Pirates Fact Tracker Quiz

What usually happened to pirates if they were caught?

• They went to jail.

• They were put in stockades.

• They were put to death.

• They were left on a deserted island.

The earliest pirates we know about were __________.

• Greek

• Chinese

• Vikings

• Barbary corsairs

A pirate who had the government's permission to attack ships that belonged to the country's enemies was called ___________.

• a bucaneer

• a privateer

• a Barbary corsair

• a Viking

Which of the things below did NOT cause some sailors to become pirates?

• Some sailors did not get paid for their work, so they started stealing money.

• When pirates invaded a ship, sometimes the crew would join the pirates.

• Some pirates were treated as heroes when they attacked enemy countries' ships.

• Pirate ships were cleaner and faster than other ships.

How did Calico Jack get his nickname?

• He wore colorful clothes made from a special kind of cloth.

• He had a calico cat that followed him everywhere.

• He had a parrot named Calico.

• He loved to play calico music on his fiddle.

Why was Edward Teach (Blackbeard) such a famous pirate?

• He stole more treasure than any pirate of all time.

• He captured more prisoners than any other pirate.

• He was a pirate for longer than any other pirate.

• He would braid rope into his hair and beard and set it on fire.

Which type of ship is most likely to be rowed?

• Sloop

• Schooner

• Galley

• Yardarm

What were the Articles on board every pirate ship?

• rules for pirate behavior and jobs

• special hats for the captain and crew

• oars to row the ship

• cannons to blast holes in enemy ships

Which of these is a MYTH about pirates?

• Pirates often buried their treasure.

• Pirates often caught diseases.

• Pirates often stole gold, food, and ropes.

• Pirates often tried to trick a ship into thinking they were friendly until they got close enough to attack.

While there are some pirates still in the world today, there are not as many as in the past. What happened in the 1800's to decrease the number of pirates?

• When steamships were invented, they could outrun the pirate ships.

• The punishments for piracy became harsher.

• People made more money doing jobs on land, so they did not become pirates.

• An international pirate task force was created to sink all pirate ships.