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Worksheets

Spanish, Portuguese, and French Explorers

Total questions: 19

Worksheet time: 2hrs 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the name of the water route through North America that the explorers were searching for?

a)

North American Route

b)

Northern Lights

c)

Northern Way

d)

Northwest Passage

2.

Thanks to the explorations of this man, people in Brazil speak Portuguese.

a)

Pedro Alvares Cabral

b)

Vasco da Gama

c)

Samuel de Champlain

d)

Ferdinand Magellan

3.

Why were native Americas first called "Indians"?

a)

The native people called themselves "Indians."

b)

Columbus thought he had reached India.

c)

The native peoples liked Indie music.

d)

The natives looked similar to people from India.

4.

Spanish explorer who was the first to see the Pacific Ocean.

a)

Juan Ponce de Leon

b)

Christopher Columbus

c)

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

d)

Francisco Vasquez de Coranado

5.

While supposedly searching for the Fountain of Youth, this Spanish explorer claimed what is now Florida.

a)

Juan Ponce de Leon

b)

Hernando de Soto

c)

Giovanni de Varrazano

d)

Giovanni Caboto

6.

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztecs.

a)

Jaques Cartier

b)

Christopher Columbus

c)

Hernando Cortes

d)

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

7.

Which country claimed land in Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America (green on this map)?

a)

Spain

b)

Portugal

c)

England

d)

France

8.
Why were Europeans looking for a water route to Asia?
a)
To find a cheaper and quicker route to Asia for trade
b)
To set up colonies in Asia and force people that lived there to be slaves
c)
To share new military technology with people in Asia
d)

To spread religious beliefs to the people in Asia

9.

What is the name for the sharing of new plants and animals between the old and new world as a result of Columbus' voyage?

a)

Northwest Passage

b)

Columbian Exchange

c)

Middle Passage

d)

Columbian Passage

10.

Who took control of the Inca empire and claimed it for Spain.

a)

Hernando Cortes

b)

Ponce de Leon

c)

Hernando de Soto

d)

Francisco Pizarro

11.
What was the reason the Spanish wanted to explore?
a)

to find gold, claim new land, and spread Christianity

b)
to develop a profitable fur trade
c)
to colonize and grow cash crops
d)

to make friends with the indians and bring them back to Spain

12.
In order to arrive in the New World, all of the explorers had to cross the ___________.
a)
Mississippi River
b)

Indian Ocean

c)
Atlantic Ocean
d)
Pacific Ocean
13.
The exchanges between Europe and the New World did not always benefit both areas. In what way was the exchange hurtful?
a)

Native Americans brought diseases to the Europeans.

b)

Europeans brought new diseases to the Native Americans.

c)
Native Americans introduced deadly poisons to the Europeans.
d)
Europeans introduced deadly poisons to the Native Americans.
14.

Which country claimed land along the Mississippi River and in Canada? (Blue on this map)

a)

Spain

b)

Portugal

c)

England

d)

France

15.

What was the reason the French wanted to explore?

a)
to find gold and spread Christianity
b)

to develop a fur trade

c)
to colonize and grow cash crops
d)

religious freedom

16.

Robert La Salle explored this body of water and claimed all the land around it for France.

a)
Lake Champlain
b)
Mississippi River
c)
Hudson River
d)
New Orleans River
17.

This French explorer discovered the St. Lawrence River while looking for the Northwest Passage. He claimed this area in Canada for France. This explorer also gave Canada its name!

a)

John Cabot

b)

Henry Hudson

c)

Juan Ponce de Leon

d)

Jacques Cartier

18.

What area in North America did Giovanni da Verrazano explore?

a)

the land around present-day Newfoundland

b)

the land around present-day New York

c)

the land around present-day Connecticut

d)

the land around present-day Quebec

19.

Which country claimed land in South America/Brazil? (Orange on this map)

a)

Spain

b)

Portugal

c)

England

d)

France