24 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in the common exam-style shapes. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markWhat shape of the earth does the term geoid indicate?
(A) A perfect sphere(B) A cone shape(C) A flat circle(D) An oblate spheroid - 1 markWhich is the fifth and last essential of map making?
(A) Map Projection(B) Map Generalisation(C) Map Construction and Production(D) Map Design - 1 markOn what material was the oldest known map found?
(A) On palm leaf(B) On a clay tablet(C) On leather(D) On paper - 1 markWho divided the whole world into seven ‘dwipas’?
(A) Ancient Indian scholars(B) Greek geographers(C) Arab geographers(D) Modern-day cartographers - 1 markIn which year was the Survey of India established?
(A) 1757(B) 1767(C) 1785(D) 1857 - 1 markCadastral maps are generally made within which scale range?
(A) 1:500 to 1:4,000(B) 1:50,000 to 1:250,000(C) More than 1:1,000,000(D) Only at 1:100,000 - 1 markAt which scales does the Survey of India prepare topographical maps of the country?
(A) 1:250,000, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000(B) 1:500, 1:1,000 and 1:2,000(C) Only at 1:10,000(D) At 1:1,000,000 and smaller - 1 markWhich is the most accurate definition of Scale?
(A) The colour and design of a map(B) Only the line showing north direction on a map(C) A list of the symbols drawn on a map(D) The ratio between the distance given on a map, plan or photograph, and the actual distance on the ground - 1 markWhere does the scale of a wall map fall in order?
(A) Smaller than a topographical map, larger than an atlas map(B) Smaller than an atlas map(C) Larger than a cadastral map(D) Equal to a topographical map - 1 markA population map falls under which class?
(A) Physical map(B) Cultural map(C) Topographical map(D) Cadastral map - 1 markWhich instrument is generally used to measure the distance of a straight-line feature such as a road?
(A) Rotameter(B) Sextant(C) Polar Planimeter(D) Dividers or the scale of the map - 1 markWhich direction does a map always show as the base (zero) direction?
(A) South direction(B) East direction(C) North direction(D) West direction - 1 markIn the square-counting method of measuring area, what is the map covered with?
(A) Graph paper (a grid of squares)(B) Coloured paper(C) Left uncovered, without tracing paper(D) Only measured with dividers - 1 markFrom which language does the word ‘cadastral’ originate?
(A) Latin(B) Arabic(C) Greek(D) French
2 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch Column A with Column B. Column A: 1) Cadastral map 2) Topographical map 3) Wall map 4) Atlas map. Column B: (i) 1:250,000, 1:50,000 or 1:25,000 (ii) 1:500 to 1:4,000 (iii) Smaller than topographical, larger than atlas (iv) Very small scale, a graphic encyclopaedia
(A) 1-i, 2-ii, 3-iii, 4-iv(B) 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii(C) 1-ii, 2-i, 3-iii, 4-iv(D) 1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-i - 1 markMatch Column A with Column B. Column A: 1) Scale 2) Map Projection 3) Map Generalisation 4) Map Design. Column B: (i) The system of transforming the spherical surface onto a plane surface (ii) Simplifying the map’s content according to its purpose (iii) Planning symbols, colours and lettering (iv) Setting the amount of information and the limit of reality on the map
(A) 1-iv, 2-i, 3-ii, 4-iii(B) 1-i, 2-ii, 3-iii, 4-iv(C) 1-ii, 2-iii, 3-iv, 4-i(D) 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii
3 Arrange in the Correct Order
Arrange in the Correct Order
- 1 markArrange the following essentials of map making in their correct order in the cartographic process.
(A) Projection → Scale → Design → Generalisation → Construction and Production(B) Scale → Projection → Generalisation → Design → Construction and Production(C) Generalisation → Scale → Projection → Construction and Production → Design(D) Construction and Production → Design → Generalisation → Projection → Scale - 1 markArrange the following maps in decreasing order of scale (largest scale to smallest scale).
(A) Atlas map → wall map → topographical map → cadastral map(B) Topographical map → cadastral map → atlas map → wall map(C) Wall map → cadastral map → atlas map → topographical map(D) Cadastral map → topographical map → wall map → atlas map
4 Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blanks
- 1 mark________ maps show the administrative divisions of an area, such as a country, state or district.
(A) Economic(B) Political(C) Physical(D) Cultural - 1 markA more accurate measurement of area is carried out using an instrument called the ________.
(A) Rotameter(B) Dividers(C) Polar Planimeter(D) Scale bar
5 Odd One Out
Odd One Out
- 1 markWhich of the following is NOT a large-scale map?
(A) Cadastral map(B) Topographical map(C) Town plan(D) Atlas map
6 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
Given the variety of maps, it can be difficult to understand what they all have in common. Cartography, the art and science of map-making, includes five essential processes common to the making of all types of maps: scale, map projection, map generalisation, map design, and map construction and production. The first decision in making a map is about the scale, because the scale itself decides how much information the map can carry. After this, a suitable projection is chosen to show the spherical earth on a flat surface. The cartographer’s third task is to generalise the content, and the fourth task is map design, that is, planning the symbols, colours and lettering. The fifth and final task is the construction and reproduction of the map.
- 1 markAccording to the passage, which essential is the cartographer’s fourth task?
(A) Choice of scale(B) Map Projection(C) Map Design(D) Map Construction - 1 markAccording to the passage, which is the first decision made in preparing a map?
(A) Map Design(B) Scale(C) Map Generalisation(D) Map Construction
Passage
One method of measuring area is based on a regular pattern of squares, although this method is not very precise. In this method, the map is covered with squares by placing graph paper beneath the map on an illuminated tracing table, or by tracing the area onto a square sheet. The number of ‘whole squares’ is added to half the number of ‘partial squares’, and the area is then calculated by a simple equation: Area equals the sum of whole squares plus the sum of partial squares divided by two, multiplied by the map scale. Area can also be calculated using a fixed-area polar planimeter, which is considered more accurate than this method.
- 1 markAccording to the passage, in the formula for finding area, the sum of ‘partial squares’ is divided by which number?
(A) 4(B) 3(C) 2(D) 5
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (D) A geoid is an oblate spheroid, resembling the actual shape of the earth.
- (C) The fifth important task of the cartographic process is the construction and reproduction of maps.
- (B) The oldest known map was found in Mesopotamia, drawn on a clay tablet.
- (A) Ancient Indian scholars divided the whole world into seven ‘dwipas’.
- (B) The Survey of India was established in 1767 for intensive topographical surveys of the country.
- (A) Cadastral maps are made at a large scale, that is, at a scale of 1:500 to 1:4,000.
- (A) The Survey of India prepares topographical maps of the entire country at 1:250,000, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000.
- (D) Scale is the ratio between the distance of two points on a map, plan or photograph, and the actual distance between the same two points on the ground.
- (A) The scale of a wall map is generally smaller than that of a topographical map but larger than that of an atlas map.
- (B) A population map is a cultural map, because the distribution of population is a man-made feature.
- (D) Straight-line features are measured with the help of dividers, or by placing the scale of the map on the surface.
- (C) The line pointing to north is called the zero direction, or the base direction line.
- (A) In this method, a sheet of graph paper is placed beneath the map, covering it with squares.
- (D) The term ‘cadastral’ is derived from the French word ‘cadastre’, meaning ‘register of territorial property’.
Match the Following
- (C) Cadastral maps are made at 1:500 to 1:4,000 (ii), topographical maps at 1:250,000/1:50,000/1:25,000 (i), wall maps smaller than topographical and larger than atlas (iii), and atlas maps at a very small scale (iv).
- (A) Scale sets the amount of information (iv), map projection transforms the spherical surface onto a plane (i), generalisation simplifies content (ii), and design plans symbols, colours and lettering (iii).
Arrange in the Correct Order
- (B) The correct order is: Scale (the first decision) → Projection → Generalisation (the third task) → Design (the fourth task) → Construction and Production (the fifth and last task).
- (D) The correct decreasing order of scale is: cadastral map (largest scale) → topographical map → wall map → atlas map (smallest scale).
Fill in the Blanks
- (B) Political maps show the administrative divisions of an area, such as a country, state or district.
- (C) A more accurate measurement of area is carried out using an instrument called the Polar Planimeter.
Odd One Out
- (D) Cadastral maps, topographical maps and town-planning maps are made at a large scale, whereas an atlas map is a small-scale map, so it is the odd one out.
Passage-Based Questions
- (C) According to the passage, the cartographer’s fourth task is map design, that is, planning the symbols, colours and lettering.
- (B) According to the passage, the first decision in making a map is about the scale, because it decides how much information the map can carry.
- (C) According to the passage, in the formula, the sum of partial squares is divided by 2 before being added to the sum of whole squares.
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