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 was the earlier name of the Strait of Magellan?
- A.
Palk Straits
- B.
Dire Straits
- C.
Strait of All Saints
- D.
None of these
Attempted by 5 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
In reading comprehension, a factual "what / who / which" question is usually answered by a single explicit statement somewhere in the passage. The method is to locate the exact sentence that links the term in the question to a value, and read the answer directly from that sentence rather than relying on outside knowledge.
Applying it here
The question asks for the earlier name of the Strait of Magellan. Scan the passage for the sentence that names that strait. The relevant sentence reads: "Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today it is known as the Strait of Magellan."
This sentence directly pairs the two names: the passage that is today called the Strait of Magellan was originally named the Strait of All Saints. So the earlier name is Strait of All Saints.
Cross-check
Re-reading confirms the passage gives only one prior name for this strait, and it is stated explicitly, so no inference or external fact is needed. The earlier name is Strait of All Saints.