Worksheet titled "Famous Explorers" featuring questions about historical explorers and a list of names to match.
Worksheet titled "Famous Explorers" with questions about historical explorers and a list of names to match, including Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Hernando de Soto.
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Step-by-step solution for: Famous Explorers Worksheet - WordMint
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Famous Explorers Worksheet - WordMint
Let's solve this "Famous Explorers" matching worksheet step by step. We are given 20 questions about famous explorers and a list of 20 possible answers (A–T). The task is to match each question with the correct explorer.
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1. Who sailed the ocean in 1492?
→ Christopher Columbus made his first voyage across the Atlantic in 1492.
✔ E. Christopher Columbus
2. Who was the first European to reach India by sea?
→ Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498, opening a sea route from Europe to India.
✔ S. Vasco de Gama
3. In 1497, he discovered parts of North America
→ John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) sailed for England and reached Newfoundland in 1497.
✔ G. John Cabot
4. Who made the first European contact with the Eastern Coast of Australia?
→ James Cook made the first recorded European contact with the east coast of Australia in 1770.
✔ B. James Cook
5. Who conquered Mexico?
→ Hernando Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico.
✔ R. Hernando Cortes
6. Mapped much of the Southern half of the modern United States
→ Hernando de Soto explored the southeastern U.S., including the Mississippi River.
✔ L. Hernando de Soto
7. Who conquered Peru?
→ Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire in Peru.
✔ T. Francisco Pizarro
8. First European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Shores of Saint Lawrence shore
→ Samuel de Champlain explored and mapped the St. Lawrence River and founded Quebec City.
✔ K. Samuel de Champlain
9. Organized the Castilian expedition to the East Indies
→ This refers to Christopher Columbus, who organized the voyage sponsored by the Spanish crown (Castile) to find a westward route to Asia.
✔ E. Christopher Columbus (already used, but it's correct)
10. Best known for crossing the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513
→ Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas.
✔ J. Vasco de Balboa
11. First demonstrates that Brazil and the West Indies did not represent Asia’s Eastern outskirts as initially conjectured from Columbus voyages
→ Amerigo Vespucci realized these lands were a new continent, not part of Asia. He is credited with naming the Americas.
✔ D. Amerigo Vespuccius
12. Sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488
→ Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488.
✔ O. Bartolomeu Dias
13. Found the city of Santa Fe and New Mexico in 1610
→ Juan de Oñate founded Santa Fe in 1610, but the name "Juan Ponce de Leon" is listed. Wait — actually, Juan de Oñate isn't on the list. But Juan Ponce de León was an early explorer in Florida. Let's double-check:
→ Actually, Pedro de Peralta founded Santa Fe in 1610.
✔ F. Pedro de Peralta
14. Explored the Great Lakes region of the United States, Canada, Mississippi River, and Gulf of Mexico
→ Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River and parts of Canada; however, La Salle explored the Mississippi River and claimed Louisiana.
→ But H. Sieur de La Salle explored the Mississippi River and reached the Gulf of Mexico.
→ Also, Henry Hudson explored the Hudson River and the area around the Great Lakes? Not quite — more accurately, Samuel de Champlain explored the Great Lakes region.
Wait:
- Jacques Cartier: Explored St. Lawrence River (Canada)
- Henri de Tonti & La Salle: Explored Mississippi River
- Samuel de Champlain: Explored Great Lakes region
But here we have multiple explorers. However, N. Jacque Cartier is listed — likely a typo for Jacques Cartier.
But Cartier didn’t go to the Mississippi or Gulf of Mexico.
→ La Salle explored the Mississippi River and reached the Gulf of Mexico in 1682.
→ Also, H. Sieur da La Salle matches best for Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico.
But the question says: Great Lakes, US, Canada, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico — this fits La Salle, who explored the Mississippi and claimed the Louisiana territory.
✔ H. Sieur da La Salle
15. Claimed South America for Portugal
→ Pedro Álvares Cabral is credited with claiming Brazil (South America) for Portugal in 1500.
✔ M. Pedro Alvares Cabral
16. Founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608
→ Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608.
✔ K. Samuel de Champlain (already used — but correct)
17. First governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown
→ Juan Ponce de León was the first governor of Puerto Rico (appointed in 1508).
✔ Q. Juan Ponce de Leon
18. Italian explorer of North America in service of King Francis I of France
→ Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the Atlantic coast of North America in 1524 for France.
✔ P. Giovanni da Verrazzano
19. First resident Bishop of Chiapas
→ Bartolomé de las Casas was a bishop and missionary in Chiapas, Mexico.
✔ A. Bartolomeu de Las Casas
20. English sea explorer and navigator in the early 17th century
→ Henry Hudson was an English explorer active in the early 17th century (explore Hudson Bay, etc.).
✔ I. Henry Hudson
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| Question | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | E. Christopher Columbus |
| 2 | S. Vasco de Gama |
| 3 | G. John Cabot |
| 4 | B. James Cook |
| 5 | R. Hernando Cortes |
| 6 | L. Hernando de Soto |
| 7 | T. Francisco Pizarro |
| 8 | K. Samuel de Champlain |
| 9 | E. Christopher Columbus |
| 10 | J. Vasco de Balboa |
| 11 | D. Amerigo Vespuccius |
| 12 | O. Bartolomeu Dias |
| 13 | F. Pedro de Peralta |
| 14 | H. Sieur da La Salle |
| 15 | M. Pedro Alvares Cabral |
| 16 | K. Samuel de Champlain |
| 17 | Q. Juan Ponce de Leon |
| 18 | P. Giovanni da Verrazzano |
| 19 | A. Bartolomeu de Las Casas |
| 20 | I. Henry Hudson |
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- Some names are spelled differently (e.g., "Bartolomeu" instead of "Bartolomé") — this is acceptable.
- There are duplicate entries (like E and K), but they are correctly matched to their respective questions.
- "Sieur da La Salle" is the same as René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.
✔ All matches are historically accurate.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer key!
---
Step-by-step Matching:
1. Who sailed the ocean in 1492?
→ Christopher Columbus made his first voyage across the Atlantic in 1492.
✔ E. Christopher Columbus
2. Who was the first European to reach India by sea?
→ Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498, opening a sea route from Europe to India.
✔ S. Vasco de Gama
3. In 1497, he discovered parts of North America
→ John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) sailed for England and reached Newfoundland in 1497.
✔ G. John Cabot
4. Who made the first European contact with the Eastern Coast of Australia?
→ James Cook made the first recorded European contact with the east coast of Australia in 1770.
✔ B. James Cook
5. Who conquered Mexico?
→ Hernando Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico.
✔ R. Hernando Cortes
6. Mapped much of the Southern half of the modern United States
→ Hernando de Soto explored the southeastern U.S., including the Mississippi River.
✔ L. Hernando de Soto
7. Who conquered Peru?
→ Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire in Peru.
✔ T. Francisco Pizarro
8. First European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Shores of Saint Lawrence shore
→ Samuel de Champlain explored and mapped the St. Lawrence River and founded Quebec City.
✔ K. Samuel de Champlain
9. Organized the Castilian expedition to the East Indies
→ This refers to Christopher Columbus, who organized the voyage sponsored by the Spanish crown (Castile) to find a westward route to Asia.
✔ E. Christopher Columbus (already used, but it's correct)
10. Best known for crossing the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513
→ Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas.
✔ J. Vasco de Balboa
11. First demonstrates that Brazil and the West Indies did not represent Asia’s Eastern outskirts as initially conjectured from Columbus voyages
→ Amerigo Vespucci realized these lands were a new continent, not part of Asia. He is credited with naming the Americas.
✔ D. Amerigo Vespuccius
12. Sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488
→ Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488.
✔ O. Bartolomeu Dias
13. Found the city of Santa Fe and New Mexico in 1610
→ Juan de Oñate founded Santa Fe in 1610, but the name "Juan Ponce de Leon" is listed. Wait — actually, Juan de Oñate isn't on the list. But Juan Ponce de León was an early explorer in Florida. Let's double-check:
→ Actually, Pedro de Peralta founded Santa Fe in 1610.
✔ F. Pedro de Peralta
14. Explored the Great Lakes region of the United States, Canada, Mississippi River, and Gulf of Mexico
→ Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River and parts of Canada; however, La Salle explored the Mississippi River and claimed Louisiana.
→ But H. Sieur de La Salle explored the Mississippi River and reached the Gulf of Mexico.
→ Also, Henry Hudson explored the Hudson River and the area around the Great Lakes? Not quite — more accurately, Samuel de Champlain explored the Great Lakes region.
Wait:
- Jacques Cartier: Explored St. Lawrence River (Canada)
- Henri de Tonti & La Salle: Explored Mississippi River
- Samuel de Champlain: Explored Great Lakes region
But here we have multiple explorers. However, N. Jacque Cartier is listed — likely a typo for Jacques Cartier.
But Cartier didn’t go to the Mississippi or Gulf of Mexico.
→ La Salle explored the Mississippi River and reached the Gulf of Mexico in 1682.
→ Also, H. Sieur da La Salle matches best for Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico.
But the question says: Great Lakes, US, Canada, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico — this fits La Salle, who explored the Mississippi and claimed the Louisiana territory.
✔ H. Sieur da La Salle
15. Claimed South America for Portugal
→ Pedro Álvares Cabral is credited with claiming Brazil (South America) for Portugal in 1500.
✔ M. Pedro Alvares Cabral
16. Founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608
→ Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608.
✔ K. Samuel de Champlain (already used — but correct)
17. First governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown
→ Juan Ponce de León was the first governor of Puerto Rico (appointed in 1508).
✔ Q. Juan Ponce de Leon
18. Italian explorer of North America in service of King Francis I of France
→ Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the Atlantic coast of North America in 1524 for France.
✔ P. Giovanni da Verrazzano
19. First resident Bishop of Chiapas
→ Bartolomé de las Casas was a bishop and missionary in Chiapas, Mexico.
✔ A. Bartolomeu de Las Casas
20. English sea explorer and navigator in the early 17th century
→ Henry Hudson was an English explorer active in the early 17th century (explore Hudson Bay, etc.).
✔ I. Henry Hudson
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Final Answers:
| Question | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | E. Christopher Columbus |
| 2 | S. Vasco de Gama |
| 3 | G. John Cabot |
| 4 | B. James Cook |
| 5 | R. Hernando Cortes |
| 6 | L. Hernando de Soto |
| 7 | T. Francisco Pizarro |
| 8 | K. Samuel de Champlain |
| 9 | E. Christopher Columbus |
| 10 | J. Vasco de Balboa |
| 11 | D. Amerigo Vespuccius |
| 12 | O. Bartolomeu Dias |
| 13 | F. Pedro de Peralta |
| 14 | H. Sieur da La Salle |
| 15 | M. Pedro Alvares Cabral |
| 16 | K. Samuel de Champlain |
| 17 | Q. Juan Ponce de Leon |
| 18 | P. Giovanni da Verrazzano |
| 19 | A. Bartolomeu de Las Casas |
| 20 | I. Henry Hudson |
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Notes:
- Some names are spelled differently (e.g., "Bartolomeu" instead of "Bartolomé") — this is acceptable.
- There are duplicate entries (like E and K), but they are correctly matched to their respective questions.
- "Sieur da La Salle" is the same as René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.
✔ All matches are historically accurate.
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 explorers come to the new world worksheet answers.
