1492 read aloud

Multiple Choice

Why was Christopher Columbus trying to sail to the "Indies," and what did he actually discover instead?

• He wanted to find new lands for farming, and he discovered the East Indies.

• He was looking for wealthy lands full of gold and spices, but he discovered the Caribbean islands.

• He was searching for new trade routes to Europe, and he discovered South America.

• He aimed to reach the East Indies, but he discovered Africa instead.

Multiple Choice

According to the text, what motivated Europeans in the 1400s to explore uncharted lands and waters?

• They wanted to find new countries to colonize and settle in.

• They aimed to discover new types of spices to sell in Europe.

• They were trying to avoid dangerous weather patterns in known trade routes.

• They were searching for new routes to reach the spice-producing lands and get rich.

Multiple Choice

According to the text, what was Christopher Columbus's reason for proposing his "Enterprise of the Indies"?

• He wanted to prove that the earth was flat.

• He had read reports of Marco Polo and wanted to follow his exact route.

• He believed the earth was smaller than most people thought and that the Indies could be reached by sailing west.

• He thought the world was much larger and needed to find a safer route to the Indies

Multiple Choice

What is the text structure of the following passage:

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Compare and Contrast

• Sequence of Events

Multiple Choice

Based on the text, how did Columbus and his crew react when they sighted land after sailing west for five weeks?

• The sailors were relieved and excited because they thought they had reached Asia.

• Columbus was upset because they had not reached Asia.

• Columbus thought they had reached the West Indies, but the sailors were confused.

• The sailors were scared and refused to go further, but Columbus convinced them to continue.

Multiple Choice

Based on the text, why did Columbus call the Native Americans he encountered "Indians"?

• He believed they were from India, where he intended to sail.

• He thought they were from the East Indies, which he mistakenly thought he had reached.

• He was trying to honor their culture by naming them after a place he admired.

• He mistook them for the indigenous people of the West Indies, which he had heard about before.

Multiple Choice

What is the text structure of the following passage:

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

• Compare and Contrast

• Sequence of Events

Multiple Choice

Based on the text, how did Columbus describe the island of Hispaniola?

• He called it "a miracle" and described it as having good harbors, rich soil, spices, and rivers full of gold.

• He called it "a paradise" but was disappointed by the lack of spices and gold.

• He described it as a land full of dangerous wildlife and difficult terrain.

• He called it "heaven on earth" but said it lacked any natural resources.

Multiple Choice

Based on the text, why did Columbus exaggerate his reports about the riches he found?

• He wanted to impress the king and queen with the abundance of gold and spices.

• He was afraid that the king and queen would not approve of his findings.

• He wanted to make his voyage seem more successful in order to gain their support for another expedition.

• He thought the king and queen would be angry if they learned there was little gold or spices.