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Lesson 1: Early Exploration — Practice Questions

  1. 1. What were the primary goals of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's expedition when he sailed north from Mexico for Spain?

    • A. To establish farms and missions
    • B. To conquer the Native Californian tribes
    • C. To find riches and a sea route to Asia
    • D. To build forts to defend against England
  2. 2. What was one of the first actions Cabrillo took upon landing in harbors like San Diego Bay?

    • A. He started a trading post.
    • B. He claimed the land for Spain.
    • C. He built a permanent settlement.
    • D. He signed a peace treaty.
  3. 3. Which statement best describes the main achievement of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's 1542 voyage?

    • A. He found a large amount of gold, which made Spain wealthy.
    • B. He was the first European to explore the coast of Alta California by sea.
    • C. He established the first permanent Spanish town in California.
    • D. He discovered the long-sought northern sea route that connected the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
  4. 4. The Spanish sent Cabrillo to explore Alta California after they had already begun exploring which nearby region?

    • A. The Philippine Islands
    • B. The Caribbean Sea
    • C. Baja California
    • D. The coast of Alaska
  5. 5. Cabrillo's expedition sailed into several harbors along the California coast. What important bay did he describe as a 'closed and very good port'?

    • A. San Francisco Bay
    • B. Monterey Bay
    • C. San Diego Bay
    • D. Drake's Bay
  6. 6. Why did explorers from Europe plant their country's flag when they arrived in new lands?

    • A. To signal that the area was dangerous for ships
    • B. To claim the territory for their home country
    • C. To mark a good spot for future farming
    • D. To create a map for other travelers to use
  7. 7. Besides seeking wealth and power, what was another important religious goal for many European explorers?

    • A. To learn new languages
    • B. To spread their religion
    • C. To discover new kinds of animals
    • D. To create new styles of art and music
  8. 8. What precious metals were European rulers hoping explorers would find in the Americas to increase their nation's wealth?

    • A. Copper and tin
    • B. Gold and silver
    • C. Iron and lead
    • D. Bronze and steel
  9. 9. European kings and queens sponsored voyages of exploration partly because they were...

    • A. trying to prove that the world was actually flat.
    • B. competing with other nations for power and land.
    • C. forced by their citizens to find new places to live.
    • D. looking for a place to build their vacation palaces.
  10. 10. What was the original goal of many early European voyages before they knew the Americas existed?

    • A. To establish a fishing trade in the Atlantic Ocean
    • B. To find a new sea route to Asia for trade
    • C. To sell wool and other goods to African kingdoms
    • D. To explore the continent of Antarctica