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How to understand contour lines on a map
Contributed by: Roe
  • 1. What do contour lines represent on a map?
A) Lines of equal longitude
B) Lines of equal temperature
C) Lines of equal latitude
D) Lines of equal elevation
  • 2. What does a contour line interval represent?
A) The distance between two points
B) The slope of the land
C) The map scale
D) The difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines
  • 3. Closely spaced contour lines indicate what type of terrain?
A) Steep slope
B) Water body
C) Flat area
D) Gentle slope
  • 4. Widely spaced contour lines indicate what type of terrain?
A) Steep slope
B) River
C) Gentle slope
D) Cliff
  • 5. Contour lines that form closed loops generally indicate what?
A) A river
B) A hilltop or depression
C) A road
D) A valley
  • 6. If contour lines form closed loops with hachure marks (short lines) pointing inward, it indicates what?
A) A ridge
B) A hill
C) A depression
D) A plateau
  • 7. Contour lines crossing a stream or river typically form a 'V' shape pointing in which direction?
A) Perpendicular to the stream
B) Upstream
C) Downstream
D) Parallel to the stream
  • 8. What is the index contour?
A) The lowest contour line on the map
B) The highest contour line on the map
C) A contour line that is darker and labeled with its elevation
D) A contour line that indicates a depression
  • 9. If you are walking perpendicular to contour lines, what are you doing?
A) Ascending or descending
B) Walking along a ridge
C) Walking along a river
D) Walking on level ground
  • 10. What does it mean when contour lines merge into a single line?
A) A flat area
B) A gentle slope
C) A cliff or very steep slope
D) A riverbed
  • 11. What is the purpose of a topographic map?
A) To show political boundaries
B) To show weather patterns
C) To show elevation and landforms
D) To show roads and highways
  • 12. Why is understanding contour lines important for hikers?
A) To find sources of drinking water
B) To identify different types of trees
C) To navigate and estimate the difficulty of a hike
D) To predict the weather
  • 13. What is the 'relief' of an area?
A) The type of vegetation in an area
B) The difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points
C) The amount of rainfall in an area
D) The average temperature of an area
  • 14. If a contour line splits or forks, what does it usually indicate?
A) A gentle slope or a spur
B) A depression
C) A cliff
D) A river
  • 15. What does a uniform spacing of contour lines suggest?
A) A cliff
B) A constant slope
C) A flat area
D) A varying slope
  • 16. How is the steepness of a slope determined by contour lines?
A) By the thickness of the contour lines.
B) By the number of contour lines.
C) By how close together the contour lines are.
D) By the color of the contour lines.
  • 17. Which of the following is NOT typically found on a topographic map?
A) Contour lines
B) Stock prices
C) Elevation data
D) Bodies of water
  • 18. What information does the 'scale' of a map provide?
A) The map's cost.
B) The relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground.
C) The accuracy of the map's elevation data.
D) The age of the map.
  • 19. Why are contour lines typically brown or orange on a map?
A) To represent land features.
B) To represent water features.
C) To represent vegetation.
D) To represent roads.
  • 20. A small, closed contour line inside a larger, closed contour line indicates what?
A) A saddle.
B) A peak.
C) A plateau.
D) A depression.
  • 21. What are hachure marks used for on a contour map?
A) To indicate forests.
B) To indicate rivers.
C) To indicate peaks.
D) To indicate depressions.
  • 22. What does a 'saddle' refer to in topographic mapping?
A) A flat plain.
B) A deep valley.
C) A steep cliff.
D) A low point between two high points.
  • 23. If you are following a contour line, what are you doing?
A) Maintaining the same elevation.
B) Climbing uphill.
C) Changing elevation randomly.
D) Descending downhill.
  • 24. What is a 'spur' on a topographic map?
A) A deep ravine.
B) A flat plain.
C) A ridge projecting from a larger hill or mountain.
D) A lake.
  • 25. When contour lines are very far apart, this indicates:
A) An extremely steep slope.
B) A large body of water.
C) A cliff face.
D) A very gentle slope or flat area.
  • 26. What is the contour interval usually consistent for?
A) Areas near water bodies.
B) Only a single area on the map.
C) The entire map.
D) Just index contours.
  • 27. Why should you pay attention to the contour interval on a map?
A) To tell the age of the map.
B) To find out the map's copyright date.
C) To know what type of paper the map is printed on.
D) To properly gauge the elevation changes.
  • 28. What is an overhanging cliff or bluff indicated by?
A) Contour lines that cross each other.
B) Widely spaced contour lines.
C) Contour lines in a perfect circle.
D) Straight contour lines.
  • 29. What can be used to provide a more accurate elevation point than estimation?
A) Benchmark.
B) Grid lines.
C) Hachure marks.
D) Index contour.
  • 30. What term refers to an enclosed depression on a map?
A) Peak.
B) Sinkhole.
C) Valley.
D) Ridge.
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