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Gold, Spices and Glory is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on the incentives behind European exploration, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Eco.2.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 3 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Gold, Spices and Glory

D2.Eco.2.3-5

NameDate

Choose the best answer.

1.Why did the French come to North America in the 1600s?
  • A.To drill for oil
  • B.To grow rice
  • C.To trade with Native nations for beaver furs
2.Why were spices worth so much in Europe?
  • A.They flavored food and came from very far away
  • B.Spices grew everywhere in Europe
  • C.Spices were the only food in Europe
3.Why did explorers search for a "Northwest Passage"?
  • A.They wanted to reach the South Pole
  • B.They wanted a road to Mexico
  • C.They hoped for a water route through North America to Asia
4.What did the arrival of explorers bring to Native nations?
  • A.Nothing changed for Native nations
  • B.New diseases that killed many people, and the loss of land
  • C.Only gifts and help
5.Columbus sailed west in 1492. Who paid for his voyage?
  • A.The king of France
  • B.Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain
  • C.The Haudenosaunee Grand Council
6.Which was a negative incentive, a risk that could stop an explorer from sailing?
  • A.The promise of fame
  • B.The danger of storms, hunger and shipwreck
  • C.The hope of riches
7.Coronado hoped for fame and wealth if he found the "Seven Cities of Gold." What happened?
  • A.He found seven golden cities
  • B.He found a sea route to Asia
  • C.He found no cities of gold
8.Which was a positive incentive for Spanish explorers?
  • A.The danger of disease
  • B.The chance to find gold and silver
  • C.The chance of shipwreck

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.2.3-5 · Set 3 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Gold, Spices and Glory

Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.To trade with Native nations for beaver furs
  2. 2.They flavored food and came from very far away
  3. 3.They hoped for a water route through North America to Asia
  4. 4.New diseases that killed many people, and the loss of land
  5. 5.Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain
  6. 6.The danger of storms, hunger and shipwreck
  7. 7.He found no cities of gold
  8. 8.The chance to find gold and silver

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Eco.2.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.