Short & Long Questions: Maps and Map Reading | Footprints Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Short Answer Questions

Q1: What is a globe, and why is it not always the best tool to study places?
Ans: A globe is a 3D model of the Earth. It's not the best for studying places because it can't show small details like villages and lacks information about landforms and climates.

Q2: Name two types of maps mentioned in the chapter and briefly explain one of them.
Ans: Two types of maps are political maps and physical maps. Political maps show the boundaries of countries, states, and cities.

Q3 What does the legend or index of a map help us with?
Ans: The legend or index of a map gives the key to the symbols used on the map, helping us understand what the symbols represent.

Q4: Why do maps have a north line, and how does it help us?
Ans: Maps have a north line to help us determine directions. The north line points towards the North, and from there, we can figure out other directions.

Q5: In simple terms, what is the difference between sketches and plans?
Ans: Sketches are quick, not-to-scale drawings for a rough idea. Plans are accurate drawings to scale, providing detailed layouts of smaller areas.

Long Answer Questions

Q1: How do maps help us? Mention three advantages.
Ans: Maps are incredibly useful in several ways. Firstly, they provide detailed information about the Earth, showing us the layout of continents, countries, cities, and natural features. Secondly, maps are essential for navigators and pilots as they serve as guides to fix their location accurately. Thirdly, town planners use maps to plan and illustrate the layout of towns or cities, ensuring efficient organization and development.

Q2: Explain the scale of a map and why it is important.
Ans: The scale of a map is the relationship between distances on the map and the corresponding distances on the Earth's surface. It's expressed as a ratio, such as 1 cm on the map representing 200 m on the ground. The scale is crucial because it helps us understand the size and relative distances of features on the map accurately. A small-scale map shows a large area but with less detail, while a large-scale map shows a smaller area with more detail.

Q3: Describe the types of maps mentioned in the chapter and give an example of each.
Ans: There are three main types of maps. Political maps show boundaries of continents, countries, and states, with cities marked. Physical maps, also known as relief maps, illustrate landforms like mountains, plains, and water bodies such as rivers. Thematic maps are designed to focus on specific themes, like population density or rainfall. For example, a thematic map could show the distribution of population in different areas.

Q4: Why do we need cardinal points and the north line on a map?
Ans: Cardinal points (North, South, East, West) and the north line are crucial for understanding directions on a map. The north line indicates the direction of North, and from there, we can determine the other main directions. This helps us navigate and comprehend the orientation of the features represented on the map accurately.

Q5: How are sketches useful, and in what situations would you use them?
Ans: Sketches are quick and informal drawings that provide a rough idea of an area. They are useful when a quick representation is needed, such as showing a friend the route to your house or giving a simple overview of an area. While not drawn to scale, sketches serve the purpose of conveying information in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. Architects and planners might also use sketches in the initial stages of designing layouts.