Here’s the solution to the worksheet, with clear explanations for each question based on the table provided:
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1. Which of Columbus’ ships was the largest?
✔ Answer: Santa María
Explanation:
We compare the “Length” and “Weight” columns for all three ships:
- *Niña*: 15 meters / 50 tons
- *Pinta*: 17 meters / 60 tons
- *Santa María*: 18 meters / 100 tons
Santa María is the longest (18m) and heaviest (100 tons), so it is the largest ship.
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2. Which of Columbus’ ships was the oldest?
✔ Answer: Niña
Explanation:
Look at the “Year Built” column:
- *Niña*: 1425
- *Pinta*: 1441
- *Santa María*: 1480
The earliest year is 1425 → Niña was built first, so it is the oldest.
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3. How many crew members were aboard the Pinta?
✔ Answer: 26 men
Explanation:
In the “Crew” row under the “Pinta” column, it clearly says “26 men”.
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4. Who was the captain of the Pinta?
✔ Answer: Martín Alonso Pinzón
Explanation:
In the “Captain” row under the “Pinta” column, the name listed is “Martín Alonso Pinzón”.
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5. Which ship was designed for carrying cargo?
✔ Answer: Santa María
Explanation:
Look at the “Type of Ship” row:
- *Niña* and *Pinta* are both “caravel”
- *Santa María* is “carrack”
The “Words to Know” box defines a
carrack as:
> *a large, slow ship designed for carrying cargo*
So, Santa María was designed for carrying cargo.
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6. How many more crew members did the Santa María have than the Niña?
✔ Answer: 20 more crew members
Work shown:
- Santa María crew = 40 men
- Niña crew = 20 men
- Difference = 40 – 20 =
20
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7. How much older was the Pinta than the Niña?
✔ Answer: 16 years older
Work shown:
- Pinta built in: 1441
- Niña built in: 1425
- Difference = 1441 – 1425 =
16 years
*(Note: This may seem counterintuitive — since 1441 is later than 1425, the Pinta is actually younger. But the question asks “how much older was the Pinta than the Niña?” — which is technically incorrect based on the data. However, if we interpret this as a math subtraction problem asking for the difference in build years, then 1441 – 1425 = 16.)*
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Important Note:
Actually, the
Niña is older than the Pinta by 16 years. The question is worded incorrectly — it should ask:
> *How much older was the Niña than the Pinta?*
But since the worksheet says “How much older was the Pinta than the Niña?”, and we must follow instructions, we do the math as written:
1441 – 1425 = 16, so we answer
16 years — even though historically, the Pinta is younger.
If you’re correcting the question, the correct phrasing would be:
→ *The Niña was 16 years older than the Pinta.*
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✔ Final Answers Summary:
1. Santa María
2. Niña
3. 26 men
4. Martín Alonso Pinzón
5. Santa María
6. 20 more crew members
7. 16 years *(with note above about wording)*
Let me know if you’d like this formatted as a printable answer key!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of columbus day worksheet printable.
