Maps

Maps

• A map is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.
• But it is impossible to flatten a round shape completely.

Different Types of Maps

Physical Maps

• Maps showing natural features of the earth such as mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, oceans etc. are called physical or relief maps.

Political Maps

• Maps showing cities, towns and villages, and different countries and states of the world with their boundaries are called political maps.

Thematic Maps

• Some maps focus on specific information; such as road maps, rainfall maps, maps showing distribution of forests, industries etc. These are known as thematic maps.

Components of Maps

Distance

• Maps are two-dimensional drawings. They reduce the world or part of it on a small sheet.
• Cartographers represent distance between two places accurately, helping us find actual distances.
• Small Scale Map: Shows large area on small map (e.g. country or state map).
• Large Scale Map: Shows small area with more detail (e.g. village or neighbourhood map).

Direction

• A map contains information about directions.
• Most maps show an arrow with ‘N’, indicating north.
• Cardinal Directions: North, South, East and West.
• Intermediate Directions: North-east, South-east, South-west and North-west.

Compass

• A compass is used to find directions.
• It is a small circular box with a magnetic needle that always points in the north-south direction.
• It has been used by travellers and sailors since ages.

Symbols

• Standard symbols represent landmarks and important structures.
• Colours have conventions: brown for mountains, green for plains, blue for water bodies, yellow for plateaus.

Sketch

• A sketch is a rough drawing based on memory and not drawn to scale.
• Useful for quickly showing directions, e.g. to one’s house.

Plan

• A plan is a detailed drawing of a small area drawn to a large scale.
• Architects use plans to show layouts of houses.

MCQs

1. Which colour is used to show water

(a) White

(b) Blue

(c) Green

(d) Black

► (b) Blue

2. ____ represents the curved surface areas of the whole world on a flat sheet of paper

(a) Map

(b) Globe

(c) Plan

(d) Scale

► (a) Map

3. In map Light brown colour is used to show

(a) Rainfall

(b) Mountains

(c) Rivers

(d) Forest

► (b) Mountains

4. Usually right side of the direction indicates

(a) North

(b) East

(c) West

(d) South

► (b) East

5. Map showing the distribution of important crops, minerals, industries etc are called

(a) Distribution map

(b) Political map

(c) Divided map

(d) Physical map

► (a) Distribution map

6. The relation between the distance and corresponding distance on the map and corresponding distance on the ground known as

(a) Globe

(b) Scale

(c) Map

(d) Sketch

► (b) Scale

7. Usually top of the map indicates ____ direction.

(a) West

(b) North

(c) South

(d) East

► (b) North

8. The blue colour is used for showing

(a) Water bodies

(b) Mountains

(c) Plains

(d) None of the above

► (a) Water bodies

9. Boundaries between different states are shown in _______ :

(a) Political Map

(b) Relief Map

(c) Vegetation

(d) Commercial Map

► (a) Political Map

10. Plan is the detail drawing of the ________ drawn on a very large scale

(a) Sun

(b) Small area

(c) Large scale

(d) Moon

► (b) Small area

11. Which of the following is not among the cardinal direction

(a) South

(b) North-east

(c) East

(d) West

► (b) North-east

12. The globe shows ____ of the earth correctly

(a) Length

(b) Direction

(c) Shape

(d) Height

► (c) Shape

13. Plan is useful to show

(a) Details such as length and breadth of a room or place

(b) To find the location of place of the map

(c) Details of counties river, ocean

(d) Can be put together to make an Atlas

► (a) Details such as length and breadth of a room or place

14. Thick blue line on map is usually used to show

(a) Electricity power station

(b) Stream

(c) River

(d) Dam

► (c) River

15. Atlas map are drawn on a ____ scale.

(a) Infinite

(b) Small

(c) Very large

(d) Large

► (b) Small

16. Map showing natural features of the earth such as mountains, rivers, oceans etc. called

(a) Political map

(b) Thematic map

(c) Conventional map

(d) Physical map

► (d) Physical map

17. Which of the following is not the limitation of the globe

(a) Maximum distortion is seen in the region around the poles

(b) Represents earth on the flat surface

(c) Details are not given in the form of symbols

(d) Can study the detail part of the earth

► (d) Can study the detail part of the earth

18. When a large scale area are shown on a small map it is called

(a) Near scale map

(b) Short scale map

(c) Little scale map

(d) Small scale map

► (d) Small scale map