Final answer:
The first 10 years of the web, characterized by static publishing and retailing, are referred to as Web 1.0. During this time, users could establish simple websites with tools like Microsoft's Frontpage, marking the period before the interactive Web 2.0 emerged.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the first 10 years of the World Wide Web, the internet functioned mainly as a static publishing and retailing platform. This era is referred to as Web 1.0, where people could easily register a domain and create a simple website for personal or small business uses. Software like Microsoft's Frontpage made it possible for users with modest skills to generate web pages and establish an online presence. Static websites were primarily informational and did not allow for user interaction or content creation – characteristics that were introduced later with Web 2.0.
The turning point to a more interactive and dynamic web was signaled by the announcement of Web 2.0 in 1999. This new generation focused on user participation, social media growth, and the transformation of consumers into active online participants. This timeline places the static and transactional use of the internet firmly within the Web 1.0 era, making the correct answer to the student's question C. Web 1.0.