Ten questions on how maps are made and read, each naming the trade-off involved.
Flattening a sphere always distorts something, so every projection is a decision about what matters most. This quiz covers the main projections and their characteristic errors, the latitude and longitude grid, and the symbols that make a map readable. It also covers satellite positioning, which rests on the same coordinate system. The explanations state the trade-off each time, since that is what separates using a map from merely looking at one.
Every question in this quiz is listed below with its correct answer and the reasoning behind it. Play first if you would rather not see the answers — or read through as a study sheet.
Play it insteadAnswer: A. The apparent size of land near the poles
Why: It preserves direction, which made it invaluable for navigation, but inflates area toward the poles. Greenland appears comparable to Africa while being about fourteen times smaller.
Answer: D. East to west
Why: Latitude lines circle the globe parallel to the equator and measure distance north or south. Longitude lines run pole to pole.
Answer: B. Greenwich, London
Why: Greenwich was fixed as zero longitude by international agreement in 1884. The choice was a convention, and several other meridians had been in use.
Answer: A. The ratio between map distance and real distance
Why: A scale of 1:50,000 means one unit on the map is 50,000 on the ground. Larger-scale maps cover less area in more detail.
Answer: B. Elevation
Why: Each line joins points of equal height, so closely spaced lines mean steep ground. Widely spaced lines indicate gentle slopes.
Answer: C. Making maps
Why: Cartography covers the design and production of maps. The related field of geodesy measures the shape of the Earth itself.
Answer: A. Latitude and longitude
Why: A position is given as degrees of latitude and longitude, sometimes with altitude. The receiver derives this from timing signals sent by satellites.
Answer: D. 0 degrees
Why: It is defined as zero latitude, midway between the poles at 90 degrees north and south. It is the only line of latitude that is a great circle.
Answer: B. Orientation and direction
Why: It marks the cardinal directions so the map can be aligned correctly. Many also distinguish true north from magnetic north.
Answer: C. Terrain and relief
Why: They show the shape of the land through contours and spot heights. Nautical charts do the equivalent job for water depth.
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