Canadian history: Early Exploration

Multiple choice questions. Choose the best answer.
  1. The Italian explorer who sailed from England and visited Newfoundland in 1497 was

    a) John Cabot.
    b) Verrazzano.
    c) Francis Drake.
    d) Jacques Cartier.


  2. In 1500, European explorers in America were primarily interested in

    a) the fur trade.
    b) finding a route to Asia.
    c) converting the Indians to Christianity.
    d) fishing.


  3. In the early 1500’s, what two countries started permanent colonies in the Americas?

    a) Spain and France
    b) France and England
    c) England and Holland
    d) Spain and Portugal


  4. In 1535, the King of France sent _________ to North America.

    a) Christopher Columbus
    b) Vasco de Gama
    c) Jacques Cartier
    d) Samuel de Champlain


  5. The first successful French settlement in North America was at

    a) Port Royal.
    b) Quebec City.
    c) Trois Rivieres.
    d) Tadoussac.


  6. Stadacona and Hochelaga were located on

    a) the Gaspe Peninsula.
    b) the St. Lawrence River.
    c) the Bay of Fundy.
    d) Georgian Bay.


  7. Stadacona was located at the modern-day city of

    a) Port Royal.
    b) Quebec City.
    c) Trois Rivieres.
    d) Montreal.


  8. Hochelaga was located at the modern-day city of

    a) Port Royal.
    b) Quebec City.
    c) Trois Rivieres.
    d) Montreal.


  9. In 1535, the Iroquois chief at Stadacona was

    a) Anaconda.
    b) Donacona.
    c) Donna Reid.
    d) Chief Joseph Brant.


  10. In the early 1600's, the French name for Montreal was

    a) Fort Dusquesne.
    b) Fort Frontenac.
    c) Ville Marie.
    d) Hochelaga.


  11. Scurvy is a disease caused by

    a) the cold weather.
    b) seasickness.
    c) boredom.
    d) a lack of fresh vegetables.


  12. Henry Hudson searched for a route to China through

    a) the southwest passage.
    b) the northwest passage.
    c) the Mississippi Valley.
    d) the St. Lawrence River system.


  13. In North America, the English set up their first successful colony

    a) near Hudson Bay.
    b) near New York City.
    c) at Halifax.
    d) in Virginia.


  14. In 1670, the English gave a fur-trading charter to the

    a) Hudson’s Bay Company.
    b) Company of One Hundred Associates.
    c) Thirteen Colonies.
    d) Dutch.


  15. In the 1600’s, the most important industry in Newfoundland was

    a) fishing.
    b) fur trading.
    c) shipbuilding.
    d) farming.


  16. The economy of Newfoundland historically was based on

    a) fishing and shipbuilding.
    b) fishing and fur trading.
    c) fishing and logging.
    d) fishing and farming.


  17. In the early 1700's, commerce west of the Great Lakes was dominated by

    a) mining.
    b) the fur trade.
    c) forestry.
    d) agriculture.


  18. First Nations people who live primarily in what is now British Columbia are called

    a) Innuit and Dene.
    b) Metis and Cree.
    c) Sioux and Blackfoot.
    d) Haida and Tlingit.


  19. First Nations People who live primarily in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are

    a) Iroquois and Huron.
    b) Tlingit and Haida.
    c) Dene and Chipewyan.
    d) Sioux and Blackfoot.


  20. First Nations People who live primarily in Ontario and Quebec are

    a) Iroquois and Huron.
    b) Tlingit and Haida.
    c) Dene and Chipewyan.
    d) Sioux and Blackfoot.


  21. First Nations People who live primarily in northern Canada are

    a) Iroquois and Huron.
    b) Tlingit and Haida.
    c) Dene and Innuit.
    d) Sioux and Blackfoot.


  22. In 1535, Jacques Cartier sailed to America from the French port of

    a) Bordeaux.
    b) Marseilles.
    c) St. Malo.
    d) Paris.


  23. In the early 1500's, most Europeans came to North America

    a) to trade for furs.
    b) to fish.
    c) to export lumber.
    d) to spread Christianity.


  24. A triangular sled used by the Native people to transport goods was called a

    a) travois.
    b) voyageur.
    c) tipi.
    d) Red River cart.

Answer key 1. a 6. b 11. d 16. c 21. c
2. b 7. b 12. b 17. b 22. c
3. d 8. d 13. d 18. d 23. b
4. c 9. b 14. a 19. d 24. a
5. a 10. c 15. a 20. a 25. _

Compiling such a data bank is an ongoing process. Comments and contributions are appreciated by those persons who use this resource.

Return to Top

Back to Test Questions

Back to Homepage