RW, which stands for Compact Disc-ReWritable. Anyone with a modern enough computer was able to load their favorite songs on the disk and then take it anywhere.

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1990s laptop
Howard Grey / Photodisc / Getty Images
Which internet service provider had greater than 18 million subscribers in 1999?
Telenet
CompuServe
Prodigy
AOL
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At one point, AOL was a large contender in the internet servicing business. Nowadays, people are still able to get their internet service through AOL, with more than 2 million rural subscribers using it for dial-up service.

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Modem
Frunze103 via WikiCommons
What noisy technology allowed users to connect to the Internet?
Internet routers
Dial-up modems
Bluetooth devices
Landline telephones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dial-up modems used to be a common way to connect to the Internet. They worked by dialing a phone number that belonged to an Internet Service Provider, which would then connect the device.

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Friends Ross
NBC
"The One After Vegas", released on September 23, 1999, was an episode in Season 6 of what series?
"The West Wing"
"The Sopranos"
"Futurama"
"Friends"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The popular series, "Friends," was on the air until 2004 and ran for an astounding 10 seasons. When it finished, there had been a total of 236 episodes in the series, and it's still a staple to American television today.

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Encarta Encyclopedia
Microsoft
Before the days of Wikipedia, what was a popular way to research a variety of topics?
Mail-order encyclopedias
Encarta encyclopedias
Google
Ask Jeeves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Encarta encyclopedias were created by the Microsoft Corporation. They began as a CD-ROM that was pre-populated with digital encyclopedias that could be viewed on any computer they were loaded onto.

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Sony Walkman
hdboy88 via WikiCommons
How did people listen to their music on-the-go in 1999?
8-Track player
Sony Walkman
Generation I iPod
Zune
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sony Walkmans were the go-to device to listen to portable music. By the end of 1999, there had been over 186 million of the devices sold. Production stopped on the devices in 2010, as they grew obsolete with the changing music formats of the 21st century.

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Mapquest
AOL / Verizon Media
The most common way to get turn-by-turn directions in this year involved the use of what?
Printing directions from MapQuest
Having an in-car GPS
Using your mobile device
Google Maps
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

MapQuest was first introduced to the public in 1996, making it the first commercial online mapping service of its kind. It was bought by AOL in 2000 and then sold to Verizon Media, its current owner, in 2016.

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The Matrix
Warner Bros. / Village Roadshow Pictures / Groucho II Film Partnership / Silver Pictures
Keanu Reeves was the lead in what popular 1999 movie?
"Fight Club"
"Being John Malkovich"
"The Sixth Sense"
"The Matrix"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Released on March 31st, 1999, "The Matrix" hit the screens and captured the attention of many. The iconic movie went on to win four Oscars, including Best Film Editing and Best Sound.

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Disposable Camera
free photos via WikiCommons
A common item to find on the tables at a wedding reception in 1999 was what?
A bouquet of dahlias
A CD player
A pager
A disposable camera
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the advent of digital cameras, disposable cameras were a quick and convenient way for people to capture memories without the price of an expensive device. They were common at weddings to encourage guests to take pictures of their own.

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Boombox
Jared and Corin via WikiCommons
If you were hosting a party at the park, what would be the best choice for loud music?
A car stereo
A boombox
Dolby Surround Sound system
Bluetooth speaker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Boomboxes were a popular choice for events that required loud music. The bulky music players were able to play cassette tapes, CDs and be used to tune into AM and FM radio stations.

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Dell Computer
Carlosar via WikiCommons
What was the biggest fear surrounding Y2K?
Cars would stop running.
Computers would stop working.
Stock markets would collapse.
Hospitals would lose power.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also known as the Year 2000 Problem and the Millennium Bug, Y2K was an occurrence at the beginning of the 21st century that caused computers to not recognize the difference between 2000 and 1900. It ended up being much ado about nothing, as programming fixes were installed far ahead of time.

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Yellow Pages
Yell
Which company began in 1999 and helped people find information about local businesses?
City Pages
DexKnows
Yellow Pages
Hibu
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prior to search engines, people used to use phone books to find the contact information for local businesses. Yellow Pages began in 1999 and is still functioning, but it is getting away from printing physical phone books.

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Blockbuster
Coasterlover1994 via WikiCommons
Where would people go to rent the latest movie release?
Movie King
Redbox
Rental Palace
Blockbuster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blockbuster used to be at the top of the movie rental business. However, in 2017 the majority of their stores were all but shut down. The single Blockbuster left is located in Bend, Oregon.

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N64
Larry D. Moore via WikiCommons
Blowing on what gaming item was believed to fix it when it stopped working?
Nintendo cartridges
Atari controllers
GameCube consoles
PlayStation cords
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first iteration of the Nintendo Entertainment System was released in 1985 and maintained popularity into the late 90s. Some of the popular games were "Duck Hunt", "Ice Climber" and "Hogan's Alley."

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N64 Super Smash Bros.
HAL Laboratory, Inc. / Nintendo
What popular fighting game was released on Jan. 21, 1999?
Super Smash Bros.
Mortal Kombat
Donkey Kong 64
Pokemon Stadium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Super Smash Bros. name has grown in popularity since its original release for Nintendo 64. In 2001, its reach grew with the release of Super Smash Bros. Melee and has gone up from there. The most recent edition of the game was released in 2018.

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The Nanny
NBC
The last season of which popular show, starring Fran Drescher, was released in 1999?
"That '70s Show"
"7th Heaven"
"The Nanny"
"Boy Meets World"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Nanny" television aired between 1993 and 1999 and had 6 seasons completed before the show was cancelled. The family dog in the show actually belonged to Fran Drescher in real life!

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Stuart Little
Columbia Pictures
What movie based on a novel by E.B. White was released in 1999?
"Smart House"
"Stuart Little"
"Muppets from Space"
"Tarzan"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Stuart Little" was released on Dec. 17, 1999 and went on to become a trilogy of films. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but lost to another popular movie, "The Matrix."

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Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton
hite House Photograph Office, Clinton Administration via WikiCommons
Which famous politician stepped down from his presidency in this year?
Bill Clinton
Mohammad Khatami
Nelson Mandela
Jacques Chirac
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nelson Mandela retired from his active political role in 1999 and was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki. Mandela went on to combat HIV/AIDS and poverty in South Africa through the charity he founded.

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Colombine High School
CBS
Cassie Bernall was only one of the victims killed during what tragic event that took place?
Aggie Bonfire collapse
Vargas flood
Columbine High School shooting
EgyptAir plane crash
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On April 20, 1999, 13 people were killed, including one teacher, when two students went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School. At one point, it was considered the worst high school shooting in United States history.

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1999 Laptop
Psivewri via WikiCommons
What well-known blogging site was started in August 1999?
SlashDot
blogger.com
LiveJournal
Open Diary
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blogger.com was originally started by Pyra Labs, which was later bought out by Google in 2003. In 2007, Blogger was in the top 20 sites for number of unique visitors and is still functioning today.

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Napster
The New York Times
What popular service was available between June 1999 and July 2001?
Limewire
Clementine
Amarok
Napster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Napster was the brainchild of Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning. While it rapidly grew in popularity, the service was shut down in July 2001 after Napster was found guilty of infringing on intellectual property.

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Spongebob Squarepants
Nickelodeon
With characters like Patrick and Squidward, which popular animated series began in 1999?
"Futurama"
"SpongeBob SquarePants"
"Caillou"
"Arthur"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"SpongeBob SquarePants" is one of the few shows that are still in existence as it rounds out yet another season. The franchise also has two movies, with another one set to be released.

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Lance Armstrong
Petrusbarbygere via WikiCommons
Which athlete won their first of many Tour de France bike races?
Alex Zulle
Mario Cipollini
Lance Armstrong
Fernando Escartin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While Lance Armstrong was indeed the first one to cross the finish line of the multiple stage race, official results have stripped him of this title. The United States Anti-Doping Agency disqualified the bicyclist in 2012.

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Mosquito
Salvadorjo via WikiCommons
Which virus was first detected in the United States in 1999?
Ebola
West Nile virus
Hanta fever
Lassa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first reported case of the West Nile virus came from Queens, New York. There is no concrete evidence that can state how the virus reached the U.S., but some believe it came by way of an infected bird or mosquito.

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1990s computer
danooct1 via YouTube
What feminine-sounding computer virus was released around March 26, 1999?
The Melissa virus
The Stephanie virus
The Angela virus
The Stacy virus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Melissa virus was first distributed by David L. Smith, who said that it got its name from a stripper. When he was found guilty, Smith was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $5,000.

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Beanie Babies
CBS
"The End" bear was released by what company to signify the end of its product line?
Play Along Toys
Hasbro
Beanie Baby
Mattel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The stuffed animal that was meant to symbolize the retirement of Beanie Baby's production line was a black bear, simply called "The End." The company continued production when it was faced with backlash from Beanie Baby enthusiasts around the world.

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Bill Clinton impeachment
Rebecca Roth via WikiCommons
What U.S. president was put on trial in 1999?
George H.W. Bush
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Ronald Reagan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Clinton was charged with lying under oath and obstruction of justice when his impeachment trial began. He was later acquitted of his charges because the Senate could not get the two-thirds majority needed to impeach him.

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American Cash
Revised by Reworked via WikiCommons
What successful company was called one of the worst business ideas in 1999?
Amazon
PayPal
Alphabet Inc.
Facebook
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The popular payment platform and parent company to Venmo was once called one of the top 10 worst business ideas of 1999. This is because its original business plan was made around the idea of beaming money from one Palm Pilot to another, which was not a realistic goal.

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Computer 1990s
RyanJLane / E+ / Getty Images
What commonly used email platform's accounts could be accessed by using the password 'eh'?
Gmail
Yahoo
Hotmail
AOL
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the importance of cyber security was entirely realized, Hotmail was revealed to have a major security flaw: any account could be logged into using 'eh' as the password. This was regardless of what the password was actually set as.

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You Got:
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Psivewri via YouTube