What You Think is What You See

What You Think is What You See(Adapted from your textbook)
The people who believed the earth is flat had a perception of the world that is different from reality. Have you ever noticed when people believe something, that is all they can see? For example, if you are looking at a cloud and your friend thinks they see a dog, all of a sudden you can see one too! This is because of the human trait perception.
How you see the world is based on your background knowledge (what you know before), biases, and even the recent suggestions made to you by the world around you.How does this relate to explorers and the Northwest Passage?
Background Knowledge.The Europeans had no firm background knowledge about North America. Nobody really knew what it looked like or how big it was. Therefore, it was possible the Northwest Passage could exist because nobody said it didn't.
Bias.The European explorers and monarch were biased in favour of the Northwest Passage because it suited their agenda and it matched with their goals.
Immediate SuggestionsMaps during this time showed the Northwest Passage existed. The dream of this passage would be gone when the reality of geography was found out. It was very hard for these explorers to believe the Northwest passage didn't exist.In other words, there was a kind of feedback loop of false information. Maps that were wrong made people perceive there was a Northwest Passage to China.
Look at page 225 of your textbook to find out what a feedback loop looks like.
Questions
Answer each question in 3-5 sentences.
1. If the maps around you showed the existence of the Northwest Passage, would you believe it? Why?
I am pretty sure that i will believe it.Every one think so, every one says that, every map shows it, so why i will not believe ?People all says that what you see is the truth, i see the map!All things show me that the existence of the Northwest Passage, so i will believe.

2. If you were John Cabot and someone told you the Northwest Passage didn't exist. What would you say? What would you feel? How would you react?
If i am the John Cabot, the react may be different.I do not think that i will believe it.I am a navigator.The passage is the way which should be discovered by a navigator like me. I do not need somebody tell me if it is real or not.I will not feel very happy when people say that, because they deny my believe, but i will not care too much about what they said. I will told them that as a navigator, i will find it out by myself. Let the truth to tell them.

3. Find a map by Humphrey Gilbert from 1582. What do you see in the picture? Explain.


http://www.gavinmenzies.net/assets/images/maps/SirHumphreyGilbertmap.jpg
Red ink , white paper,a map about earth?I do not understand what exactly it shows.it seems like a vertical view picture of the earth.I guess it may draw by Humphrey Gilbert from 1582. At least when i put those words in google, it is shown.
4. Why did the Northwest Passage suit the goals (agenda) of the European explorers and monarchs?
It is useful.It may can help them to find North America, for i guess, although they are attracted by Asia's goods.Anyway Northwest passage can improve the connections, trades.It is useful for people and countries.
5. Feedback loops help us to see reality as a system. Can you think of an example of a feedback loop from your own life? Look at page 225 of your textbook to help you
If there are no animals like rabbits any more, then wolfs will die because there are no foods.If there are no animals like wolfs any more, then there will be too much rabbits , they will eat many grass, but there are no too much grass, they will die because of they do not have foods finally.
6. What did you learn so far about explorers and the colonization of Canada?
I learned a lot about the explorers and the colonization.I learned the experience about Cabot ,Cartier.I learned that how Canada(NEW FOUND LAND )were found .I also learned about fur trade, knew how it works.