The Columbian Exchange
Practice Questions
Below are questions relating to the Columbian Exchange pulled directly from the NYS 8th grade regents exams in the last 10 years.
1. Which development led to the other three?
(1) Columbus landing in Hispañola
(2) founding of the Jamestown colony
(3) thousands of Native American Indians
dying from new diseases
(4) Europeans using both tobacco and potatoes
2. The need for agricultural workers in the early
southern colonies led to the
(1) formation of labor unions
(2) decision to industrialize
(3) improvement in farming
(4) use of enslaved persons from Africa
3. Which development led to the other three?
(1) Native American Indian populations were
destroyed by disease.
(2) New types of foods were shared by
Europeans and Americans.
(3) European nations sent explorers to the
Americas.
(4) Africans were brought to the Americas as
slaves.
4. What was the major cause of death among Native
American Indians after contact with Spanish
explorers?
(1) relocation (3) disease
(2) slavery (4) starvation
5.What was one result of the Columbian Exchange
(the Encounter)?
(1) Native American Indian populations continued
to increase.
(2) The African slave trade ended.
(3) Diseases were spread to native populations.
(4) Spain’s empire in the New World declined.
6. Which heading best completes the partial outline
below?
I. ____________________________________
A. Europeans establish colonies in North
America.
B. Millions of Native American Indians die
from diseases.
C. Enslaved Africans arrive in the Americas.
D. Foods from the Americas are introduced
in Europe.
7. A conclusion best supported by this illustration is
that the Columbian Exchange
(1) increased the isolation between Europe and
the Americas
(2) ended the slave trade in the Eastern
Hemisphere
(3) led to the spread of disease to the natives of
the Americas
(4) resulted in a decrease in trade between
North America and Europe
8. Which development led to the other three?
(1) New diseases are introduced.
(2) The African slave trade is expanded.
(3) Europeans explore the Americas.
(4) Native American Indians lose their lands.
9. What was one impact of European exploration
on Native American Indians?
(1) European farming techniques were quickly
adopted.
(2) Many Native American Indians were
resettled throughout Europe.
(3) Conflicts between Native American Indian
tribes ended.
(4) Diseases brought by Europeans caused large
numbers of deaths.
