Non-fiction: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
Vikings & European Explorers
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama was a famous Portuguese explorer1. Like his
contemporary, Christopher Columbus, da Gama wanted to find a route from
Europe to Asia. Europe was eager to trade with Asia. It wanted access2 to Asia’s
riches and valuable goods. Columbus thought the quickest way to Asia would be
to sail west. Da Gama decided he would try his luck and sail east. Eventually, he
would become the first European to reach India by ship.
Da Gama’s remarkable journey of discovery began on July 8, 1497. He
set sail from Lisbon, Portugal’s capital. He commanded four ships with a crew of
about 170 men and some very basic navigational3 instruments. First, he headed
south to Africa’s southernmost tip called the Cape of Good Hope. Only one man
before him had tried this trip. No one at that time knew what was around the
corner of Africa. Despite the potential dangers, da Gama pressed on and
rounded the Cape of Good Hope by December.
Next, da Gama’s fleet4 sailed north along Africa’s eastern coast. They
stopped at trading centers that are in present-day Mozambique and Kenya. But
not everyone welcomed the sudden visit by European strangers. Some of the
Arab traders became upset with the Portuguese and made them leave. Da Gama
did however get help from some Africans. They arranged for a guide to lead the
fleet to India.
Finally, da Gama and his crew headed east. On May 20, 1498, nearly ten
months after they left Portugal, they reached India. But, again, things became
difficult. India’s Hindu ruler felt insulted by da Gama’s gifts, which he thought
were worthless. Also, some Arab traders had already come to India. They
controlled trading there and didn’t want the Europeans meddling5 in their
explorer – a person who travels in order to discover what a place is like
access – a way to enter
3 navigational – describes something that is used to help find the way to get somewhere
4 fleet – any group of ships sailing together
5 meddling – interfering in someone else’s business
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2
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Non-fiction: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
business. They threatened the Portuguese and refused to trade with them. Still,
da Gama’s voyage was a success. Portugal had reached India by sea. Da Gama
returned home a hero, but at a huge price. Many of the sailors died of disease
during the voyage home. Only half of the crew survived by the time the fleet
returned to Portugal in September 1499.
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Questions: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
Name: ______________________________ Date: _______________________
1. According to the passage, a contemporary is
a.
b.
c.
d.
an enemy.
someone who lived at the same time.
a best friend.
someone lesser than you.
2. When Colombus sailed west which way did de Gama sail?
a.
b.
c.
d.
west
east
northeast
northwest
3. Which event happened just before de Gama headed east to India?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Da Gama’s fleet sailed north along the African coast
Da Gama’s fleet sailed south to the Cape of Good Hope
Da Gama’s fleet sailed back to Portugal
Many of da Gama’s sailors died of disease
4. In the second sentence, who does the word “his” refer to?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Vasco da Gama
Chistopher Columbus
A Sailor
The Author
5. The author of this passage probably wants to
a.
b.
c.
d.
Scare readers
Make readers cry
Make readers laugh
Inform readers
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Questions: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
6. Imagine you’re one of the ship’s officers and you have to record where da
Gama’s fleet is traveling. Make a list in the correct order, using signal words
(i.e. first, next, last) to help you. Make sure you include the trip back to
Portugal.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. Why did da Gama sail east to Asia?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Only half of da Gama’s crew survived _______ the time the fleet returned to
Portugal.
a. by
b. as
c. because
d. so
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Questions: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
After ten months, Vasco da Gama and his crew reached India by sailing east
around Africa.
When? after ten months
Who? ___________________________________________________________
(did) What? ______________________________________________________
How? ___________________________________________________________
10. Vocabulary Word: explorer: a person who travels in order to discover what a
place is like.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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Answers: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 820
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive - the writer explains, defines or illustrates
a concept or topic
Passage Summary: The passage describes who Vasco da Gama was and
where he explored. Da Gama was the first European to reach India by ship by
sailing east from Portugual.
1. According to the passage, a contemporary is
a. an enemy.
b. someone who lived at the same time.
c. a best friend.
d. someone lesser than you.
2. When Colombus sailed west, which way did de Gama sail?
a. west
b. east
c. northeast
d. northwest
3. Which event happened just before de Gama headed east to India?
a. Da Gama’s fleet sailed north along the African coast
b. Da Gama’s fleet sailed south to the Cape of Good Hope
c. Da Gama’s fleet sailed back to Portugal
d. Many of da Gama’s sailors died of disease
4. In the second sentence, who does the word “his” refer to?
a. Vasco da Gama
b. Chistopher Columbus
c. A Sailor
d. The Author
5. The author of this passage probably wants to
a. Scare readers
b. Make readers cry
c. Make readers laugh
d. Inform readers
6. Imagine you’re one of the ship’s officers and you have to record where da
Gama’s fleet is traveling. Make a list in the correct order, using signal words
(i.e. first, next, last) to help you. Make sure you include the trip back to
Portugal.
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Vikings & European Explorers – Vasco da Gama
Suggested answer: First, the ship sailed from Portugal south around the
Cape of Good Hope. Next, the ship sailed north along Africa’s eastern
coast. Then, the ship sailed east from Africa to India. Last, the ship sailed
from India back to Portugal.
7. Why did da Gama sail east to Asia?
Suggested answer: Columbus thought the quickest way to Asia would be
to sail west. Vasco da Gama decided he would try his luck and sail east.
He wanted to sail east to Asia in order to have access to Asia’s riches and
valuable goods. Eventually, he would become the first European to reach
India by ship.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Only half of da Gama’s crew survived _______ the time the fleet returned to
Portugal.
a. by
b. as
c. because
d. so
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
After ten months, Vasco da Gama and his crew reached India by sailing east
around Africa.
When? after ten months
Who? Vasco da Gama and his crew
(did) What? reached India
How? by sailing east around Africa
10. Vocabulary Word: explorer: a person who travels in order to discover what a
place is like.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
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