MCQs on Geographical Discoveries (1500-1945 AD) – Modern World History
Q1. Who is credited with the first circumnavigation of the Earth?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Sir Francis Drake
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Correct Answer: c) Ferdinand Magellan
Explanation: Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, is credited with the first circumnavigation of the Earth, although he died during the voyage and his crew completed the journey.
Q2. Which explorer discovered the sea route to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Sir Francis Drake
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Correct Answer: b) Vasco da Gama
Explanation: Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the sea route to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1498.
Q3. Which explorer is credited with the discovery of the Americas in 1492?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Sir Francis Drake
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Correct Answer: a) Christopher Columbus
Explanation: Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, is credited with the discovery of the Americas in 1492, although indigenous peoples had already inhabited the continents for thousands of years.
Q4. Which explorer was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the Earth?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Sir Francis Drake
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Correct Answer: d) Sir Francis Drake
Explanation: Sir Francis Drake, an English explorer, was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the Earth between 1577 and 1580.
Q5. Which of the following was a major motivation for European exploration during the Age of Discovery?
a) The search for new trade routes
b) The desire to spread Christianity
c) The quest for knowledge and scientific discovery
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: European exploration during the Age of Discovery was motivated by the search for new trade routes, the desire to spread Christianity, and the quest for knowledge and scientific discovery.
Q6. Which explorer is credited with the discovery of the Pacific Ocean?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Vasco Núñez de Balboa
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Correct Answer: d) Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Explanation: Vasco Núñez de Balboa, a Spanish explorer, is credited with the discovery of the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
Q7. Which explorer is credited with the discovery of the Mississippi River?
a) Hernando de Soto
b) Jacques Cartier
c) Samuel de Champlain
d) Henry Hudson
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Correct Answer: a) Hernando de Soto
Explanation: Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, is credited with the discovery of the Mississippi River in 1541.
Q8. Which explorer is credited with the discovery of the St. Lawrence River?
a) Hernando de Soto
b) Jacques Cartier
c) Samuel de Champlain
d) Henry Hudson
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Correct Answer: b) Jacques Cartier
Explanation: Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, is credited with the discovery of the St. Lawrence River in 1535.
Q9. Which explorer is credited with the founding of Quebec City?
a) Hernando de Soto
b) Jacques Cartier
c) Samuel de Champlain
d) Henry Hudson
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Correct Answer: c) Samuel de Champlain
Explanation: Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer, is credited with the founding of Quebec City in 1608.
Q10. Which explorer is credited with the discovery of the Hudson River?
a) Hernando de Soto
b) Jacques Cartier
c) Samuel de Champlain
d) Henry Hudson
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Correct Answer: d) Henry Hudson
Explanation: Henry Hudson, an English explorer, is credited with the discovery of the Hudson River in 1609.
Q11. Which of the following was a major outcome of European exploration during the Age of Discovery?
a) The establishment of European colonies in the Americas
b) The introduction of new crops and animals to Europe and the Americas
c) The spread of diseases between Europe and the Americas
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: European exploration during the Age of Discovery led to the establishment of European colonies in the Americas, the introduction of new crops and animals to Europe and the Americas, and the spread of diseases between the continents.
Q12. Which of the following was a major motivation for the exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries?
a) The search for new trade routes
b) The desire to spread Christianity
c) The quest for knowledge and scientific discovery
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: c) The quest for knowledge and scientific discovery
Explanation: The exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries was primarily motivated by the quest for knowledge and scientific discovery.
Q13. Which explorer is credited with the first successful expedition to the South Pole?
a) Robert Falcon Scott
b) Roald Amundsen
c) Ernest Shackleton
d) Richard E. Byrd
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Correct Answer: b) Roald Amundsen
Explanation: Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, is credited with the first successful expedition to the South Pole in 1911.
Q14. Which explorer is credited with the first successful expedition to the North Pole?
a) Robert Peary
b) Roald Amundsen
c) Ernest Shackleton
d) Richard E. Byrd
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Correct Answer: a) Robert Peary
Explanation: Robert Peary, an American explorer, is credited with the first successful expedition to the North Pole in 1909, although there is some controversy surrounding his claim.
Q15. Which of the following was a major outcome of the exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries?
a) The establishment of European colonies in the polar regions
b) The introduction of new crops and animals to Europe and the Americas
c) The spread of diseases between Europe and the polar regions
d) The advancement of scientific knowledge and understanding of the polar regions
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Correct Answer: d) The advancement of scientific knowledge and understanding of the polar regions
Explanation: The exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries led to the advancement of scientific knowledge and understanding of the polar regions.
Q16. Which of the following was a major motivation for the exploration of the New World by European powers in the 15th and 16th centuries?
a) The search for new trade routes
b) The desire to spread Christianity
c) The quest for knowledge and scientific discovery
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: European exploration of the New World in the 15th and 16th centuries was motivated by the search for new trade routes, the desire to spread Christianity, and the quest for knowledge and scientific discovery.
Q17. Which explorer is credited with the first voyage around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Bartolomeu Dias
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Correct Answer: d) Bartolomeu Dias
Explanation: Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, is credited with the first voyage around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope, in 1488.
Q18. Which explorer is credited with the discovery of the Americas, although he believed he had reached the East Indies?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) John Cabot
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Correct Answer: a) Christopher Columbus
Explanation: Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery of the Americas in 1492, although he believed he had reached the East Indies.
Q19. Which explorer is credited with the first voyage to the East Indies by sailing around the southern tip of Africa?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) John Cabot
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Correct Answer: b) Vasco da Gama
Explanation: Vasco da Gama is credited with the first voyage to the East Indies by sailing around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope, in 1497-1499.
Q20. Which explorer is credited with the first English expedition to the New World?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) John Cabot
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Correct Answer: d) John Cabot
Explanation: John Cabot, an Italian explorer sailing under the English flag, is credited with the first English expedition to the New World in 1497.