Map Skills Study Guide Answers

1. Hemisphere – Half of a sphere 1. Hemisphere – Half of a sphere. There are four hemispheres in the world. The northern, southern, western and eastern. 2. Degrees – Units that measure angles. 3. Minutes – Measure smaller units. 4. Map (coordinate) grid – Determining a location on Earth’s surface using latitude and longitude.

5. Compass Rose – A diagram of a compass showing direction. 6 5. Compass Rose – A diagram of a compass showing direction. 6. Cardinal Directions – North, South, East and West 7. Intermediate Directions – Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest 8. Projection – ways to map Earth on a flat surface

9. The Robinson Projection show nearly correct size and shape of land masses. The areas around the edges of the map are distorted. 10. The Equal-Area Projection show correct size of land masses but shapes are distorted.

11. The Mercator Projection shows the correct shapes and directions but not true distances or sizes. The areas near the poles look bigger than they are. 12. Distortion-loss of accuracy in the size or position of objects on a map.

13. Scale – Shows how much space on a map represents a given distance on the land. 14. Locator Map – Shows a larger area than the main map. It shows where the area on the map is located within this larger area. 15. Map Key – Explains the symbols and shading on a map. 16. Map symbol – Something that stands for a particular object on a map.

17. Physical Map – A map that shows physical or natural features. 18 17. Physical Map – A map that shows physical or natural features. 18. Political Map – A map that shows political units such as states or countries. 19. Relief Map – A map that uses different colors or textures to show the height or depth of mountains, hills, valleys, etc. 20. Special Purpose Map – A map that shows the location or distribution of human or physical features.

21. Map- a 2-dimensional model of Earth’s surface. 22. Globe- a model of the Earth that is round or 3-dimensional.

23. The four hemispheres are: Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern 24. The two imaginary lines that divide the earth are: the Equator and the Prime Meridian.

The equator divides the Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into the western and eastern hemispheres. 27. The Prime Meridian is at 0 degrees longitude. 28. The Equator is at 0 degrees latitude.

29. Latitude lines run from east to west but measure from north to south. Longitude lines run from north to south but measure from east to west. 30. What are the advantages of a globe? It is a model of the Earth and shows the continents and oceans as they really are. 31. What are the disadvantages of a globe? A globe doesn’t show city streets and it would be impossible to carry around. 32. What are the advantages of a map? Maps can show many different things about Earth such as streets, boundaries, elevations. Map are easier to carry around.

33. What are the disadvantages of a map 33. What are the disadvantages of a map? Showing Earth on a flat surface causes distortion. Something is going to look too large, too small, or out of place. 34. What two questions do geographers always ask? Where are things located? Why are they there? 35. Latitude and longitude lines help geographers identify specific places on Earth. Know how to label ALL continents and oceans!! Know how to find the coordinates of a specific spot using latitude and longitude. (You will be given a location and you have to provide the coordinates.)

What is geography? Geography is the study of the Earth. A person who studies geography is called a geographer.