Lesson 4

4 The Armada Quiz: Pearson Edexcel History, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4, The Armada: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0), Unit 8: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. When did the Spanish Armada sail from Lisbon?

    • May 1588
    • May 1585
    • May 1580
    • May 1592

  2. Who was appointed by Philip II to command the Spanish Armada?

    • Duke of Parma
    • Don John of Austria
    • Duke of Medina Sidonia
    • Hernán Cortés

  3. How many ships were in the Armada, roughly?

    • About 300
    • About 60
    • About 30
    • About 130

  4. What was the Duke of Parma's intended role in the Armada plan?

    • Funding the campaign
    • Commanding invasion troops
    • Leading the fleet
    • Securing French ports

  5. Which battle in the Channel took place on 8 August 1588?

    • Battle of Trafalgar
    • Battle of Lepanto
    • Battle of Gravelines
    • Battle of Lewes

  6. What did the English use to disrupt the Armada at Calais?

    • Fireships
    • Mines
    • Cannonballs of stone
    • Chain bridges

  7. Which advantage did the English navy hold over the Armada?

    • Closer combat tactics
    • More heavy galleons
    • Larger flagship size
    • Faster gun reloading

  8. Which weather event caused heavy destruction to the retreating Spanish Armada?

    • Heavy fog
    • Extreme heat
    • Fierce storms
    • Frozen seas

  9. Who was the overall commander of the English fleet in 1588?

    • Walter Raleigh
    • Lord Howard
    • John Hawkins
    • Francis Drake

  10. What was the primary tactical goal of the Spanish Armada?

    • Blockading Irish ports
    • Capturing English gold
    • Destroying London
    • Transporting an army

  11. What prevented the Spanish Armada from linking up with the Duke of Parma's army?

    • Dutch cavalry
    • Early winter
    • English blockade
    • Broken bridges

  12. Which combination best explains the English victory over the Armada?

    • Mutiny, blockade, famine
    • Troops, spies, treaties
    • Alliances, plague, gold
    • Ships, fireships, weather

  13. What was a major domestic outcome of the Armada's defeat for England?

    • Eliminated all taxes
    • Converted the monarch
    • Boosted national confidence
    • Abolished parliament

  14. What action did the English fleet take after the Armada fled north?

    • Sailed to Lisbon
    • Returned to port
    • Pursued and harassed
    • Landed in France

  15. What major impact did the defeat of the Spanish Armada have on Philip II?

    • Halted invasion plans
    • Ended the war
    • Bankrupted the monarchy
    • Deposed King Philip

  16. Which crucial factor made the Spanish Armada's invasion plan highly vulnerable?

    • Needing Parma's army
    • Using French ports
    • Lacking gunpowder
    • Sailing without maps

  17. How did England prepare to meet the threat of the Spanish Armada in 1588?

    • Invaded Scotland
    • Built coastal defences
    • Surrendered territory
    • Abolished the navy

  18. What key advantage did the English navy demonstrate during the defeat of the Armada?

    • More infantry
    • Larger warships
    • Better armour
    • Superior gunnery

  19. Why were the large Spanish galleons at a major disadvantage against English ships?

    • Slow and clumsy
    • Made of iron
    • Lacked sails
    • Carried no guns

  20. What effect did the English victory over the Armada have on the Dutch rebels?

    • Strengthened their position
    • Isolated their leaders
    • Force their surrender
    • Destroyed their trade

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