Q 01/05

Which French explorer founded Detroit in 1701 by building Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit?

A) Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac

B) Jacques Marquette

C) Samuel de Champlain

D) René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle

Answer · why

A) Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac

The luxury car brand was later named after him, and his coat of arms became its logo.

Q 02/05

The name Detroit comes from a French word meaning what?

A) Fort

B) Strait

C) Marsh

D) Bend

Answer · why

B) Strait

The city is named after the Detroit River, which links Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie.

Q 03/05

Windsor, Ontario, sits across the Detroit River in which compass direction from Detroit?

A) North

B) South

C) East

D) West

Answer · why

B) South

It is one of the few places where you drive south from the United States into Canada; Windsor is the southernmost major city in the country.

Q 04/05

At what figure did Detroit's population peak in the 1950 census?

A) 1.85 million

B) 2.1 million

C) 2.6 million

D) 3.1 million

Answer · why

A) 1.85 million

It has since fallen by more than 65 percent, though the Census Bureau reported growth again in 2024 and 2025.

Q 05/05

In which year did Detroit become the largest U.S. city ever to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy?

A) 2010

B) 2012

C) 2013

D) 2015

Answer · why

C) 2013

The city exited bankruptcy in December 2014 after a 'grand bargain' protected the pensions and the art museum's collection.