Chapter 4: Maps

Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) What are the three components of a map?

(b) What are the four cardinal directions?

(c) What do you mean by the term ‘the scale of the map’?

(d) How are maps more helpful than a globe?

(e) Distinguish between a map and a plan.

(f) Which map provides detailed information?

(g) How do symbols help in reading maps?

Answer 1.

(a) The three components of a map are distance, direction and symbol.

(b) The four cardinal directionss are North, South, East and West.

(c) The scale of the map is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map. There are two types of maps based on scale: Large scale maps and small scale maps.

(d) 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. It is impossible to flatten a round shape and scale it. Therefore, maps are more helpful than a globe.

(e) The difference between a map and a plan is given below.

(f) Large scale maps give detailed information.

(g) Symbols represent roads, bridges, trees, railway lines, etc., through certain letters, shades, colours, pictures and lines. In this way, symbols are a convenient means of reading a map.

2. Tick the correct answers.

(a) Maps showing the distribution of forests are

(i) Physical map (ii) Thematic Map (iii) Political map

(b) The blue colour is used for showing

(i) Water bodies (ii) Mountains (iii) Plains

(c) A compass is used 

(i) To show symbols (ii) To find the main direction (iii) To measure the distance

(d) A scale is necessary

(i) For a map (ii) For a sketch (iii) For symbols

Answer 2.

1. (ii) Thematic Map
2. (i) Water bodies
3. (ii) To find the main direction
4. (i) For a map