Exploring the Contours of Earth

What do contour lines on a topographic map represent?

• The boundaries of different countries

• The depth of water bodies

• The amount of vegetation in an area

• The elevation and shape of the land

If contour lines on a topographic map are close together, what does this indicate about the terrain?

• It is flat

• It is a plateau

• It is steep

• It is below sea level

What is the term for the difference in elevation between two adjacent contour lines?

• Contour interval

• Elevation grade

• Slope distance

• Gradient separation

On a topographic map, what does it mean when contour lines form a 'V' or 'U' shape?

• There is a mountain peak

• There is a crater

• There is a river or stream valley

• There is a man-made structure

What is the elevation at sea level?

• 0 meters

• 100 meters

• 1,000 meters

• It varies depending on the location

How would you describe an area on a topographic map that has no contour lines?

• A steep cliff

• A perfectly flat area

• A deep ocean trench

• An area with dense forestation

What does the scale on a topographic map indicate?

• The difficulty level of hiking the terrain

• The proportion between distances on the map and actual distances on the ground

• The elevation level compared to the surrounding areas

• The amount of annual rainfall in the region

If a topographic map has a scale of 1cm : 0.50km , how many centimeters on the map would represent 1 kilometer in the real world?

• 0.5 centimeters

• 2 centimeters

• 20 centimeters

• 50 centimeters

What feature on a topographic map would be indicated by concentric circles?

• A valley

• A plateau

• A hill or mountain

• A basin

When reading a topographic map, how can you tell which way a river flows?

• From the highest contour line to the lowest

• From the widest part of the river to the narrowest

• In the opposite direction of the 'V' shapes the contour lines make

• Rivers are not typically shown on topographic maps