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WorksheetsSocial Studies Explorers
Total questions: 28
Worksheet time: 14mins
Which environmental challenges (obstacle) did Vasco de Balboa’s expedition have to overcome during their journey?
a. the glaciers in current day Canada
b. the dense jungles of present-day Panama
c. the cold temperatures of the Arctic Region
d. the rough waters of the St. Lawrence River
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 found land that was good for farming.
Yes, because he traded with American Indians for furs.
What event took place during Hernando de Soto’s exploration?
a. the first time Europeans saw the Pacific Ocean
b. the first time Europeans met American Indians
c. the first time Europeans used the Northwest Passage
d. the first time Europeans reached the Mississippi River
Why did many explorers look for the Northwest Passage?
a. to find gold
b. to claim land for their country
c. to find a quicker route to Asia
d. to search for the coldest climate
Which explorer would benefit from a map entitled, " La Florida"
a. John Cabot
b. Henry Hudson
c. Hernando De Soto
d. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Why was it important for European explorers to bring a lot of food and supplies with them on their journeys to North America?
a. Explorers wanted to have gifts to give Native Americans
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 did not know how long it would take them to reach land
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 explorer is MOST LIKELY being described in the quote?
a. John Cabot
b. Henry Hudson
c. Jacques Cartier
d. Hernando de Soto
What was one accomplishment of Jacques Cartier’s exploration for France?
a. He explored the Hudson River.
b. He found the Northwest Passage to Asia.
c. He discovered gold in what is today Canada.
d. He began the fur trade with Native Americans.
What was one of John Cabot's accomplishments?
a. founding a successful colony in North America
b. getting rich through trade with American Indians
c. reaching North America and bringing news back to Europe
d. finding large amounts of gold and bringing it back to Europe
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. American Indians were better at trapping than the French, and in exchange for their help they received goods they could not make.
c. The French taught American Indians to speak French and allowed them to attend their schools if they agreed to help them find furs.
d. 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.
Jacques Cartier explored the New World in the name of which country?
a. England
b. France
c. Portugal
d. Spain
?
● God: To spread Christianity
● Gold: To get rich
● Glory: To be more powerful
Which of the following is the BEST title for this list?
a. Reasons for Trade
b. Reasons for Exploration
c. Reasons for American Independence
d. Reasons for Native American Protections
Which of the following rivers did Jacques Cartier discover?
a. Ohio River
b. Hudson River
c. Mississippi River
d. St. Lawrence River
What event happened during Christopher Columbus’ explorations?
a. the French colonization of Canada
b. the English colonization of America
c. the discovery of the Northwest Passage
d. the arrival of Europeans in the Americas
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 visit places they read about in their holy books.
c. They wanted to spread Christianity to people who lived in the area.
d. They wanted to learn about the religions followed by American Indians.
“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?
John Cabot
Henry Hudson
Hernando De Soto
A. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
What obstacle did Hudson MOST LIKELY face that Columbus did not?
a. lack of food supplies
b. extremely cold weather
c. long overseas journeys
d. hot and rainy conditions
Which of the following is one outcome of trade between the Spanish and American Indians?
a. The Spanish began building their homes using clay.
b. The Spanish introduced the horse to the American Indians.
c. The Spanish traded gold with American Indians to be used as jewelry.
d. The Spanish captured American Indians and brought them back to Spain.
Which explorer had to deal with ice during their exploration?
a. Henry Hudson
b. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
A. Hernando de Soto
d. Christopher Columbus
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 explore the Pacific Ocean
He became the first European to explore Atlantic Ocean
Whose accomplishment was being the first explorer to cross the Mississippi River?
a. Hernando de Soto
b. John Cabot
c. Christopher Columbus
d. Henry Hudson
What was Henry Hudson’s accomplishments?
a. He discovered the Pacific Ocean.
b. He discovered the St. Lawrence River.
c. He discovered the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.
d. He discovered the Northwest passage and found gold.
Which British explorer visited Canada?
a. John Cabot
b. Christopher Columbus
c. Hernando de Soto
d. Vasco Núñez de Balboa
What was the MAIN cause of conflict between European settlers and many American Indians over land?
a. Each had different uses for the land.
b. Each had different ways of gaining land.
c. Each had different ways of dividing land.
d. A. Each had different ideas about owning land.
What was the MAIN goal of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's voyage to the southeastern part of North America?
a. to trade with Spanish colonies and become rich
b. To conquer Floridia and find gold and riches for Spain
c. to locate the Mississippi River and to capture American Indians
d. to start a French colony and get American Indians to become Christians
Why was it difficult for early European explorers, such as John Cabot and Christopher Columbus, to plan their journeys to the Americas?
a. They did not have maps that could show them where to go.
b. They had to pay for their ships and supplies by themselves.
c. They could not build big enough ships to hold all of their supplies.
d. They did not have the skills needed to find food on their voyages.
Who was the first European explorer to reach the new world and start the Age of Exploration?
a. Vasco Nunez de Balboa
b. Jacques Cartier
c. Christopher Columbs
d. John Cabot
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 Natives to bring back to Spain, while the French wanted to spread Christianity.
d. The Spanish wanted to trade with American Indians, while the French wanted to start colonies.
