Spanish explorations

11/13/2023 9:11:40 AM

Ponce De Leon Never Searched for the Fountain of Youth | History| Smithsonian Magazine — *Image: Britannica*

Do you know?

The Spanish explorations, which began in the late 15th century, were triggered by the famous voyage of Christopher Columbus.
After Columbus, the Spanish colonization of the Americas was led by a series of soldier-explorers, called conquistadors.

Let's explore Spanish explorations more.

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen and complete the passage.

riches	route	discover
peninsula	fearless	conquerors

Explorers are people who search for new places and new things. Some of the early explorers discovered great things about the world. Some of these 1.1 explorers were Columbus, Cabot, Magellan, Verrazano, and Cartier. But none of these men actually had much interest in the Americas. They were all trying to find the 1.2 to the East Indies and Asia. They found gold and other precious items in Asia. America was just a stop along the way.

The Spanish soon realized that America might have even greater 1.3 than the Indies. Conquistadors, another name for 1.4, set out to 1.5 what America had in store. One of these great Conquistadors was Ponce de Leon. He had sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. He was also a soldier on Hispaniola. He went to Puerto Rico to look for gold. He found some and he also found some native Indians. He conquered the land and set up Spanish rule.

In the year 1513, he set off again in search of gold, but some say he was searching for the fountain of youth. He never found the fountain of youth, but he traveled to a beautiful 1.6 filled with flowers. Ponce de Leon named this peninsula "Florida". Years later, the first European colony was established in what is now known as the United States at St. Augustine.

Read and answer the following questions.

Spanish Explorations

Explorers are people who search for new places and new things. Some of the early explorers discovered great things about the world. Some of these fearless explorers were Columbus, Cabot, Magellan, Verrazano, and Cartier. But none of these men actually had much interest in the Americas. They were all trying to find the route to the East Indies and Asia. They found gold and other precious items in Asia. America was just a stop along the way.

The Spanish soon realized that America might have even greater riches than the Indies. Conquistadors, another name for conquerors, set out to discover what America had in store. One of these great Conquistadors was Ponce de Leon. He had sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. He was also a soldier on Hispaniola. He went to Puerto Rico to look for gold. He found some and he also found some native Indians. He conquered the land and set up Spanish rule.

In the year 1513, he set off again in search of gold, but some say he was searching for the fountain of youth. He never found the fountain of youth, but he traveled to a beautiful peninsula filled with flowers. Ponce de Leon named this peninsula "Florida". Years later, the first European colony was established in what is now known as the United States at St. Augustine.

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 6

What was the primary goal of early explorers?

To establish colonies in the Americas
To discover East Indies and Asia
To break earlier explorers' records
To trade gold with Asian countries

According to the passage, what can we infer about the characteristics of Spanish explorers?

stable financial source
calmness
a will to try
a large support army

According to the passage, what is NOT true about Ponce de Leon?

He sailed to America with Columbus.
He found a peninsula and named it.
He discovered the fountain of youth.
He was a member of the army.

What did Ponce de Leon aim to find in Puerto Rico?

Gold
Diamond
Silk
Medicine

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

To explain the motivations and discoveries of early explorers in the Americas
To detail the specific routes taken by early explorers like Columbus and Magellan
To describe the specific routes taken by early explorers in their voyages
To argue the ethical implications of the conquests and colonization by European explorers

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms:

Choose the sentence that is CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.

The company pulled out all the stops for the product launch to ensure it was an event to remember.

The company went to great lengths to make sure the product launch was unforgettable.
The company put in every possible effort to complete the product launch within the deadline.
The product launch is truly memorable because of the company's all-out effort.
The company generated numerous ideas to ensure the product launch was a memorable occasion.

The writer _____ with his first novel, which became an international bestseller.

hit the bottom
buried the hatchet
struck gold
footed the bill

He originally _____ to beat the land speed record, but weather conditions were unfavorable.

set back
set in
set up
set out