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Explorers

Explorers for Holland

Explorers for Holland
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 6 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.64

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    co-operate, mid-June, establishment, unsuccessful, abandon, successful, route, behalf, attempt, exploration, locked, immediately, unwilling, lead, wealth, goods
     content words:    Northeast Passage, Willem Barents, Vil-em Ba-runts, North America, North Pole, Kara Sea, Barents Sea, Far East, Henry Hudson, New York State

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Other Languages
     Spanish: Exploradores para Holanda

Explorers for Holland
By Mary Lynn Bushong 		  
1     When you think of countries sending explorers in search of wealth and land, you probably think of England, Spain, and France. While they were the main ones, there was also a much smaller country involved in the search. Instead of colonies, it searched for the Northeast Passage. That country was Holland.
 
2     The land of tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes first sent Willem Barents (pronounced Vil-em Ba-runts). Instead of trying to reach Asia by going around North America, he was encouraged to find a Northeast Passage. The plan was to sail the waters near the North Pole east and then south to China.
 
3     Barents's first attempt to find the Northeast Passage in 1594 was not successful. He got as far as the Kara Sea but had to turn back when ice blocked his way. Not willing to let the ice stop him, he returned again the next year. That time he had seven ships instead of just two. In spite of their loads of goods for trade in China, the ice was still unwilling to co-operate.

Paragraphs 4 to 9:
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