Reading Comprehension Quiz - Chapters 1-4

Which two things did many European explorers hope to find?

• pearls and silver

• popcorn and metal

• gold and spices

• cinnamon and sauces

Which spice must be used only a little at a time because it is very strong and could overwhelm other flavors?

• cinnamon

• cloves

• red peppercorn

• white peppercorn

What is Paolo Toscanelli best known for?

• being a writer

• being a mapmaker

• being King of Portugal

• being a mathematician

How did Toscanelli label the area today known as Japan?

• The Indies

• Cippangu

• The Spice Islands

• Cathay Mangi

How did Toscanelli label the area today known as China?

• Cathay Mangi

• Lisbona

• Guinea

• The West Indies

This simple navigational tool uses Earth's magnetic field to always point North and help explorers find their way.

• an astrolabe

• a compass

• a telescope

• a GPS

Sailors used this tool by keeping track of where certain stars appeared in the night sky to help them figure out where they are on Earth.

• an astrolabe

• a compass

• a telescope

• a GPS

What is coquina?

• a mixture of sand and gravel

• a mixture of stone and brick

• a mixture of fossils and seashells

• a mixture of shells and clay

Where did the Spanish build El Castillo de San Marcos?

• Europe

• St. Augustine, Florida

• Spain

• at the castle of Saint Mark

What is a mini-fort which stands in front of the main fort?

• a ravelin

• a drawbridge

• a bastion

• a moat