In the age of great geographical discoveries, who is generally credited in standard general knowledge as the first person to sail round the world on a single expedition?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the history of navigation and geographical discoveries. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, European explorers sailed on long voyages that changed the world map and opened sea routes between distant continents. One of the greatest achievements of this period was the first circumnavigation of the globe. The question asks who is generally credited in standard general knowledge as the first to sail round the world on a single expedition, a fact frequently tested in exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the first round the world voyage.
• It asks for the person generally credited with this achievement.
• The options list several famous explorers from different countries and voyages.
• The learner is expected to recall which expedition completed the first circumnavigation.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe was the one initiated by Ferdinand Magellan under the Spanish flag in the early sixteenth century. Although Magellan himself died in the Philippines before the voyage ended, his fleet, under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, completed the journey and returned to Spain. In simple general knowledge and school level questions, this achievement is usually summarised by saying that Magellan was the first to sail round the world. Therefore, the expected answer in exam keys is Magellan, even though technically his crew finished the full circumnavigation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Christopher Columbus reached the Americas but did not sail around the world. 2. Remember that Vasco da Gama found a sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope but did not complete a global voyage. 3. Know that Ferdinand Magellan organised and began an expedition that crossed the Atlantic, rounded South America, crossed the Pacific, and continued onward, eventually resulting in the first complete circumnavigation. 4. Note that later explorers like Francis Drake also circumnavigated the globe, but they came after the pioneering Magellan expedition. 5. From the options, identify Magellan as the name associated with the first round the world expedition and select that as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, consider common phrasing in school textbooks and general knowledge books, which often simply state that Magellan was the first to sail round the world. While they sometimes add that he died in the Philippines and that his crew completed the journey, Magellan name remains the one used in objective questions. Francis Drake completed a later circumnavigation in the sixteenth century but is usually described as the first Englishman to do so, not as the first human overall. This context confirms that the correct exam oriented answer is Magellan.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vasco da Gama reached India by sailing around Africa, a major achievement in sea navigation, but he did not circumnavigate the globe.
Francis Drake did complete a circumnavigation later and is famous for it, but his expedition came after Magellan and is not the first in world history.
Columbus discovered a route to the Caribbean islands and opened the Americas to European exploration, but he never sailed around the world.
James Cook made important voyages in the Pacific and mapped many coastlines, yet he did not lead the first expedition to complete a global circumnavigation.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes choose Francis Drake because they have heard his name in connection with circumnavigation and may not remember that his achievement came after Magellan. Others may confuse different explorers and their routes, mixing up the first voyage to India, the discovery of America, and the first global journey. To avoid these mistakes, it is helpful to associate the phrase first to sail round the world with Magellan and to remember that other explorers made later or different types of voyages. This clear pairing supports fast and accurate answers in general knowledge tests.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Magellan.