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European Explorers Review

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why did many explorers look for a “Northwest Passage”?

a)

to find gold

b)

to claim land for their country

c)

to find a shorter route to Asia

d)

to search for the coldest climate

2.

Why did European explorers bring a lot of food and supplies on their trips to North America?

a)

Explorers wanted to give gifts to American Indians.

b)

Explorers did not have the skills needed to find food and supplies.

c)

Explorers believed they would become rich by selling these goods.

d)

Explorers were unsure how long it would take them to reach land.

3.

God: to spread Christianity

Gold: to get rich

Glory: to be more powerful

These are examples of what?

a)

Reasons for trade

b)

Reasons for Exploration

c)

Reasons for American Independence

d)

Reasons for Native American Protections

4.

What was one reason that many Spanish explorers traveled to North America?

a)

They wanted to find a place to practice their religions freely.

b)

They wanted to learn about the religions of American Indians.

c)

They wanted to visit places they read about in their holy books.

d)

They wanted to spread Christianity to people who lived in the area.

5.

Which of the following BEST explains the difference between why the Spanish explored the Americas and why the French explored them?

a)

The Spanish wanted to start colonies, while the French wanted warriors to join their army.

b)

The Spanish wanted to spread Christianity, while the French wanted to trade and make money.

c)

The Spanish wanted to trade with American Indians, while the French wanted to start colonies.

d)

The Spanish wanted to bring Natives back to Spain, while the French wanted to spread Christianity.

6.

Why was it difficult for early European explorers, such as John Cabot and Christopher Columbus, to plan their journeys to the Americas?

a)

They could not build big enough ships to hold all of their supplies.

b)

They did not have the skills needed to find food on their voyages.

c)

They had to pay for their ships and supplies by themselves.

d)

They did not have maps that could show them where to go.

7.

Did Columbus meet the goals set out for his voyage by the king and queen? Why or why not?

a)

No, because he did not find any oil or coal.

b)

No, because he did not find a sea route to Asia.

c)

Yes, because he traded furs with American Indians.

d)

Yes, because he found land that was good for farming.

8.

Who were the first indigenous people Columbus encountered on his first exploration? 

a)

The Cherokee

b)

The Creek

c)

The Sandorian

d)

The Taino

9.

Why was Hernando de Soto considered a “conquistador”? 

a)

He named rivers to honor Spain during this exploration.

b)

He killed many American Indians during his exploration. 

c)

He helped American Indians make weapons during his exploration.

d)

He created peace treaties with American Indians on his exploration. 

10.

What areas of the US today did Hernando de Soto explore? 

a)

Northeast

b)

Southeast

c)

Northwest

d)

Southwest

11.

Based on your knowledge of Hernando de Soto’s exploration, what river did de Soto explore? 

a)

The Hudson River

b)

The Colorado River

c)

The Mississippi River

d)

The St. Lawrence River

12.

Why was Vasco de Balboa considered a “conquistador”? 

a)

He helped indigenous people build canals on their land. 

b)

He shared food and supplies with indigenous people. 

c)

He fought with many indigenous people to take their land. 

d)

He created a way to communicate with indigenous people. 

13.

Which environmental challenges did Vasco de Balboa face on his expedition?

a)

large glaciers   

b)

dense jungles

c)

cold temperatures

d)

desert sand storms

14.

What did Vasco Núñez de Balboa accomplish during his exploration?

a)

He became the first European to explore South America.

b)

He became the first European to explore North America.

c)

He became the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean.

d)

He became the first European to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

15.

How did John Cabot’s final voyage end? 

a)

He remained in North America to start a colony. 

b)

He and his crew vanished and were never found. 

c)

He was kicked off his boat when his crew mutinied. 

d)

He died and his crew buried him in the Hudson River.

16.

What does it mean when a ship’s crew does a “mutiny”?

a)

The crew leaves the ship and swims to the nearest shore. 

b)

The crew puts their resources together and helps the captain. 

c)

The crew disobeys the captain’s orders and takes over the ship. 

d)

The crew ignores the captain’s frequent request to clean the ship.

17.

What current country was claimed for England by Henry Hudson? 

a)

Mexico

b)

Canada

c)

Panama

d)

United States

18.

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

a)

to trade with Spanish colonies and become rich

b)

to discover gold and find a northern sea route to Asia

c)

to start a French colony and teach American Indians

d)

to locate the Mississippi River and to capture American Indians

19.

Which of the following rivers did Jacques Cartier explore? 

a)

Ohio River

b)

Hudson River

c)

Mississippi River

d)

St. Lawrence River

20.

Jacques Cartier explored the New World in the name of which country?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

21.

What was one accomplishment of Jacques Cartier’s exploration for France?

a)

He began the fur trade with American Indians. 

b)

He discovered gold in what is today Canada. 

c)

He found the Northwest Passage to Asia. 

d)

He explored the Mississippi River.  

22.

Which effect of European exploration MOST LIKELY caused the American Indian population to decrease?

a)

the taking of American Indians’ items

b)

the loss of the large buffalo population

c)

the introduction of certain diseases to American Indians

d)

the practice of forcing American Indian children to learn Spanish

23.

What did European explorers believe about land in North America? 

a)

They believed that land was not shared by all people. 

b)

They believed that land was only good for farming.

c)

They believed that land belonged to all people. 

d)

They believed that land could not be owned. 

24.

How did the fur trade with American Indians benefit the French?

a)

The French became better boat builders.

b)

The American Indians captured furs for the French. 

c)

The American Indians taught the French to make clothes.

d)

The French learned to speak the language of American Indians. 

25.

How did the fur trade benefit both the French and the American Indians?

a)

The French were better boat builders, so their boats helped American Indians find furs quicker and more easily.

b)

The French taught American Indians to speak French and allowed them to attend their schools if they agreed to help them find furs.

c)

American Indians captured furs for the French, and in exchange for the furs, the French gave them tools they could not make.

26.

Which of the following is one example of trade between the Spanish and American Indians?

a)

The Spanish introduced clay to the American Indians. 

b)

The Spanish introduced buffalo to the American Indians. 

c)

The Spanish introduced teepees to the American Indians. 

d)

The Spanish introduced the horse to the American Indians.