Q 01/05

Which online retailer was founded in July 1994 as a bookstore under the original name Cadabra?

A) eBay

B) Amazon

C) Alibaba

D) Etsy

Answer · why

B) Amazon

Amazon began as an online bookstore that Jeff Bezos ran from Bellevue, Washington. He had moved there from New York City to start the business.

Q 02/05

Which singer released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in October 1994 on her first holiday album?

A) Whitney Houston

B) Celine Dion

C) Mariah Carey

D) Gloria Estefan

Answer · why

C) Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey wrote and produced the song with Walter Afanasieff. It first topped the US Hot 100 in 2019, 25 years after its release.

Q 03/05

Which former NFL star fled police in a white Ford Bronco during a televised low-speed chase in June 1994?

A) O. J. Simpson

B) Jim Brown

C) Lawrence Taylor

D) Joe Namath

Answer · why

A) O. J. Simpson

O. J. Simpson's pursuit was watched by around 95 million people. TV stations cut into game 5 of the NBA Finals to show it live.

Q 04/05

Which sitcom about six New Yorkers, developed under the working title Insomnia Cafe, premiered in September 1994?

A) Seinfeld

B) Frasier

C) Mad About You

D) Friends

Answer · why

D) Friends

Friends ran for ten seasons, ending in May 2004. Much of it is set at the coffee house Central Perk, where Rachel first works as a waitress.

Q 05/05

Which former political prisoner was inaugurated in May 1994 as South Africa's first black head of state?

A) Desmond Tutu

B) Cyril Ramaphosa

C) Nelson Mandela

D) Walter Sisulu

Answer · why

C) Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela had served 27 years in prison, at first on Robben Island. His inauguration in Pretoria was televised to a billion viewers worldwide.