BP Christopher Columbus Quiz

1. Why is Christopher Columbus such an important historical figure?

• a. He proved once and for all that the earth is round.

• b. His discovery led to the colonization of the Americas.

• c. He opened up a new trade route to Asia.

• d He was the greatest mapmaker of his time.

2. Which of the following terms best describes Columbus's relationship with his brother, Bartolomeo?

• a. Archenemies

• b. Friendly rivals

• c. Perfect strangers

• d. Business partners

3. What was Columbus's primary motivation for his voyage across the Atlantic?

• a. The desire for riches and power.

• b. A profound devotion to the Spanish royal family.

• c. His fervent interest in geography.

• d. The potential to chart unexplored territory.

4. What area did Columbus explore?

• a. The eastern coast of Asia

• b. The eastern coast of the present-day United States

• c. The western coast of the present-day United States

• d. The Caribbean Sea

5. Which word best describes the Arawak people?

• a. Docile

• b. Hostile

• c. Greedy

• d. Wary

6. When Columbus arrived in the Americas, he called the

natives Indians, even though they looked and sounded nothing like people from India. What can you conclude from this fact?

• a. Columbus had problems with his vision and hearing.

• b. Columbus was illiterate.

• c. Columbus was determined to cover up his mistakes.

• d. Columbus knew virtually nothing about Indian culture.

7. How did Columbus become the governor of

Hispaniola?

• a. He was elected by the island's inhabitants

• b. He inherited the post from the previous governor

• c. He deposed the previous governor and took the post by force

• d. He was given the title in advance by the king and queen of Spain

8. About which of the following attributes of the earth was Columbus mistaken?

• a. Its shape

• b. Its size

• c. Its mass

• d. Its composition

9. Viewed as a trade, the Columbian Exchange was:

• a. Equal, favoring both Europeans and Native Americans

• b. Unequal, favoring Europeans

• c. Unequal, favoring Native Americans

• d. Ambiguous; it's not clear who benefitted more

10. Why do some people object to celebrating Columbus Day?

• a. Because Columbus never reached the contiguous United States.

• b. Because historians don't know the exact date when his ships actually made landfall.

• c. Because Columbus committed brutal acts and began a period of conquest.

• d. Because Columbus was so mistaken about the size of the earth.