Social Studies · US history: Exploration
Age of Exploration Quiz
Columbus, Magellan, Cabot, Hudson and other explorers: who sailed where, and why.
- 🎓 Grades 4–5
- 🌎 Social Studies
- ❓ 20 questions
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In what year did Columbus first reach the Americas?
- A 1776
- B 1607
- C 1492
- D 1620
Which country paid for Columbus's voyage?
- A Spain
- B England
- C France
- D Portugal
What were the names of Columbus's three ships?
- A Niña, Pinta and Santa María
- B Discovery, Endeavour and Beagle
- C Mayflower, Speedwell and Fortune
- D Victoria, Trinidad and Concepción
Which Viking explorer reached North America around the year 1000?
- A Leif Erikson
- B Henry Hudson
- C Erik the Red
- D John Cabot
Whose expedition was the first to sail all the way around the world?
- A Henry Hudson's
- B Ferdinand Magellan's
- C Christopher Columbus's
- D Jacques Cartier's
Which Portuguese explorer found a sea route to India around Africa?
- A Vasco da Gama
- B Francisco Coronado
- C Amerigo Vespucci
- D Hernando de Soto
The Americas are named after which explorer?
- A Christopher Columbus
- B Amerigo Vespucci
- C John Cabot
- D Ferdinand Magellan
Which explorer searched Florida for a legendary Fountain of Youth?
- A Samuel de Champlain
- B Henry Hudson
- C Jacques Cartier
- D Juan Ponce de León
Which Spanish explorer led a journey to the Mississippi River in 1541?
- A Vasco da Gama
- B John Cabot
- C Hernando de Soto
- D Leif Erikson
Which explorer searched the Southwest for the Seven Cities of Gold?
- A Henry Hudson
- B John Cabot
- C Francisco Coronado
- D Jacques Cartier
Which French explorer sailed up the St. Lawrence River?
- A Jacques Cartier
- B Juan Ponce de León
- C Vasco da Gama
- D Hernando de Soto
Who founded Quebec in 1608 and is called the Father of New France?
- A La Salle
- B Henry Hudson
- C Jacques Cartier
- D Samuel de Champlain
Which explorer has a river and a bay in North America named after him?
- A Francisco Coronado
- B Henry Hudson
- C Hernando de Soto
- D Vasco da Gama
Which explorer sailed for England in 1497 and reached Newfoundland?
- A Jacques Cartier
- B John Cabot
- C Juan Ponce de León
- D Christopher Columbus
Who was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas?
- A Henry Hudson
- B John Cabot
- C Leif Erikson
- D Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Which French explorer claimed the Mississippi River valley and named it Louisiana?
- A La Salle
- B Balboa
- C Cabot
- D Coronado
What were many explorers looking for when they sailed west?
- A A faster sea route to Asia
- B A way to the moon
- C Ice to sell in Europe
- D The North Pole only
What tool helped sailors find directions using a magnetized needle?
- A Hourglass
- B Anchor
- C Compass
- D Telescope
What tool helped sailors find their latitude using the sun and stars?
- A Astrolabe
- B Map key
- C Thermometer
- D Compass rose
What was the hoped-for sea route through North America to Asia called?
- A Panama Path
- B Silk Road
- C Northwest Passage
- D Oregon Trail
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