NOTES – Locating Places on the Earth
I Answer the following questions briefly.
a. What are the three components of a map?
Ans: The three components are: • Distance, Direction and Symbol
b. What are the four cardinal directions?
Ans. There are four major directions, North, South, East and West. They are called cardinal
directions.
c. What do you mean by the term ‘the scale of the map’?
Ans: (c) The scale of the map is defined as the ratio between the distances on the land to the
distance on the map.
For example-1 cm on map = 4 km on the ground2 cm on map = 8 km on the ground.
d. How are maps more helpful than a globe?
Ans: Maps are more helpful than the globe because:
*Maps are used to study a small part of the Earth like continents, countries, cities and towns.
* Maps help to study the details of the Earth minutely such as the physical and political
features and various other information.
* Maps show more information than globes.
*Globes are difficult to carry whereas maps can be carried easily.
*The ‘scale of a map’ helps us to calculate the distance between two places.
e. Distinguish between a map and a plan.
Ans. MAP- It is a representation of earth’s surface or a part of it, on a sheet of paper. It
covers only the important features. This is because it has to cover large area, such as
continents or countries. It is drawn on a small scale.
PLAN- It is a drawing of a small area on a large scale, on a sheet of paper. It covers every
detail of an area/place. This is because it has to cover small area, such as room, garden, etc.
. It is drawn on a large scale.
f. Which map provides detailed information?
Ans: (f) The maps which provide detailed information are large scale maps.
g. How do symbols help in reading maps?
Ans. (g) Symbols help in reading the maps better in the following manner:
• Since the actual shape and size of different features cannot be drawn on the map, they are
represented by using certain connotations – colour, images, letters, etc.
• This makes it easier to understand and interpret the map.
• Since it does not include any language, it can be read by uneducated or less educated
people too.
• The use of symbols enables lots of information to be shown in a limited space.
• People reading the map, may not know the language of the area. But, they are still able to
collect information about that place by reading these map symbols.
• Map symbols use universal language which can be understood by all. • Most maps use
conventional symbols which are universally accepted across the globe.
II. Tick the correct answers.
(a) Maps showing distribution of forests are
Ans. (ii) Thematic Map
(b) The blue colour is used for showing
Ans.(i) Water bodies
(c) A compass is used –
Ans. (ii) To find the main direction
(d) A scale is necessary
Ans.(i) For a map
III. Extra Questions.
1. Why the relief features are shown by using colours?
Ans. Relief features are large in length and breadth, so it is difficult to show their actual size
on a piece of paper. Therefore, they are depicted by the colours on a map. Different colours
represent different features. Various shades of the same colour show the variations in depth,
height and so on. For example, brown is used for mountain peaks.
2. What are intermediate directions?
Ans. However, there are four intermediate directions between these directions. They are
north-east (NE), south-east (SE), southwest (SW) and north-west (NW).
3. The differences between a sketch and a plan are:
Sketch Plan
Not drawn to scale Drawn to a scale
Based on observations Based on actual data
Rough drawing of a large area Actual drawing of a small area
IV. Assertion and Reason Questions
1. Assertion (A): A large scale map gives a lot of information.
Reason (R): A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.
a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c. A is true but R is false.
d. A is false but R is true.
Answer: b
2.Assertion(A): There are various components of maps.
Reason(R): These components are distance, direction and symbol.
a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c. A is true but R is false.
d. is false but R is true
Answer : a
