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Worksheets

European Explorers

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How did the European and Native Americans ideas differ over land ownership?

a)

Native Americans thought land could be owned, but the Europeans did not.

b)

Both groups thought land could be owned.

c)

The Europeans thought land could be owned, but the Native Americans did not.

d)

They did not have any different ideas about land ownership.

2.

Which group of Europeans reached North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus?

a)

The Greeks

b)

The Vikings

c)

The Romans

d)

The Australians

3.

How did European explorers hope to get rich in North America?

a)

by discovering sources of gold and sivler

b)

by finding new foods to grow in Europe

c)

by learning skills from American Indians

d)

by getting jobs in American Indian cities

4.

What was the main goal of Jacques Cartier's first voyage to North America?

a)

to trade with American Indians and befriend them

b)

to locate the Fountain of Youth and to capture American Indians to sell as slaves

c)

to start a French colony and get American Indians to become Christians

d)

to discover gold and find a northern sea route to Asia

5.

What was the main reason Christopher Columbus sailed west from Europe?

a)

to set up colonies

b)

to spread the Catholic religion

c)

to find a more direct water route to Asia

d)

to discover new continents

6.

What did many explorers look for the Northwest Passage?

a)

to find large sea animals

b)

to claim land for their country

c)

to find a quicker route to Asia

d)

to find gold

7.

What did the explorers unknowingly bring with them that killed many Native Americans?

a)

diseases

b)

animals

c)

colder weather

d)

rainy weather

8.

What was the main goal of Christopher Columbus's expeditions?

a)

to discover new resources and land for Spain

b)

to capture slaves to serve the Spanish

c)

to gain glory and fame

d)

to find the Fountain of Youth

9.

Were Henry Hudson's voyages successful? Why or why not?

a)

No, because he failed to spread his Christian faith to other cultures.

b)

No, because he failed to discover a sea route between Europe and China.

c)

Yes, because he discovered and claimed Greenland for Spain.

d)

Yes, because he discovered gold which he brought back to the British king.

10.

How did European explorers hope to get rich in North America?

a)

by discovering sources of gold and silver

b)

by finding new foods to grow in Europe

c)

by learning skills from American Indians

d)

by getting jobs in American Indian cities

11.

How did the Europeans treat the American Indians?

a)

The Europeans copied their ways of life.

b)

The Europeans tried to have good relations with American Indians so they could trade with them.

c)

The Europeans did not think the American Indians offered anything of value and they ignored them.

d)

The Europeans saw the American Indians as lesser people that needed to be controlled.

12.

What was the outcome of John Cabot's voyages?

a)

He was looking for silk and spices, but found an area that was very good for fishing.

b)

He discovered an unknown ocean.

c)

He found the Northwest Passage, which gave England a route to mineral resources.

d)

He gave up on his voyages and nothing came of them.

13.

What was important about Vasco Nunez de Balboa's discovery?

a)

He shows it was possible to sail to China from Spain by sailing west.

b)

He showed there was an unknown ocean to the west of the Americas.

c)

He started a slave trade that connected Spain, Africa, and North America.

d)

He was able to take American Indian land and start a new colony.

14.

Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella send explorers on expeditions for Spain?

a)

They wanted to gain fame.

b)

They wanted to find new land and resources.

c)

They wanted to capture slaves.

d)

They wanted to make friends.

15.

What was the main goal of Jacques Cartier's first voyage to North America?

a)

to trade with Spanish colonies and befriend American Indians

b)

to start a French colony and get American Indians to become Christians

c)

to locate the Fountain of Youth and to capture American Indians to sell as slaves

d)

to discover gold and find a northern sea route to Asia

16.

What was Hernando de Soto's greatest achievement?

a)

He led the first exploration through Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

b)

He explored the areas around the Rio Grande and St. Lawrence rivers.

c)

He explored around New York to find a western trade route with Asia.

d)

He was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

17.

What was the main cause of conflict between European settlers and many American Indians over land?

a)

Each had different uses for land.

b)

Each had different ideas about owning land.

c)

Each had different ways of dividing land.

d)

Each had different ways of gaining land.

18.

Select the reasons for exploring (there is more than one)

a)

God - to spread religion

b)

glory - to be famous

c)

gold - to find riches

d)

to find a better trade route

19.

Select the main accomplishment of Christopher Columbus.

a)

He explored the southeastern United States from Tampa Bay to South Carolina and was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

b)

He discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River and claimed the area for France.

c)

He was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean. Balboa showed that there was an unknown ocean to the west of the Americas.

d)

He explored the waters off of Canada and found the Great Banks, a rich fishing area. Instead of silk and spices, Cabot found an area that was very good for fishing.

e)

He opened up the Western Hemisphere to Europe.

20.

Select the main accomplishment of Henry Hudson.

a)

He explored the southeastern United States from Tampa Bay to South Carolina and was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

b)

He discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River and claimed the area for France.

c)

He discovered the Hudson River.

d)

He explored the waters off of Canada and found the Great Banks, a rich fishing area. Instead of silk and spices, Cabot found an area that was very good for fishing.

e)

He opened up the Western Hemisphere to Europe.

21.

Select the main accomplishment of Vasco Nunez de Balboa.

a)

He explored the southeastern United States from Tampa Bay to South Carolina and was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

b)

He discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River and claimed the area for France.

c)

He discovered the Hudson River.

d)

He explored the waters off of Canada and found the Great Banks, a rich fishing area. Instead of silk and spices, Cabot found an area that was very good for fishing.

e)

He was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean. Balboa showed that there was an unknown ocean to the west of the Americas.

22.

Select the main accomplishment of Hernando de Soto.

a)

He explored the southeastern United States from Tampa Bay to South Carolina and was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

b)

He discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River and claimed the area for France.

c)

He discovered the Hudson River.

d)

He explored the waters off of Canada and found the Great Banks, a rich fishing area. Instead of silk and spices, Cabot found an area that was very good for fishing.

e)

He was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean. Balboa showed that there was an unknown ocean to the west of the Americas.

23.

Select the main accomplishment of John Cabot.

a)

He explored the southeastern United States from Tampa Bay to South Carolina and was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

b)

He discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River and claimed the area for France.

c)

He discovered the Hudson River.

d)

He explored the waters off of Canada and found the Great Banks, a rich fishing area. Instead of silk and spices, Cabot found an area that was very good for fishing.

e)

He was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean. Balboa showed that there was an unknown ocean to the west of the Americas.

24.

Select the main accomplishment of Jacques Cartier.

a)

He explored the southeastern United States from Tampa Bay to South Carolina and was the first European to cross the Mississippi River.

b)

He discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River and claimed the area for France.

c)

He discovered the Hudson River.

d)

He explored the waters off of Canada and found the Great Banks, a rich fishing area. Instead of silk and spices, Cabot found an area that was very good for fishing.

e)

He was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean. Balboa showed that there was an unknown ocean to the west of the Americas.