Non-fiction: Vikings & European Explorers The Vikings

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, Inc. All rights reserved.

1
Vikings & European Explorers
The Vikings

Most people think Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach
North America. The truth is, however, that he wasnt. The Norse (also known as
Vikings) arrived nearly five hundred years before Columbus voyage. A Viking
named Leif Ericson led them to North America. They settled on the coast, but
only stayed a few years.
Vikings were a fierce
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people. They made their living as pirates, traveling
to other countries, terrorizing and robbing their inhabitants. They originally lived
in Scandinavia, a part of Northern Europe. Today that region includes Norway,
Sweden and Denmark.
Vikings were masters at shipbuilding. Their superior
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vessels and
navigating
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skills at sea help them reach many distant places all over Europe
and even Russia. They also made important discoveries. Besides North America,
Vikings landed on Iceland and Greenland. They eventually settled on these two
masses of land that had previously not even been known to exist.
Vikings were infamous
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for being ruthless. As settlements grew, however,
they strayed
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from their violent ways. They changed their pirating routes to
trading routes. Many Scandinavians also farmed. The Viking Age lasted from the
late 700s to about 1100.

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fierce violent
2
superior above average in quality or ability
3
navigating directing a ship
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infamous having a very bad reputation
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strayed to move away from something
Questions: Vikings & European Explorers The Vikings

2012 ReadWorks

, Inc. All rights reserved.

2
Name: ______________________________ Date: _______________________


1. Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach America.

a. True
b. False


2. According to the passage, what does ruthless mean?

a. cruel
b. kind
c. shy
d. bold


3. All of the following describe Vikings, except

a. fierce.
b. peacemakers.
c. skilled shipbuilders.
d. pirates.


4. What did the Vikings do after they gave up piracy?

a. hunting
b. weaving
c. trading
d. start wars


5. What do you think helped the Vikings explore so many lands?

a. The Vikings ships and navigating skills
b. The Vikings skill at flying
c. The Vikings ability to swim
d. The Vikings personality
Questions: Vikings & European Explorers The Vikings

2012 ReadWorks

, Inc. All rights reserved.

3
6. Based on the passage, what sorts of character traits would Vikings need in
order to be able to achieve what they did as shipbuilders, explorers, and
settlers of new distant lands?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

7. What happened as the Viking settlements grew?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.

The Vikings settled on the coast, ________ only stayed a few years.

a. before
b. where
c. because
d. but

9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.

During the Viking Age, the Vikings settled on Iceland and Greenland because
they were the first to discover these lands.

When? during the Viking Age

Who? ___________________________________________________________

(did) What? ______________________________________________________

Why? ___________________________________________________________

10. Vocabulary Word: navigate: to steer in a certain path or direction.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________

________________________________________________________________
Answers: Vikings & European Explorers The Vikings

2012 ReadWorks

, Inc. All rights reserved.

4
Teacher Guide and Answers

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 770

Featured Text Structure: Descriptive - the writer explains, defines, or illustrates
a concept or topic

Passage Summary: The passage describes who the Vikings were, how they
traveled, and where they explored. The Vikings reached America close to 500
years before Christopher Columbus reached the New World.


1. Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach America.
a. True
b. False


2. According to the passage, what does ruthless mean?
a. cruel
b. kind
c. shy
d. bold


3. All of the following describe Vikings, except
a. fierce.
b. peacemakers.
c. skilled shipbuilders.
d. pirates.


4. What did the Vikings do after they gave up piracy?
a. hunting
b. weaving
c. trading
d. start wars


5. What do you think helped the Vikings explore so many lands?
a. The Vikings ships and navigating skills
b. The Vikings skill at flying
c. The Vikings ability to swim
d. The Vikings personality

Answers: Vikings & European Explorers The Vikings

2012 ReadWorks

, Inc. All rights reserved.

5
6. Based on the passage, what sorts of character traits would Vikings need in
order to be able to achieve what they did as shipbuilders, explorers, and
settlers of new distant lands?

Suggested answer: Answers may vary but could include: Shipbuilding
character traits: creative, innovative, smart; Explorer character traits:
daring, adventurous, brave, patient, fearless; Settler traits: brave, hardy,
courageous, daring, and skilled.


7. What happened as the Viking settlements grew?

Suggested answer: As the Vikings settlements grew they strayed from
their violent ways. Instead of pirating routes, the Vikings changed them to
trading routes. Also, many Scandinavians were farmers.


8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.

The Vikings settled on the coast, ________ only stayed a few years.

a. before
b. where
c. because
d. but


9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.

During the Viking Age, the Vikings settled on Iceland and Greenland because
they were the first to discover these lands.

When? during the Viking Age

Who? the Vikings

(did) What? they settled on Iceland and Greenland

Why? because they were the first to discover these lands


10. Vocabulary Word: navigate: to steer in a certain path or direction.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.