1.2: Map Types & Projections Review

Which type of map is designed for people to refer to for general information about places?

• Isoline maps

• Thematic maps

• Reference maps

• Choropleth maps

Answer explanation

Reference maps are designed for general information about places, providing a broad overview of geographic features and locations, unlike thematic or isoline maps which focus on specific data or themes.

What type of map uses colors, shades, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data?

• Dot distribution map

• Choropleth map

• Graduated symbol map

• Cartogram

Answer explanation

A choropleth map uses colors, shades, or patterns to represent the distribution of spatial data, making it easy to visualize variations across different areas. This distinguishes it from other map types like dot distribution or graduated symbol maps.

Which map type uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something?

• Isoline map

• Dot distribution map

• Plat map

• Graduated symbol map

Answer explanation

The graduated symbol map uses symbols of varying sizes to represent different quantities of a variable, making it easy to visualize data distribution. This distinguishes it from other map types like isoline or dot distribution maps.

What kind of map shows property lines and details of land ownership?

• Political map

• Plat map

• Road map

• Physical map

Answer explanation

A plat map specifically shows property lines and details of land ownership, making it the correct choice. Political maps display boundaries of political entities, while road maps focus on transportation routes, and physical maps illustrate terrain.

Which map projection is best suited for navigation purposes?

• Peters projection

• Mercator projection

• Robinson projection

• Conic projection

Answer explanation

The Mercator projection is best for navigation as it preserves angles, making it easier for sailors and pilots to plot straight-line courses. Other projections distort shapes or distances, making them less suitable for navigation.

What is the main strength of the Peters projection?

• Accurate distances

• Accurate sizes of land masses

• Accurate shapes

• Accurate directions

Answer explanation

The Peters projection is designed to represent accurate sizes of land masses, making it useful for understanding the true scale of countries and continents, unlike other projections that distort size for shape or direction.

Which map projection is best suited for regional mapping?

• Robinson projection

• Peters projection

• Mercator projection

• Conic projection

Answer explanation

The conic projection is best for regional mapping as it accurately represents areas and shapes over smaller regions, making it ideal for mid-latitude areas. Other projections like Mercator distort shapes and sizes significantly.

What is the main purpose of the Robinson projection?

• Illustrating spatial distribution

• Regional mapping

• Navigation

• General use

Answer explanation

The Robinson projection is designed for general use, providing a visually appealing representation of the world while minimizing distortion of size and shape, making it suitable for various applications.

Which map type uses lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in data?

• Isoline map

• Dot distribution map

• Cartogram

• Choropleth map

Answer explanation

An isoline map uses lines to connect points of equal value, effectively illustrating variations in data such as temperature or elevation. This distinguishes it from other map types like choropleth or dot distribution maps.

What is the primary distortion in the Mercator projection?

• Distance

• Direction

• Shape

• Size of land masses

Answer explanation

The primary distortion in the Mercator projection is the size of land masses. It enlarges areas far from the equator, making regions like Greenland appear much larger than they actually are compared to those near the equator.