The Columbian Exchange: plants, animals and diseases crossing the Atlantic

Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Disease and population in the Americas (historians' estimates)

   a chart beside a map. Americas in 1491: estimates range from about 8 million to over 110 million people, with no agreement. Within 100 to 150 years after 1492: an estimated fall of 80 to 95 percent. Central Mexico: just under 15 million people in 1519; about 1.5 million a century later. Hispaniola's Taíno people: estimates from 60,000 to 8 million before 1492; very few remained 50 years later. Key: a red dashed arrow is the spread of disease from the coast inland; shading shows places where counts were made. Below the chart: Native peoples had never met these diseases, so they had no immunity to them. Disease often spread inland ahead of the Europeans, so the first counts Europeans made may have been too low.

2. 1.

   What range does the chart give for the Americas' people in 1491, Bo asks?

   • Exactly 110 million
   • About 8 million to over 110 million
   • About 8 to 110 people
   • About 15 million to 1.5 million people
3. 2.

   What fall does the chart give for the 100 to 150 years after 1492, Esme asks?

   • A rise of 80 to 95 percent in population
   • Exactly 50 percent
   • 8 to 9 percent
   • An estimated 80 to 95 percent
4. 3.

   How many people lived in Central Mexico in 1519, by the chart, Jun asks?

   • About 1.5 million
   • Just under 15 thousand
   • Over 110 million
   • Just under 15 million
5. 4.

   Why do estimates for 1491 range so widely, Kira asks?

   • Few counts, and disease came first
   • The chart has a typing slip
   • People moved to Europe
   • The counts agree
6. 5.

   Disease spread inland ahead of the Europeans. What does that mean for the first counts, Luz asks?

   • They are exact
   • They may be too high
   • They count Europeans and no one else
   • They may be too low
7. 6.

   Central Mexico fell from about 15 million to about 1.5 million. About what fraction remained, Noah asks?

   • About one-hundredth
   • About the same
   • About one-tenth
   • About one-half
8. 7.

   About what percent of Central Mexico's people were lost in that century, Pia asks?

   • About 50 percent
   • About 90 percent
   • About 10 percent
   • About 15 percent
9. 8.

   About how many people were lost in Central Mexico, by the chart, Ren asks?

   • About 1.35 million
   • About 1.5 million
   • About 16.5 million
   • About 13.5 million
10. 9.

    Tala's note says, "Europeans counted exactly 110 million people in 1491." Which fix is right?

    • Change people to horses
    • Change it: estimates range widely
    • Leave it: the number is exact
    • Change 1491 to 1941
11. 10.

    Ari's note says, "The Americas' population rose after 1492." Which fix is right?

    • Change Americas to Europe
    • Leave it: it rose
    • Change rose to fell
    • Change 1492 to 1942