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Social Studies - Chapter 2 The Age of Explorers, Lesson 1

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What new technologies made travel by sea more common?

a)

new sailing instruments and slaves

b)

Leif Ericsson and the Vikings

c)

new types of ships and sailing instruments

d)

the astrolabe and Prince Henry's kingdom

2.

What motivated sailors to risk setting sail for new lands?

a)

finding slaves

b)

finding North America

c)

finding new resources

d)

finding new routes to Asia

3.

Contrast the Vikings with the Portuguese explorers.

a)

the Vikings raided, the Portuguese traded

b)

the Vikings sailed around Africa, the Portuguese sailed to North America

c)

The Vikings had caravels, the Portuguese had ships with many sails

d)

the Vikings searched for gold and spices, the Portuguese captured slaves

4.

Which explorer was one of the first European's to land in North America?

a)

Ferdinand Magellan

b)

Leif Ericsson

c)

Prince Henry

d)

Christopher Columbus

5.

Where did Leif Ericsson and his crew land?

a)

what is now called Mexico

b)

what is now called the United States of America

c)

what is now called Cape Hope

d)

what is now called Canada

6.

Although they faced many dangers, what motivated traders to risk their lives to get goods from Asia?

a)

ivory

b)

riches

c)

slaves

d)

silk

7.

What country led the search to reach Asia by water?

a)

Portugal

b)

Scandinavia

c)

Europe

d)

Spain

8.

What was Prince Henry's contribution to exploration?

a)

he captured African gold and slaves

b)

he invented the caravel

c)

he was the first to sail around the tip of Africa

d)

he opened a navigation and map making school

9.

Why was Portugal the perfect place for sailors to start their journeys? (check all that apply)

a)

their location

b)

their desire to own and trade slaves

c)

their rulers encouraged exploration

d)

their rulers provided for their expenses

10.

What was Prince Henry's ultimate goal?

a)

to find gold

b)

to find and control trade routes

c)

to make the best maps and ships

d)

to train the best sailors

11.

True or False. Viking ships were the best vessels for long voyages because they had large sails to catch the wind as well as oars for rowing. This gave them two sources of power.

a)

false

b)

true

12.

Which kind of vessel had room for supplies and many types of sails to catch different winds?

a)

caravels

b)

Viking ships

c)

astrolabes

d)

conquistadors

13.

_____ was invented by the Chinese and was useful to explorers in the event of an attack.

a)

sextant

b)

gunpowder

c)

chronometer

d)

astrolabe

14.

Which improvements did the Portuguese make on their sailing vessels? (check all that apply)

a)

square sail to control wind

b)

waterproof wood

c)

large areas to hold supplies

d)

smaller and lighter

15.

True or False. The Chinese invented the magnetic compass.

a)

true

b)

false

16.

How did Portugal benefit from Vasco da Gama's voyage?

a)

It allowed Portugal to be a leader in India's rich spice trade.

b)

It allowed Portugal to name the tip of Africa the Cape of Good Hope.

c)

It allowed Portugal to expand Prince Henry's school.

d)

It allowed Portugal to gain more slaves, gold, and ivory.

17.

True or False. It was significant that caravels were strong enough to sail across the Atlantic because soon explorers will begin sailing across the ocean on multiple trips to explore the Americas.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

Why would it be helpful for sailors and mapmakers to work together? (choose all that apply)

a)

The sailors could teach the mapmakers how to sail a ship.

b)

The sailors could help mapmakers understand how the coast was shaped and where island or rivers were located.

c)

Mapmakers could let sailors know what to expect when they sailed a certain direction.

d)

Mapmakers could help sailors understand how drawings could help them keep track of their voyages in their ship logs.