Texes Social Studies Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Test Prep Guide

James Cook was the British explorer who significantly contributed to the exploration of the Pacific Ocean, including the claiming of New Zealand and Australia for the British crown in the 18th century. Cook's expeditions provided detailed maps and accounts of these regions, thus laying the groundwork for British colonization. His first voyage, which began in 1768, led to his landing in New Zealand in 1769 and later in Australia in 1770, where he reached the east coast and claimed the land in the name of Great Britain.

The other explorers listed, while notable in their own rights, did not directly claim New Zealand or Australia. Sir Walter Raleigh was primarily associated with the colonization attempts in North America. Henry Hudson explored regions in North America and parts of the Arctic, and Sir Francis Drake was known for circumnavigating the globe and engaging in piracy against Spanish ships, rather than exploring Australia or New Zealand. Cook's direct association with the exploration and claiming of those territories distinguishes him as the correct answer.