Q 01/05

North Carolina's planned capital, established in 1792, borrowed its street grid from the 1682 plan of which city?

A) Philadelphia

B) Washington

C) Savannah

D) Boston

Answer · why

A) Philadelphia

It has been nicknamed the City of Oaks for its tree-lined streets ever since.

Q 02/05

North Carolina's most populous city ranked where among all US cities at the 2020 census?

A) 5th

B) 14th

C) 25th

D) 40th

Answer · why

B) 14th

It counted 874,579 people, and its metro area is the state's largest.

Q 03/05

North Carolina became which numbered state when it ratified the US Constitution on 21 November 1789?

A) 13th

B) 9th

C) 12th

D) 10th

Answer · why

C) 12th

It had earlier been the first colony to authorise its delegates to vote for independence, through the Halifax Resolves of April 1776.

Q 04/05

The nickname 'Tar Heel' comes from North Carolina's historic prominence as a producer of what?

A) Road asphalt and gravel

B) Ship's rope and canvas

C) Coal and coke for iron

D) Pine tar and turpentine

Answer · why

D) Pine tar and turpentine

Confederate soldiers adopted it proudly; one wrote in 1863 that Tar Heels 'stuck up like a sick kitten to a hot brick'.

Q 05/05

The name Carolina honours which English king?

A) Charles I

B) Charles II

C) George III

D) James I

Answer · why

A) Charles I

King Charles II granted the territory to eight Lords Proprietors in 1663 and named it for his executed father.