edHelper.com
Renaissance


Defeat of the Spanish Armada


Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 6 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.04

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    long-range, seafaring, combat, formation, coordinate, warfare, century, alliance, defeat, commercial, vulnerable, enemy, itself, power, harbor, seize
     content words:    King Philip II, Queen Elizabeth, Protestant Queen Elizabeth, Spanish Armada, Lord Howard, At Gravelines, English Channel


Print Defeat of the Spanish Armada
edHelper.com subscriber options:
     Print Defeat of the Spanish Armada  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)

     Quickly print reading comprehension

     Print a proofreading activity


Feedback on Defeat of the Spanish Armada
     Leave your feedback on Defeat of the Spanish Armada  (use this link if you found an error in the story)



Defeat of the Spanish Armada
By Sharon Fabian
  

1     In the 16th century, Europe was becoming organized into countries as we know them today. Now, armies were larger, and the stakes were higher as countries fought each other for power and territory. A few of the large, seafaring countries fought for even larger prizes. England and Spain were two of these large countries. Both had ambitions to extend their power beyond their own borders.
 
2     At one time, Spain and England had been on friendly terms. Trade had been established between the two countries. King Philip II of Spain and Queen Elizabeth I of England had worked together at times. However, conflicting goals soon threatened any alliance between the two rulers.
 
3     Some of the problems were commercial. English privateers had attacked Spanish merchant ships and even Spanish colonies in America. These attacks fueled Spanish anger at the English.
 
4     Some of the differences were religious. Spain had been trying to put down an uprising by Protestants in the Netherlands. England, under the Protestant Queen Elizabeth, supported the rebels. This made Spain angry at England.

Paragraphs 5 to 14:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable


Copyright © 2008 edHelper