Multiple choice

Which of the following events occurred last?

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

JOHN CABOT

Nobody remembers much about Giovanni Caboto, trader and mariner, lost at sea. He lived at the time of Columbus and was a citizen of the city-state of Venice in Italy. He traded in spices and was an expert mariner. Following Columbus, he wanted to find a north-western route to Asia, but he was one up on Columbus in his knowledge of Geography. He surmised that it would take a shorter time to reach Asia by a western sea route if he selected higher northern latitudes. In 1496, he set sail from Ireland under English royal sanction, but was forced to return after reaching Iceland. In 1497, he set sail again with a better ship, the Matthew, and ultimately succeeded in reaching Newfoundland. In 1498, he again set sail for America with a fleet of five ships, out of which one returned to harbor under distress. There have been no further news of the remaining four ships and John Cabot was marked as lost at sea. Everybody forgot about him for about a century, until the British remembered that when John Cabot had reached Newfoundland in 1497, he had done so, under a royal grant. The grant had allowed him to claim unknown lands for the English Crown. So, John Cabot, lost at sea, became important again for the English to stake their claims for the New World. Everybody remembers him for the English claims to North America, but we remember him for his brave spirit of exploration.

 

  1. John Cabot was marked as lost at sea.

  2. John Cabot reached Newfoundland.

  3. John Cabot became important again for the English.

  4. One ship, out of the fleet of five that originally set sail for America, returned to harbor under distress.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The chronological sequence is: 1496 (first voyage), 1497 (reached Newfoundland), 1498 (second voyage, lost at sea), then 'about a century' later, British remembered him and he 'became important again for the English.' This last event happened long after the others, making it the final event in the sequence.