CENTRO CULTURAL SALVADOREÑO AMERICANO

BACHILLERATO GENERAL- SECOND YEAR – READING & WRITNG

THIRD PERIOD – DAILY ACTIVITY
UNIT 8: GREAT EXPLORERS
Names: ___________________________________ _________________________
Section: _________ Date: ___________________ Teacher’s Name: ____________________

I: Objective:
To classify ways of taking notes while reading .

II: Achievement indicators: 8.1 Describes experiences of different explorers, respecting classmates’
opinions.
8.2 Classifying different ways of taking notes while they read, internalizing new knowledge.

III: ACTIVITY SETTING

Work individually. Read the information and then complete each note from the passage with the correct
word from the box. Two words are extra.

The Race to India

[A] In the 15th century, there was a race among Europeans to reach India because of the riches it offered.
Indian spices1 were like gold. Because of the high demand, European traders could make a fortune2 by
selling them.

[B] The problem, however, was that these spices were not so easy to obtain. The journey to India was a
complicated one. Traveling by horse was very slow, especially in mountainous areas. Furthermore, reaching
India by land involved passing through countries that were not always friendly to Europeans. The chances of
being attacked were high.

[C] When the Ottoman Empire3 took over Constantinople4 in 1453, the journey to India became even more
difficult. The Ottomans took control of the trade routes between Europe and Asia for their own financial
benefits. This forced the Europeans to try to reach India by sea. It began what is now known as the Age of
Discovery.

Two Great Explorers

[D] Most people know the story of Christopher Columbus. He was hired by the king of Spain to reach India
by crossing the Atlantic Ocean. He did not succeed in this mission. The reason for this is because, on his
way, he found America instead - a "new world" unknown to Europeans. For this achievement in the year
1492, Columbus is considered the most famous explorer of the Age of Discovery.

[E] If Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama were still alive, what might he say about Columbus's fame? He
might simply shake his head. After all, Vasco da Gama was the first explorer to reach India by sea.

[F] Unlike Columbus, Vasco da Gama attempted to reach India by sailing around the southernmost point of
Africa and into the Indian Ocean. His trip was long and full of challenges. Although he and his crew sailed
from Portugal in July 1497, they did not reach India until May 1498. Despite this, he reached his objective.
Europeans had a new route to India and, more importantly, its spices. For this reason, although less famous
than Columbus, Vasco da Gama has also been admired for his discoveries as one of the greatest explorers
in world history.
Part 1: Read the information and then complete each note from the passage with the correct word
from the box. Two words are extra. ( 35%)
Africa Discovery 1949 1453 Europeans Spain Portugal Informal Journal Voyage
 1. The Age of __________ began in 15th C.

2. OE took over Constantinople in ________.

3. CC was hired by king of ________.

4. VdG reached Ind by sailing around __________ and into IO.

5. VdG took approx. 1 yr. to sail from ________ to India.

6. I keep a(n) ____________________ of what I do every day.

7. A friend of mine took a(n) ____________________ to the South Pole last year.

8. Don't worry about what you need to wear. It's a(n) _______________ dinner.

Part 2: DIRECTIONS: Choose the correct options. (30%)

____ 9. An observation is something you have ____.

a. built
b. taken
c. eaten
d. seen

____ 10. Which word means the same as objective?

a. target
b. argument
c. problem
d. property

____ 11. If you undertake a new business, you __________ it.

a. start
b. stop
c. complete
d. close

Part 3: DIRECTIONS: Match the sentences that have the same meaning. (30%)

a. They allow it.

b. They like it.
c. They see it.
d. They try to do it.
____ 12. They perceive it.
____ 13. They permit it.
____ 14. They admire it.
____ 15. They undertake it.