Short Questions: Maps | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: What is a map? Describe its major features.
Ans:

• Map is a representation of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on flat surfaces.
• One map contains as many facts as a big book.
• All the maps are put together to make on atlas of maps of various sizes and drawn on different scales.
• They provide more information than a globe.

Q2: What is a Plan?
Ans:

• A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.
• A large-scale map depicts much information.
• Sometimes we want to know the length and breadth of a room, which can’t be shown on a map. In such an event; we can refer drawings drawn on scale.
• It is known as a plan.

Q3: Give historical background of maps.
Ans: The science of map making is termed as cartography.
Ancient map makers did not know the shape of the Earth:

• Babylonians drew maps assuming that the Earth is flat.
• An Egyptian geographer, (cartographer) Ptolemy first represented the Earth as a sphere.

Maps were drawn on different materials:

• Eskimos used animal skin.
• Egyptians engraved maps on metal plates.
• Babylonians made maps of clay tablets.

Today maps are made on computers:

• These maps are very accurate.
• Improvement in technology has improved the quality of maps.

Q4: Name the two types of maps based on scale.
Ans: Small Scale Maps
When large areas are shown on a small map, it is called small scale map.

• These maps give very limited information.
• The map of India is a small scale map.

Large Scale Maps

• When small areas are shown on large map it is called Large scale map.
• These maps give detailed information.
• The map of Delhi, shown on large sheet of paper is a large scale map.

Q5: Define Sketch.
Ans:

• A sketch is a drawing of an area or object mainly based on memory and not to the scale.
• Sometimes a rough drawing of an area is needed to know where a particular place is located with reference to other places.
• With the help of a rough sketch we may find the location of a place.
• Such a rough drawing is drawn without scale.

Q6: Describe various types of maps.
Ans: Maps are of various types. They are:

• Physical Maps: They show natural features of the Earth like mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, oceans etc.
• Example: Physical map of the world.
• Political Maps. Political maps show different countries and states of the world with their boundaries.
• Example: Political map of India.
• Thematic Maps: Maps showing specific information are called thematic maps. Example: Road maps, rainfall maps, forest distribution maps, industries maps etc.

Q7: What are the components of maps?
Ans:

• Distance: Distance is measured with the help of a scale.
• Direction: Direction is known by the arrow marked with ‘N’ on the map. It is also known by an instrument called compass.
• Symbol: Universally accepted marks or icons to depict information on the maps are known as symbols.

Q8: What are maps?
Ans: Maps are illustrations. They make the larger space smaller in order to fit them on a sheet of paper. In most cases, this is a calculated reduction.

Q9: Which colour is used to show the Plateau on the map?
Ans: On the maps, the plateau is depicted in yellow.

Q10: What is a compass?
Ans: A compass is a magnetic instrument that is used to determine the direction of a location. Magnetic phenomena are used to operate a compass.

Q11: How the colours are useful in making a map?
Ans: Different colours are used to depict different features on the maps. Blue, for example, is used to depict water bodies. Brown colour is used to depict mountains. Yellow is used to represent a plateau. The colour green is used to plains.

Q12: What is the use of scaling use to make a map?
Ans: For this, a scale that is a ratio of the actual distance to the distance on the map is utilised. Maps can be huge size maps with a lot of information or small scale maps depending on the scale.

Q13: What do you mean by Thematic Map?
Ans: Thematic maps are maps that are primarily focused on a certain piece of information. For example, road maps, industries, and so forth.

Q14: List the components on a map.
Ans: Below is a list of the most important elements of a map::

• Distance 
• Direction 
• Symbol

Q15: Explain different types of maps.
Ans: There are various types of maps:

• Physical maps: Physical maps depict features such as rivers, oceans, mountains, and so on.
• Political maps: Political maps depict continents, countries, and states, among other things.
• Thematic maps: Thematic maps depict the distribution of forests, industry, and rainfall, among other things.

Q16: What are the cardinal directions? Explain its types.
Ans: North, South, East, and West are the four basic cardinal directions. The compass can be used to determine a location's direction. It's a needle-wielding tool. This device aids in determining the main course of action. The compass needle is pointing in a north-south direction.

Q17: Explain the four Cardinal directions? 
Ans: There are four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. North, South, East, and West are the four directions. The north direction is indicated by an arrow marked with the letter ‘N' on the maps. Other directions can be obtained from there. The four intermediate directions are NE (North East), SE (South East), NW (North West), and SW (South West).