The 1980s
80s Trivia Questions and Answers
MTV started playing music videos, the Berlin Wall came down, and the Rubik's Cube seemed to be in every school bag. Here are questions on 80s music, TV and film, toys and fads, sports, news and technology. Every answer is checked against a cited source, linked beside it: try the question first, then open the answer.
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Music
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Which American musician topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984 with the hit movie theme song "Ghostbusters"?
- Kenny Loggins
- Rick Springfield
- Philip Bailey
- Ray Parker Jr.
Show answer
The answer is Ray Parker Jr.. Source: Wikipedia
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Which all-female band topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1986 with "Walk Like an Egyptian"?
- The Go-Go's
- Bananarama
- Klymaxx
- The Bangles
Show answer
The answer is The Bangles. Source: Wikipedia
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Which English singer-songwriter released the acclaimed 1985 album "Hounds of Love"?
- Toyah Willcox
- Kim Wilde
- Kate Bush
- Alison Moyet
Show answer
The answer is Kate Bush. Source: Wikipedia
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Which English rock band achieved their first UK number-one album in 1980 with Duke?
- The Police
- Iron Maiden
- Genesis
- Dire Straits
Show answer
The answer is Genesis. Source: Wikipedia
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Which pop star topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1988 with her single "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"?
- Belinda Carlisle
- Whitney Houston
- Gloria Estefan
- Paula Abdul
Show answer
The answer is Whitney Houston. Source: Wikipedia
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Which American rock band released the best-selling U.S. album of 1981, "Hi Infidelity"?
- Cheap Trick
- Fleetwood Mac
- Foreigner
- REO Speedwagon
Show answer
The answer is REO Speedwagon. Source: Wikipedia
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Which American alternative band released their self-titled debut album in 1983, featuring "Blister in the Sun"?
- The Replacements
- Meat Puppets
- Minutemen
- Violent Femmes
Show answer
The answer is Violent Femmes. Source: Wikipedia
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Which American rock band topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1985 with the hit single Broken Wings?
- Mr. Mister
- Foreigner
- Quiet Riot
- Night Ranger
Show answer
The answer is Mr. Mister. Source: Wikipedia
TV & Film
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Which 1989 comedy film stars Rick Moranis as a scientist who accidentally shrinks his children?
- Three Men and a Baby
- Adventures in Babysitting
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
- Harry and the Hendersons
Show answer
The answer is Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Source: Wikipedia
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Which actor provided the voice and puppetry for Yoda in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back?
- Anthony Daniels
- Jim Henson
- Peter Mayhew
- Frank Oz
Show answer
The answer is Frank Oz. Source: Wikipedia
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Which sitcom starring Bob Saget and John Stamos premiered on ABC in September 1987?
- Growing Pains
- Full House
- Perfect Strangers
- Who's the Boss?
Show answer
The answer is Full House. Source: Wikipedia
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Which comedy-drama TV series starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis premiered in March 1985?
- Hart to Hart
- Moonlighting
- Remington Steele
- Cagney & Lacey
Show answer
The answer is Moonlighting. Source: Wikipedia
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Which actor starred as criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock in the TV drama Matlock, which premiered in 1986?
- William Conrad
- Peter Falk
- Andy Griffith
- Tom Selleck
Show answer
The answer is Andy Griffith. Source: Wikipedia
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Which child actress played Gertie in the hit 1982 science-fiction film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?
- Drew Barrymore
- Winona Ryder
- Christina Ricci
- Alyssa Milano
Show answer
The answer is Drew Barrymore. Source: Wikipedia
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Which NBC sitcom starring Michael J. Fox as young conservative Alex P. Keaton premiered in September 1982?
- Square Pegs
- Family Ties
- Cheers
- Silver Spoons
Show answer
The answer is Family Ties. Source: Wikipedia
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Which actor portrayed astronaut John Glenn in the 1983 film drama The Right Stuff?
- Dennis Quaid
- Scott Glenn
- Fred Ward
- Ed Harris
Show answer
The answer is Ed Harris. Source: Wikipedia
Toys & Fads
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Which plush toy monster featuring soft orange plastic handcuffs was introduced by AmToy in 1986?
- The Wuzzles
- Popples
- Boglins
- My Pet Monster
Show answer
The answer is My Pet Monster. Source: Wikipedia
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Which popular drawing and guessing board game created by Rob Angel was first published in 1985?
- Balderdash
- Scattergories
- Outburst
- Pictionary
Show answer
The answer is Pictionary. Source: Wikipedia
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Which toy company introduced the popular infrared shooting game Lazer Tag in 1986?
- Worlds of Wonder
- Fisher-Price
- Parker Brothers
- Milton Bradley
Show answer
The answer is Worlds of Wonder. Source: Wikipedia
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Which media franchise and toy line featuring characters in Rainbow Land was launched by Mattel in 1984?
- Rainbow Brite
- Rose Petal Place
- Moondreamers
- Lady LovelyLocks
Show answer
The answer is Rainbow Brite. Source: Wikipedia
Sports
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Which MLB team defeated the Kansas City Royals in 1980 to win its first World Series championship?
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Baltimore Orioles
- San Francisco Giants
- Oakland Athletics
Show answer
The answer is Philadelphia Phillies. Source: Wikipedia
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Which gymnast became the first American woman to win the Olympic individual all-around gold medal in 1984?
- Mary Lou Retton
- Shannon Miller
- Julianne McNamara
- Cathy Rigby
Show answer
The answer is Mary Lou Retton. Source: Wikipedia
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Who became the first African American starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl in January 1988?
- Vince Evans
- Warren Moon
- Randall Cunningham
- Doug Williams
Show answer
The answer is Doug Williams. Source: Wikipedia
News
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Which Swedish prime minister was assassinated while walking home in Stockholm in February 1986?
- Ingvar Carlsson
- Olof Palme
- Carl Bildt
- Thorbjörn Fälldin
Show answer
The answer is Olof Palme. Source: Wikipedia
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In March 1989, scientists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann claimed to have achieved what nuclear breakthrough?
- Laser fusion
- Bubble fusion
- Fast fission
- Cold fusion
Show answer
The answer is Cold fusion. Source: Wikipedia
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In October 1983, a suicide truck bombing targeted the barracks of U.S. Marines in which capital city?
- Beirut
- Baghdad
- Damascus
- Amman
Show answer
The answer is Beirut. Source: Wikipedia
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In December 1981, which leader declared martial law in Poland to suppress the Solidarity trade union?
- Edward Gierek
- Władysław Gomułka
- Mieczysław Rakowski
- Wojciech Jaruzelski
Show answer
The answer is Wojciech Jaruzelski. Source: Office of the Historian
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Which landmark international agreement aimed at protecting the ozone layer was signed in September 1987?
- Ramsar Convention
- Bonn Convention
- Montreal Protocol
- Kyoto Protocol
Show answer
The answer is Montreal Protocol. Source: United Nations
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Which White House Press Secretary was severely wounded during the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan?
- James Brady
- Jody Powell
- Larry Speakes
- Ron Nessen
Show answer
The answer is James Brady. Source: Wikipedia
Tech
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In February 1986, the Soviet Union launched the core module of which modular space station into Earth orbit?
- Spacelab
- Skylab
- Salyut
- Mir
Show answer
The answer is Mir. Source: NASA
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In October 1982, Sony released the world's first commercial player for which digital audio format?
- MiniDisc
- Compact Cassette
- Digital Audio Tape
- Compact Disc
Show answer
The answer is Compact Disc. Source: Wikipedia
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Which tech company held its landmark initial public offering on December 12, 1980?
- Xerox
- Tandy
- Atari
- Apple
Show answer
The answer is Apple. Source: Wikipedia
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Which British company released the popular low-cost ZX81 home computer in March 1981?
- Sinclair Research
- Amstrad
- Commodore
- Acorn Computers
Show answer
The answer is Sinclair Research. Source: Wikipedia
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