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Maps Trivia

Maps Trivia Quizzes

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Can we just stop and ask for directions? Oh, alright. Let's take a look at the map one more time. These quizzes investigate different types of maps, cartography, compass directions, scale, coordinates, symbols, and the charting of geographic areas!
32 Maps quizzes and 448 Maps trivia questions.
Sub-Categories:
Lines of Latitude and Longitude Lines of Latitude and Longitude (24 quizzes)
1.
Atlas Its a Map Quiz
  'Atlas'! It's a Map Quiz!   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Using the most basic maps, can you identify ten countries from around the world? See if you know your nations by the way they're shaped (with a few other hints)! Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, kyleisalive, Jul 28 22
Recommended for grades: 8,9,10
Average
kyleisalive editor
Jul 28 22
15279 plays
2.
  I Am Legend   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I am crucial. I am knowledge. I give direction. I make clear the confusing. I am on your map. I am legend!
Average, 10 Qns, reedy, Mar 08 11
Average
reedy gold member
3369 plays
3.
  Which Map Would You Use?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about all the types of maps that you would use for certain situations. Most examples that are given are Australian. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, AW3404, Jun 05 23
Average
AW3404
Jun 05 23
4466 plays
4.
  Mapping 101    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How well did you listen in your geography class?
Average, 10 Qns, charlemagne, Sep 18 23
Average
charlemagne
Sep 18 23
12053 plays
5.
  Get Coordinated    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
There are many types of geographic coordinate systems...this quiz will test your knowledge of a few of them !
Tough, 10 Qns, catnippin, Jun 15 14
Tough
catnippin
2199 plays
6.
  Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Mercator is my favorite mapmaker...someone you probably know very little about...prove me wrong and take my quizzie !
Average, 10 Qns, catnippin, Sep 11 18
Average
catnippin
Sep 11 18
2838 plays
7.
  Make Me a Map    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz explores some terms associated with cartography, or mapmaking. Have fun with it!
Tough, 10 Qns, catnippin, Jan 13 12
Tough
catnippin
4167 plays
8.
  Topographic Maps    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A mapping revolution ! From hand-drawn to computer-generated...how much do you know about this indispensable tool ??
Difficult, 10 Qns, catnippin, Jun 22 24
Difficult
catnippin
Jun 22 24
3105 plays
trivia question Quick Question
The 34th parallel crosses Tibet. In 1951, Tibet was annexed by what neighbouring country?

From Quiz "It's a Long Way from LA to Denver"





Maps Trivia Questions
1. Which map would you use if you were asked to find the land heights of Australia?

From Quiz Which Map Would You Use?

Answer: Physical

A physical map would be best because it would show the different land heights, normally with shades of brown and it would usually include a key or legend. Physical maps also show the natural features (e.g. rivers, mountains, lakes, etc.) in the area.

2. A line which resembles a ruler and is used to measure distance on a map is called the _______.

From Quiz Make Me a Map

Answer: bar scale

The bar scale graphically shows the map scale. The line is divided into units at a ratio proportional to the scale of the map and labelled numerically to indicate the distance of each mark from the zero mark on the line.

3. What was Mercator's first name?

From Quiz Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker

Answer: Gerardus

4. The most well-known geographic coordinate system is latitude and longitude, commonly referred to as .... ?

From Quiz Get Coordinated

Answer: parallels and meridians

These lines are traditionally measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds. Latitude is measured north and south of the Equator, longitude is measured east and west of the Prime Meridian.

5. In what year was the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) created?

From Quiz Topographic Maps

Answer: 1879

The first map was produced in 1882.

6. In a situation where you need to get to someone else's house in the city, which map would you use?

From Quiz Which Map Would You Use?

Answer: Street

A street map would be ideal because it would show the streets of the city and many public buildings. It would also show the structure of streets, and their names.

7. The decorative frame, or graphic ornamentation, found on or surrounding older maps and charts is called _____.

From Quiz Make Me a Map

Answer: cartouche

8. Mercator is his Latin name. He is also known by what other name?

From Quiz Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker

Answer: Gerhard Kremer

9. Lines of latitude and longitude are circles encompassing the globe to form a gridded network called a .... ?

From Quiz Get Coordinated

Answer: graticule

10. What feature most distinguishes topographic maps from other types of maps?

From Quiz Topographic Maps

Answer: they show contour lines to portray the shape and elevation of the land

Topographic maps render the 3-dimensional ups and downs of the terrain on a 2-dimensional surface....how elevating !

11. What word is a synonym for all lines of latitude?

From Quiz Mapping 101

Answer: parallel

12. Many maps require the use of a scale to determine distances. If your map has a ratio of 1:50,000 then how far would one inch on the map get you in the real world?

From Quiz I Am Legend

Answer: 1,388 yards, 2 feet, 8 inches (0.789 miles)

Twelve inches in a foot, three feet in a yard, 1,760 yards in a mile. It just takes a little figuring. In addition to the correct answer, the options presented gave the scales for one inch at a ratio of 1:25,000, 1:75,000 and 1:100,000.

13. The angle between true (geographic) north and magnetic north (where a compass needle points) is known as magnetic ______.

From Quiz Make Me a Map

Answer: declination

This angle varies for different locations and continually changes with time due to the wandering of the magnetic north pole!

14. Mercator was born in 1512 in Rupelmonde, Flanders. Flanders is a part of what country?

From Quiz Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker

Answer: Belgium

15. What line of latitude is closest in length to any continuous line of longitude that completely circles the earth?

From Quiz Get Coordinated

Answer: Equator

All lines of longitude are 'half of a great circle', and the Equator is called a 'great circle'.

16. The most common scale for a USGS topographic map is 1:24,000. What would one inch on the map represent on the earth's surface?

From Quiz Topographic Maps

Answer: 2,000 feet

These are also known as 7.5-minute quadrangles. There are more than 54,000 maps in this series covering the 48 contiguous States and Hawaii...who wants to join them end to end with me ??

17. This map would be perfect to study the territorial borders of the countries of the world. Name it.

From Quiz Which Map Would You Use?

Answer: Political

A political map shows country, state, and (in the case of the Australian Aborigines) tribal borders. It usually has different colours for countries that border one another, making it is easier to see each one.

18. In cartography, all features on a map associated with water (rivers, lakes, shoreline, marshes) are known as ______.

From Quiz Make Me a Map

Answer: drainage

19. In 1530, Mercator entered the University of Louvain where his principal studies were....?

From Quiz Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker

Answer: philosophy and theology

His uncle sent him to school, probably as preparation to enter the priesthood. He graduated in 1532 with an M.A. After graduation he studied mathematics and astronomy privately, and acquired engraving skills.

20. Another geographic coordinate system is UTM. What does UTM stand for ?

From Quiz Get Coordinated

Answer: Universal Transverse Mercator

21. What map would be ideal for getting to the nearest supermarket in Sydney, Australia?

From Quiz Which Map Would You Use?

Answer: Street

A topographic map might be useful in rural areas (and let's just imagine that there is a big supermarket in the middle of nowhere). However, street maps are best used in large cities like Sydney.

22. The procedure which ensures that separate map sheets covering adjacent regions fit exactly together is known as _____.

From Quiz Make Me a Map

Answer: edge matching

23. In 1544, Mercator was imprisoned for ... ?

From Quiz Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker

Answer: heresy

Mercator was charged with heresy. This is partly due to his Protestant beliefs, partly due to the fact that he travelled so widely to acquire data for his maps that suspicions were aroused.

24. In the UTM system, the globe is divided into sixty zones, each spanning how many degrees of longitude ?

From Quiz Get Coordinated

Answer: 6 & six

The 360 degrees divided by 60 = 6 degrees each.

25. What led to a revolution in mapmaking in the 1940s?

From Quiz Topographic Maps

Answer: aerial photography and photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the science of obtaining reliable information by measuring and interpreting photographs...better than carrying around a portable drawing board on a tripod with a sighting device! Aerial photography had been around for a while, but it exploded in the '40s.

26. What are the systems of interlocking lines of latitude and longitude on a map called?

From Quiz Mapping 101

Answer: Grids

27. Which map would you use to compare the population density in Australian cities?

From Quiz Which Map Would You Use?

Answer: Thematic

In this type of situation, a thematic map would be used because it can show variations in population density. Of course, a choropleth map can also be used. The main difference is that a thematic map usually uses different colours, while a choropleth map normally uses shades of the same colour.

28. Verifying what is shown on a map manuscript or compilation by comparing it with what is actually on the ground is called ____.

From Quiz Make Me a Map

Answer: field checking

Field checks supplement and clarify information obtained from aerial photographs.

29. After Mercator was released from prison he moved to Duisburg, Germany and opened a cartographic workshop. In 1554, Mercator completed a project to produce a new map of ... ?

From Quiz Mercator - Renaissance Mapmaker

Answer: Europe

His map of Europe was the best of its kind for many decades. Further maps followed, one of Lorraine (1564) and one of the British Isles (1564).

30. Aerial photography used by the USGS's topographic mapping program is obtained through NAPP. What does NAPP stand for?

From Quiz Topographic Maps

Answer: National Aerial Photography Program

NAPP (National Aerial Photography Program) flights are flown in a north-south direction along carefully determined flight lines. It takes ten precisely positioned NAPP aerial photographs to provide the stereoscopic coverage needed for each 7.5-minute quadrangle map !

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