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    7 The Making of A Sailor

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    Mariae Gladys Africa
    Young Christopher Columbus had a fascination with maps, the sea, and travel from a young age. He often visited ports to observe ships and listen to sailors' tales of adventure. As a boy, he had the opportunity to work for a mapmaker and go on voyages with his uncle, a sailor, where he gained experience in navigation. Columbus proved himself brave during encounters with pirates at sea. He eventually became a mapmaker in Lisbon but continued sailing, eventually presenting a proposal to Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain to sail west to reach Asia. The monarchs funded the voyage after the queen sold her jewels, leading to Columbus's historic discovery of America in 1492.

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    7 The Making of A Sailor

    Uploaded by

    Mariae Gladys Africa
    87 views3 pages
    Young Christopher Columbus had a fascination with maps, the sea, and travel from a young age. He often visited ports to observe ships and listen to sailors' tales of adventure. As a boy, he had the opportunity to work for a mapmaker and go on voyages with his uncle, a sailor, where he gained experience in navigation. Columbus proved himself brave during encounters with pirates at sea. He eventually became a mapmaker in Lisbon but continued sailing, eventually presenting a proposal to Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain to sail west to reach Asia. The monarchs funded the voyage after the queen sold her jewels, leading to Columbus's historic discovery of America in 1492.

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    7-THE-MAKING-OF-A-SAILOR

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    Young Christopher Columbus had a fascination with maps, the sea, and travel from a young age. He often visited ports to observe ships and listen to sailors' tales of adventure. As a boy, he had the opportunity to work for a mapmaker and go on voyages with his uncle, a sailor, where he gained experience in navigation. Columbus proved himself brave during encounters with pirates at sea. He eventually became a mapmaker in Lisbon but continued sailing, eventually presenting a proposal to Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain to sail west to reach Asia. The monarchs funded the voyage after the queen sold her jewels, leading to Columbus's historic discovery of America in 1492.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    87 views3 pages

    7 The Making of A Sailor

    Uploaded by

    Mariae Gladys Africa
    Young Christopher Columbus had a fascination with maps, the sea, and travel from a young age. He often visited ports to observe ships and listen to sailors' tales of adventure. As a boy, he had the opportunity to work for a mapmaker and go on voyages with his uncle, a sailor, where he gained experience in navigation. Columbus proved himself brave during encounters with pirates at sea. He eventually became a mapmaker in Lisbon but continued sailing, eventually presenting a proposal to Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain to sail west to reach Asia. The monarchs funded the voyage after the queen sold her jewels, leading to Columbus's historic discovery of America in 1492.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    Selection 7 GRADE 9

    Speed and Comprehension Reading Material

    THE MAKING OF A SAILOR


    No one knows the exact date of Columbus’ birth but it was believed to be somewhere
    between 1445 and 1451. As a boy, he was tall for his age, fair-skinned and bright-eyed, much
    given to wandering down to the port to look at ships and listen to sailor’s talk. Because he was
    fond of hearing about travel and adventure, it came natural for him to like geography, and liking
    geography, he naturally liked maps.
    When the chance to work for a map maker came to him, he seized it eagerly. There were
    good maps in those days. Very often, young Columbus looked at the map and took imaginary
    voyages as many boys did. Work on maps developed in him interest in geometry and astronomy.
    He enjoyed reading, and took interest in science and navigation.
    One happy day, Uncle Colombo, a sailor, and a relative of Columbus, asked him if he
    would like to take a sea trip. However, young Columbus did not go as a passenger. He took his
    place with other ship boys of his own age or older. While other boys had more sailing experience,
    young Columbus knew more about charts than they and that counted much. He could tell a ship’s
    position with the use of instruments. He could read a chart: better yet, he could make one.
    Young Columbus made many voyages with Uncle Colombo and some without the latter. In
    those days, to be a sailor in the Mediterranean was almost like being a soldier, too. Pirates lurked
    everywhere and nations were at war so that every ship went armed and every man and boy had to
    be ready to fight.
    One time, young Columbus was placed in charge of a ship which was sent to capture the
    galley Fernandino in the Bay of Tunis. Columbus proved himself both brave and wise in this
    adventure.
    But a later voyage ended less happily. Their vessel was burned after a terrible sea fight and
    Columbus was forced to leap into the sea. He was lucky enough to find a drifting oar and with its
    help got safely to land to the City of Lisbon. Though he arrived there only through accident, young
    Columbus wasted no time but turned to one of his many trades, this time that of a map maker.
    There he was married. Although his earnings were small, he was able to send some money to his
    father to help his younger brothers through school.
    Columbus still made other journeys before the historical one across the Atlantic in 1492.
    He sailed back and forth between Guinea in Africa and Portugal.
    In 1491 Columbus went to Ferdinand and Isabela, the king and queen of Spain to tell them
    of his wish to go to West and he showed them a map it was a map he himself made. It did not
    show any land where America would be, but it showed Greenland. He told the queen that he could
    find China by sailing to the west. The queen sold her jewels and gave him the money to buy three
    ships with which he discovered America. For the first time men believed the world was round.

    530 words
    Selection 7 GRADE 9
    Speed and Comprehension Reading Material

    THE MAKING OF A SAILOR

    Choose the letter of the correct answer.


    1. What interested Columbus most?
    a. fairy tales b. travel and adventure c. ghost stories d. pirates at sea

    2. As a young boy what was he interested in making?


    A. Sailboats b. paper boats c. pirate caps d. maps

    3. Who took him on his first sea trip?


    a. his uncle b. his father c. a friend d. his teacher

    4. What makes sea travel dangerous in those days?


    (a. wild oceans b. pirates c. sinking ships d. mutineers

    5. What character trait did Columbus show?


    (a. pride b. loyalty c. bravery d. ambition

    6. How did Columbus save himself from their burning ship?


    (a. He waited for the ship to sink. b. He leaped into the sea and held on to a drifting oar
    c. He got a life boat d. His uncle saved him.

    7. What impressed the King and Queen of Spain?


    (a. Columbus’s courage b. Columbus’ map c. Columbus’ heritage d. Columbus’
    records

    8. Did Columbus plan to discover America?


    (a. Yes. b. No. c. Maybe d. it does not tell.

    9. What did the queen sell to be able to buy ships for Columbus?
    (a. her crown b. her jewels c. her palace d. herself

    10. What importance was Columbus’s discovery of America?


    a. It proved that the earth is small.
    b. It proved that the earth is round.
    c. It proved that he was great.
    d. It made Spain famous.

    530 words
    Selection 7 GRADE 9
    Speed and Comprehension Reading Material

    KEY

    1. b
    2. d
    3. a
    4. b
    5. c
    6. b
    7. b
    8. d
    9. b
    10.b

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