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WorksheetsExplorers
Total questions: 27
Worksheet time: 27mins
Which environmental challenges did Vasco de Balboa’s expedition have to overcome during their journey?
the glaciers in current day Canada
the dense jungles of present-day Panama
the cold temperatures of the Arctic Region
the rough waters of the St. Lawrence River
Why did many explorers look for the Northwest Passage?
to find gold
to claim land for their country
to find a quicker route to Asia
to search for the coldest climate
Why was it important for European explorers to bring a lot of food and supplies with them on their journeys to North America?
Explorers wanted to have gifts to give Native Americans
Explorers did not have the skills needed to find food and supplies
Explorers believed they would become rich by selling these goods
Explorers did not know how long it would take them to reach land
Which of the following is the BEST title for this list?
Reasons for Trade
Reasons for Exploration
Reasons for American Independence
Reasons for Native American Protections
What was one reason that many Spanish explorers traveled to North America?
They wanted to find a place to practice their religions freely.
They wanted to visit places they read about in their holy books.
They wanted to spread Christianity to people who lived in the area.
They wanted to learn about the religions followed by American Indians.
Why was it difficult for early European explorers, such as John Cabot and Christopher Columbus, to plan their journeys to the Americas?
They could not build big enough ships to hold all of their supplies.
They did not have the skills needed to find food on their voyages.
They had to pay for their ships and supplies by themselves.
They did not have maps that could show them where to go.
Which of the following BEST explains the difference between why the Spanish explored the Americas and why the French explored them?
The Spanish wanted to start colonies, while the French wanted warriors to join their army.
The Spanish wanted to spread Christianity, while the French wanted to trade and make money.
The Spanish wanted Natives to bring back to Spain, while the French wanted to spread Christianity.
The Spanish wanted to trade with American Indians, while the French wanted to start colonies.
Henry Hudson explored the area labeled I on the map and Christopher Columbus explored the area labeled II. Based on the map, what obstacle did Hudson MOST LIKELY face that Columbus did not?
lack of food supplies
long overseas journeys
extremely cold weather
hot and rainy conditions
What event in Christopher Columbus’ explorations is MOST LIKELY shown in this painting?
the French colonization of Canada
the English colonization of America
the discovery of the Northwest Passage
the arrival of Europeans in the Americas
Did Columbus meet the goals set out for his voyage by the king and queen? Why or why not?
No, because he did not find any oil or coal.
No, because he did not find a sea route to Asia.
Yes, because he found land that was good for farming.
Yes, because he traded with American Indians for furs.
What did Vasco Núñez de Balboa accomplish during his exploration?
He became the first European to explore South America.
He became the first European to explore North America.
He became the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean.
He became the first European to reach the Atlantic Ocean.
Which of the following BEST describes the importance of Vasco Núñez de Balboa's discovery in 1513?
Balboa was able to take American Indian land and start a new colony.
Balboa proved it was possible to travel to China by sailing to the west.
Balboa started the slave trade that connected Africa and North America.
Balboa showed that there was an unknown ocean to the west the Americas.
Based on your knowledge of Hernando de Soto’s exploration, what event is taking place in this image?
the first time Europeans saw the Pacific Ocean
the first time Europeans met American Indians
the first time Europeans reached the Mississippi River
the first time Europeans used the Northwest Passage
Use the information to answer the question.
“We looked all over the place for
gold. We never found any before our
leader, who some call a conquistador, died.”
-Hugo Valdez, 1542
Which of the following explorers is being described in this quote?
Henry Hudson
Hernando de Soto
John Cabot
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Which of the following explorers would MOST LIKELY have benefited from this map?
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
John Cabot
Hernando de Soto
Henry Hudson
What accomplishment by John Cabot is being celebrated?
finding large amounts of gold and bringing it back to Europe
reaching North America and bringing news back to Europe
getting rich through trade with American Indians
founding a successful colony in North America
Which British explorer visited the area marked by an “X”?
John Cabot
Hernando de Soto
Christopher Columbus
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Use the information to answer the question.
“I respected him as a leader at
first. Then, we kept getting stuck in
the ice, and he would not let us return home.
So, we mutinied and kicked him off his own boat.”
-Christopher Moore, 1611
Which explorers is MOST LIKELY being described in the quote?
Henry Hudson
Jacques Cartier
John Cabot
Hernando de Soto
Which explorer MOST LIKELY encountered this obstacle on their voyage?
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Christopher Columbus
Hernando de Soto
Henry Hudson
What was the MAIN goal of French explorer Jacques Cartier's first voyage to North America?
to trade with Spanish colonies and become rich
to discover gold and find a northern sea route to Asia
to locate the Mississippi River and to capture American Indians
to start a French colony and get American Indians to become Christians
Which of the following rivers did Jacques Cartier discover?
Ohio River
Hudson River
Mississippi River
St. Lawrence River
Jacques Cartier explored the New World in the name of which country?
England
France
Portugal
Spain
What was one accomplishment of Jacques Cartier’s exploration for France?
He began the fur trade with Native Americans.
He discovered gold in what is today Canada.
He found the Northwest Passage to Asia.
He explored the St. Lawrence River.
Which effect of European exploration MOST LIKELY caused the American Indian population to decrease?
the taking of American Indians’ lands
the loss of the large buffalo population
the introduction of certain diseases to American Indians
the practice of forcing American Indian children to learn Spanish
What was the MAIN cause of conflict between European settlers and many American Indians over land?
Each had different uses for the land.
Each had different ways of gaining land.
Each had different ways of dividing land.
Each had different ideas about owning land.
How did the fur trade benefit both the French and the American Indians?
The French were better boat builders, so their boats helped American Indians find furs quicker and more easily.
The French taught American Indians to speak French and allowed them to attend their schools if they agreed to help them find furs.
American Indians were better at trapping than the French, and in exchange for their help they received goods they could not make
American Indians built traps that were more advanced than those the French used, and in exchange, the French traded them part of the food they caught.
Which of the following is one outcome of trade between the Spanish and American Indians?
The Spanish began building their homes using clay.
The Spanish introduced the horse to the American Indians.
The Spanish traded gold with American Indians to be used as jewelry.
The Spanish captured American Indians and brought them back to Spain.
