Read the following passage carefully. The passage is followed by four…
2022
Read the following passage carefully. The passage is followed by four questions based on it. Alternative answers have been given for each question. Select the most suitable answer from the alternatives.
In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.
A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South America. Finally they found the passage they sought near 50 degrees S latitude. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today it is known as the Strait of Magellan.
One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean. Those who remained crossed the meridian now known as the International Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after 98 days on the Pacific Ocean. During those long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation and disease.
Later, Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and 17 sailors under the command of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no precipice at the edge.
Ques: What did a papal decree of 1493 declare?
- A.
A Papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal.
- B.
That Charles V was to visit the Holy lands.
- C.
That Israel would be gifted to Europe.
- D.
That Spain was to be gifted to the Moors.
Attempted by 5 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
A direct-statement (detail) reading-comprehension question asks for a fact that the passage states explicitly. The method is to locate the exact sentence in the passage that contains the keyword from the stem, and choose the option that restates that sentence faithfully — without adding, dropping, or inventing any detail.
Application
The stem keyword is the "papal decree of 1493." Scanning the passage, the relevant sentence reads: a papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all land east of that line to Portugal. The option that reproduces this exact division of New-World territory between Spain and Portugal is the correct answer.
Contrast
"Charles V was to visit the Holy lands" — the passage links Charles V only to Magellan offering his service to Spain; it says nothing about any visit to holy lands, so this is invented.
"Israel would be gifted to Europe" — the decree concerns New-World land split between Spain and Portugal, not Israel or any gift to Europe; unsupported by the text.
"Spain was to be gifted to the Moors" — no part of the passage mentions the Moors or any transfer of Spain; this contradicts the actual content of the decree.