Selina Textbook Solutions: Elements of a Map | Geography Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


A. Choose the correct answer 
1. This is not one of the five basic elements of a map 
1. a title 
2. a north line 
3. conventional symbols 
4. a twine 
2. This is one of the intermediate directions. 
1. north 
2. south 
3. north-east 
4. east 
3. Places lying halfway between south and south-west will have a 
1. south direction 
2. west direction 
3. south-south-west direction 
4. west-south-west direction 
4. This is the ratio of the distance between two places on a map to the actual distance 
between the same two places on the ground. 
1. scale 
2. plan 
3. symbol 
4. sketch 
5. The numerator of a representative fraction is always 
1. 1 
2. 2 
3. o 
4. 100 
B. Answer the following questions in brief. 
Question 1. 
What are the cardinal directions ? 
Answer: 
Page 2


A. Choose the correct answer 
1. This is not one of the five basic elements of a map 
1. a title 
2. a north line 
3. conventional symbols 
4. a twine 
2. This is one of the intermediate directions. 
1. north 
2. south 
3. north-east 
4. east 
3. Places lying halfway between south and south-west will have a 
1. south direction 
2. west direction 
3. south-south-west direction 
4. west-south-west direction 
4. This is the ratio of the distance between two places on a map to the actual distance 
between the same two places on the ground. 
1. scale 
2. plan 
3. symbol 
4. sketch 
5. The numerator of a representative fraction is always 
1. 1 
2. 2 
3. o 
4. 100 
B. Answer the following questions in brief. 
Question 1. 
What are the cardinal directions ? 
Answer: 
N may or maynot be shown the top of the map or plan indicates the North direction. If 
no such symbol is shown, then the top portion of the map is taken as the North and the 
bottom, right and left of the map as the South, the East and the West respectively. 
These directions—North, South, East and West — are called the cardinal directions. 
 
Question 2. 
What is meant by the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
Scale on a map is the distance shown in the map. The scale is given just below the 
map. 
Scale helps us to find out the correct distance between various points on a map. In a 
scale there is always a proportion between the dimension of the map and the actual 
area they represent. 
Question 3. 
Which three ways are used to represent the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
The proportion which exists between the map and actual surface of the Earth is called 
the scale. A scale can be expressed in three ways 
1. by a statement 
2. by representative fraction 
3. linear scale or graph 
Question 4. 
Convert the statement 1 cm = 100 km into an R.F. scale. 
Answer: 
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm 
100 km = 100 × 1000 × 100 = 1,00,00,000 cm 
Since RF = Distance on the map in cm 
RFscale = 1 / 1,00,00,000 = 1:100,00,000 
Page 3


A. Choose the correct answer 
1. This is not one of the five basic elements of a map 
1. a title 
2. a north line 
3. conventional symbols 
4. a twine 
2. This is one of the intermediate directions. 
1. north 
2. south 
3. north-east 
4. east 
3. Places lying halfway between south and south-west will have a 
1. south direction 
2. west direction 
3. south-south-west direction 
4. west-south-west direction 
4. This is the ratio of the distance between two places on a map to the actual distance 
between the same two places on the ground. 
1. scale 
2. plan 
3. symbol 
4. sketch 
5. The numerator of a representative fraction is always 
1. 1 
2. 2 
3. o 
4. 100 
B. Answer the following questions in brief. 
Question 1. 
What are the cardinal directions ? 
Answer: 
N may or maynot be shown the top of the map or plan indicates the North direction. If 
no such symbol is shown, then the top portion of the map is taken as the North and the 
bottom, right and left of the map as the South, the East and the West respectively. 
These directions—North, South, East and West — are called the cardinal directions. 
 
Question 2. 
What is meant by the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
Scale on a map is the distance shown in the map. The scale is given just below the 
map. 
Scale helps us to find out the correct distance between various points on a map. In a 
scale there is always a proportion between the dimension of the map and the actual 
area they represent. 
Question 3. 
Which three ways are used to represent the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
The proportion which exists between the map and actual surface of the Earth is called 
the scale. A scale can be expressed in three ways 
1. by a statement 
2. by representative fraction 
3. linear scale or graph 
Question 4. 
Convert the statement 1 cm = 100 km into an R.F. scale. 
Answer: 
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm 
100 km = 100 × 1000 × 100 = 1,00,00,000 cm 
Since RF = Distance on the map in cm 
RFscale = 1 / 1,00,00,000 = 1:100,00,000 
Question 5. 
What method would you use to measure the length of a river ? 
Answer: 
We use twine method to measure the length of a river. In the twine method, a twine is 
placed along the feature to be measured from one end to the other, carefully following 
all the curves and bends. The length of the twine is then measured in centimetres or 
inches using a ruler or linear scale. Thereafter, this length is converted into kilometres 
or miles using the scale of the given map. 
Question 6. 
What is a legend or key ? 
Answer: 
A legend or key is an essential feature of any map. It explains the colours, signs, and 
symbols used in the map. It uses different colours to show the height or depth of an 
area above or below sea level respectively. It is provided near the top or the bottom of 
the map, either on the left-hand or right-hand side. 
Question 7. 
What are conventional signs and symbols ? 
Answer: 
A variety of colourful signs and symbols are used on maps to show natural and man-
made features on maps. These signs and symbols give plenty of information and are 
simple to draw and understand. 
Some of these symbols are internationally recognized as they have been determined by 
convention, i.e., these symbols have been agreed upon and accepted internationally. 
Therefore, they are also called conventional signs and symbols. 
Question 8. 
Name the features that are shown in blue, green, and brown colours on a map. 
Answer: 
? Blue : water bodies such as oceans, seas, bays, gulfs, lakes, rivers, streams. 
? Green : lowlands or plains, both coastal and those built by rivers. 
? Brown : hills, mountains, plateaux. 
? Yellow : hot deserts. 
? White : cold deserts, snow-covered regions. 
Question 9. 
Name the line of latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern 
hemispheres. 
Answer: 
The line of latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres is 
the equator (0°). 
A network of horizontal and vertical lines or latitudes and latitudes drawn on a map or 
Page 4


A. Choose the correct answer 
1. This is not one of the five basic elements of a map 
1. a title 
2. a north line 
3. conventional symbols 
4. a twine 
2. This is one of the intermediate directions. 
1. north 
2. south 
3. north-east 
4. east 
3. Places lying halfway between south and south-west will have a 
1. south direction 
2. west direction 
3. south-south-west direction 
4. west-south-west direction 
4. This is the ratio of the distance between two places on a map to the actual distance 
between the same two places on the ground. 
1. scale 
2. plan 
3. symbol 
4. sketch 
5. The numerator of a representative fraction is always 
1. 1 
2. 2 
3. o 
4. 100 
B. Answer the following questions in brief. 
Question 1. 
What are the cardinal directions ? 
Answer: 
N may or maynot be shown the top of the map or plan indicates the North direction. If 
no such symbol is shown, then the top portion of the map is taken as the North and the 
bottom, right and left of the map as the South, the East and the West respectively. 
These directions—North, South, East and West — are called the cardinal directions. 
 
Question 2. 
What is meant by the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
Scale on a map is the distance shown in the map. The scale is given just below the 
map. 
Scale helps us to find out the correct distance between various points on a map. In a 
scale there is always a proportion between the dimension of the map and the actual 
area they represent. 
Question 3. 
Which three ways are used to represent the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
The proportion which exists between the map and actual surface of the Earth is called 
the scale. A scale can be expressed in three ways 
1. by a statement 
2. by representative fraction 
3. linear scale or graph 
Question 4. 
Convert the statement 1 cm = 100 km into an R.F. scale. 
Answer: 
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm 
100 km = 100 × 1000 × 100 = 1,00,00,000 cm 
Since RF = Distance on the map in cm 
RFscale = 1 / 1,00,00,000 = 1:100,00,000 
Question 5. 
What method would you use to measure the length of a river ? 
Answer: 
We use twine method to measure the length of a river. In the twine method, a twine is 
placed along the feature to be measured from one end to the other, carefully following 
all the curves and bends. The length of the twine is then measured in centimetres or 
inches using a ruler or linear scale. Thereafter, this length is converted into kilometres 
or miles using the scale of the given map. 
Question 6. 
What is a legend or key ? 
Answer: 
A legend or key is an essential feature of any map. It explains the colours, signs, and 
symbols used in the map. It uses different colours to show the height or depth of an 
area above or below sea level respectively. It is provided near the top or the bottom of 
the map, either on the left-hand or right-hand side. 
Question 7. 
What are conventional signs and symbols ? 
Answer: 
A variety of colourful signs and symbols are used on maps to show natural and man-
made features on maps. These signs and symbols give plenty of information and are 
simple to draw and understand. 
Some of these symbols are internationally recognized as they have been determined by 
convention, i.e., these symbols have been agreed upon and accepted internationally. 
Therefore, they are also called conventional signs and symbols. 
Question 8. 
Name the features that are shown in blue, green, and brown colours on a map. 
Answer: 
? Blue : water bodies such as oceans, seas, bays, gulfs, lakes, rivers, streams. 
? Green : lowlands or plains, both coastal and those built by rivers. 
? Brown : hills, mountains, plateaux. 
? Yellow : hot deserts. 
? White : cold deserts, snow-covered regions. 
Question 9. 
Name the line of latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern 
hemispheres. 
Answer: 
The line of latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres is 
the equator (0°). 
A network of horizontal and vertical lines or latitudes and latitudes drawn on a map or 
globe is called the grid system. Latitudes are the horizontal east-west lines. The longest 
latitude is the equator (0°). 
Question 10. 
What are the latitudinal and longitudinal extents of India? Use your atlas to find the 
answer. 
Answer: 
The latitudinal extent of India is 20.59° N and the longitudinal extent of India is 79° E. 
C. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs. 
Question 1. 
What are the five different elements of a map ? Explain them briefly ? 
Answer: 
The following are the five essential features of a map. 
1. Title – It indicate the subject of the map. e.g, distribution of natural vegetation, 
water bodies, climate, etc. 
2. Scale – It denotes the relationship between map distances and actual ground 
distances. _ 
3. Direction – It refers to the cardinal direction, i.e., North, South, East and West, 
Conventionally, a map is aligned with the North towards the top. 
4. Key or Legend – It explains the meaning of the symbols that are used in the map. 
5. Grid system, usually formed by the cross-conjugation of the lines of longitudes 
and latitudes. 
Question 2. 
Explain the functions of the north line and legend on a map. 
Answer: 
The direction on a map is measured with the help ofthe north line. 
All maps have a key or a legend that explains the colours, signs and symbols used in 
them. 
The equator (0° latitude) divides the earth into the hemispheres — the northern and the 
southern hemispheres. All lines of latitude are measured from the equator. 
Question 3. 
What is the difference between the cardinal directions and the intermediate directions ? 
Draw a diagram to shthe intermediate directions. 
Answer: 
The four major directions i.e. North, South, East and West are called cardinal directions. 
The directions in between these four cardinal directions are called intermediate 
directions. 
Page 5


A. Choose the correct answer 
1. This is not one of the five basic elements of a map 
1. a title 
2. a north line 
3. conventional symbols 
4. a twine 
2. This is one of the intermediate directions. 
1. north 
2. south 
3. north-east 
4. east 
3. Places lying halfway between south and south-west will have a 
1. south direction 
2. west direction 
3. south-south-west direction 
4. west-south-west direction 
4. This is the ratio of the distance between two places on a map to the actual distance 
between the same two places on the ground. 
1. scale 
2. plan 
3. symbol 
4. sketch 
5. The numerator of a representative fraction is always 
1. 1 
2. 2 
3. o 
4. 100 
B. Answer the following questions in brief. 
Question 1. 
What are the cardinal directions ? 
Answer: 
N may or maynot be shown the top of the map or plan indicates the North direction. If 
no such symbol is shown, then the top portion of the map is taken as the North and the 
bottom, right and left of the map as the South, the East and the West respectively. 
These directions—North, South, East and West — are called the cardinal directions. 
 
Question 2. 
What is meant by the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
Scale on a map is the distance shown in the map. The scale is given just below the 
map. 
Scale helps us to find out the correct distance between various points on a map. In a 
scale there is always a proportion between the dimension of the map and the actual 
area they represent. 
Question 3. 
Which three ways are used to represent the scale of a map ? 
Answer: 
The proportion which exists between the map and actual surface of the Earth is called 
the scale. A scale can be expressed in three ways 
1. by a statement 
2. by representative fraction 
3. linear scale or graph 
Question 4. 
Convert the statement 1 cm = 100 km into an R.F. scale. 
Answer: 
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm 
100 km = 100 × 1000 × 100 = 1,00,00,000 cm 
Since RF = Distance on the map in cm 
RFscale = 1 / 1,00,00,000 = 1:100,00,000 
Question 5. 
What method would you use to measure the length of a river ? 
Answer: 
We use twine method to measure the length of a river. In the twine method, a twine is 
placed along the feature to be measured from one end to the other, carefully following 
all the curves and bends. The length of the twine is then measured in centimetres or 
inches using a ruler or linear scale. Thereafter, this length is converted into kilometres 
or miles using the scale of the given map. 
Question 6. 
What is a legend or key ? 
Answer: 
A legend or key is an essential feature of any map. It explains the colours, signs, and 
symbols used in the map. It uses different colours to show the height or depth of an 
area above or below sea level respectively. It is provided near the top or the bottom of 
the map, either on the left-hand or right-hand side. 
Question 7. 
What are conventional signs and symbols ? 
Answer: 
A variety of colourful signs and symbols are used on maps to show natural and man-
made features on maps. These signs and symbols give plenty of information and are 
simple to draw and understand. 
Some of these symbols are internationally recognized as they have been determined by 
convention, i.e., these symbols have been agreed upon and accepted internationally. 
Therefore, they are also called conventional signs and symbols. 
Question 8. 
Name the features that are shown in blue, green, and brown colours on a map. 
Answer: 
? Blue : water bodies such as oceans, seas, bays, gulfs, lakes, rivers, streams. 
? Green : lowlands or plains, both coastal and those built by rivers. 
? Brown : hills, mountains, plateaux. 
? Yellow : hot deserts. 
? White : cold deserts, snow-covered regions. 
Question 9. 
Name the line of latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern 
hemispheres. 
Answer: 
The line of latitude that divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres is 
the equator (0°). 
A network of horizontal and vertical lines or latitudes and latitudes drawn on a map or 
globe is called the grid system. Latitudes are the horizontal east-west lines. The longest 
latitude is the equator (0°). 
Question 10. 
What are the latitudinal and longitudinal extents of India? Use your atlas to find the 
answer. 
Answer: 
The latitudinal extent of India is 20.59° N and the longitudinal extent of India is 79° E. 
C. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs. 
Question 1. 
What are the five different elements of a map ? Explain them briefly ? 
Answer: 
The following are the five essential features of a map. 
1. Title – It indicate the subject of the map. e.g, distribution of natural vegetation, 
water bodies, climate, etc. 
2. Scale – It denotes the relationship between map distances and actual ground 
distances. _ 
3. Direction – It refers to the cardinal direction, i.e., North, South, East and West, 
Conventionally, a map is aligned with the North towards the top. 
4. Key or Legend – It explains the meaning of the symbols that are used in the map. 
5. Grid system, usually formed by the cross-conjugation of the lines of longitudes 
and latitudes. 
Question 2. 
Explain the functions of the north line and legend on a map. 
Answer: 
The direction on a map is measured with the help ofthe north line. 
All maps have a key or a legend that explains the colours, signs and symbols used in 
them. 
The equator (0° latitude) divides the earth into the hemispheres — the northern and the 
southern hemispheres. All lines of latitude are measured from the equator. 
Question 3. 
What is the difference between the cardinal directions and the intermediate directions ? 
Draw a diagram to shthe intermediate directions. 
Answer: 
The four major directions i.e. North, South, East and West are called cardinal directions. 
The directions in between these four cardinal directions are called intermediate 
directions. 
 
E.g North, East, North-North east, South west etc. 
Question 4. 
Describe any two ways of representing a map scale. 
Answer: 
Map scales can be represented as 
(a) Verbal or statement scale—i.e. the scale is stated in words as 1 cm = 5 km or 1 cm 
to 5 km. It means 1 cm on the map is equal to 5 km on ground. 
(b) Representative fractions — In this system, the numerator expresses the distance on 
map and denominator represents the actual distance on ground. Both should have 
same units i.e. 1 cm on map represents 50,000 cm on ground. 
R.F = distance on map cm / distance or ground cm 
Question 5. 
Why is the key or legend an important element of a map? 
Answer: 
A legend or key is an essential feature of any map. It explainsthe colours, signs, and 
symbols used in the map. It uses different colours to show the height or depth of an 
area above or below sea level respectively. It is provided near the top or the bottom of 
the map, either on the left-hand or right-hand side. 
Question 6. 
Explain why colours are used in maps? 
Answer: 
Colours play a significant role in maps. They make maps attractive to look at and easy 
to understand and interpret. On physical maps, the different colours are 
conventionally used in this way: 
? Blue : water bodies such as oceans, seas, bays, gulfs, lakes, rivers, streams. 
? Green : lowlands or plains, both coastal and those built by rivers. 
? Brown : hills, mountains, plateaux. 
? Yellow : hot deserts. 
? White : cold deserts, snow-covered regions.