Read the text and decide if the statements are true or false.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, nicknamed “the Great Admiral” was an Italian explorer, born in Genoa \(Italy\) in 1451. At this time, Genoa was a very important commercial port. From a very early age, Christopher had always been fascinated by the sea. He went to sea as a young boy and spent most of his life at sea.
Many people at this time believed the world was flat, but Columbus was sure that the world was round so going to India, China and Japan by sailing west instead of sailing east was possible!
Columbus was determined to prove his idea \(a west route to Asia was possible and shorter\!\). He asked a lot of people for support, including the kings of Portugal, England and France, but he got no help. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain were very interested and decided to help him.
In 1492 Columbus set sail from the port of Palos \(Spain\) with three ships \(the Pinta, The Nina and The Santa Maria\) and a crew of ninety courageous men.
The voyage was long and difficult but the three ships arrived at the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas on 12 October 1492. Columbus claimed these new lands for Spain. When Columbus returned to Spain he told the King and the Queen about the new lands and showed them gold, valuable objects and even some natives!
Columbus, who was looking for a shorter route to the Far East where to find valuable spices and silk, thought he had landed on the islands near India. This is why he named the people he met Indians. Columbus died in 1506 still believing that he had found a new route to the West Indies.

• Группы
  • TRUE
  • FALSE
• Варианты
  • Young Christopher was fascinated by the sea.
  • Columbus named the people he met “Indians” because he thought he had arrived in the West Indies.
  • Columbus claimed the new lands for Spain.
  • The voyage was long and difficult but the three ships arrived at the island of San Salvador on 12 October 1492.
  • Columbus had three ships \(La Pinta, La Nina, La Santa Maria\) and a crew of ninety courageous people.
  • Columbus believed that by sailing west he would reach India, China and Japan.
  • Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain helped Columbus.
  • The Kings of Portugal did not help Columbus.
  • When Columbus died he knew he had arrived in a new continent.
  • Columbus was looking for a new route to Norway.
  • When Columbus returned to Spain, he didn't tell the King and the Queen about the new lands.
  • Columbus first went to sea when he was an adult.
  • In 1492 Columbus set sail from the port of Palos \(Italy\).
  • Christopher Columbus believed that the world was flat.