Using Maps

Suppose you’re looking at a topographic map. How can you tell it’s a topographic map rather than a physical map?

• It is drawn more precisely to scale than a physical map.

• It includes latitude and longitude but not place names.

• It uses lines, not colors, to show how the land changes.

• It was created and updated by the U.S. government.

Which person would be most likely to need latitude and longitude information?

• a sailor

• a hiker

• a driver

• an astronaut

On a thematic map, such as a population map or a map of airplane routes, why are natural features such as rivers and political features such as national borders included?

• to make the map useful to more people

• to indicate what the theme is

• to help compare several maps

• to provide reference points

Organize these options into the right categories

Groups:

(a) Population Map

,

(b) Political Map

,

(c) Resource OR Economic Map

,

(d) Climate Map

• 
• 
• 
• 

Match the following

Groups:

(a) Physical Map

,

(b) Topographic Map

,

(c) Thematic Map

,

(d) Road Map

• 
• 
• 
• 

A topographic map provides ​ (a)  

• the height of the land.
• the climate of a region.
• the population of a place.

Why does every map projection contain some distortion?

• Different people interpret the same projection in different ways.

• Most map projections were invented years ago, before GIS existed.

• The amount of information mapmakers have is limited by technology.

• It's impossible to map exactly a three -dimensional object onto a flat surface.

Which is an example of GPS?

• a satellite photo of the United States at night.

• an online map showing the traffic in your city.

• a site showing all the pages on a website.

• a diagram of the rooms and corridors of a school.

What does layering help cartographers do?

• show many types of information about a place.

• make maps more readable by using several colors.

• provide a list of signs and icons used on a map.

• make maps interactive so they can change over time.

A

​ (a)  

is a live satellite feed. A

​ (b)  

is a database.

• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Global Information Systems (GIS)