Unit 1: Geographic Inquiry and Skill Development

Question 1

Geography

Answer 1

The study of the Earth’s physical features and environment, the impact of human activity on these features and vice versa.

Question 2

Physical geography

Answer 2

The branch of geography that deals with the natural features of the earth.

Question 3

Human geography

Answer 3

The branch of geography that deals with people, communities, and culture, with an emphasis on relations of and across space and place.

Question 4

Four important geographic concepts

Answer 4

• Interrelationships
• Spatial significance
• Patterns and trends
• Geographic perspective

Question 5

Geographic inquiry process

Answer 5

1. Formulate questions
2. Gather and organize
3. Interpret and analyze
4. Evaluate and draw conclusions
5. Communicate your findings

Question 6

Political map

Answer 6

Does not show any topographic features, focuses solely on state and national boundaries, locations of cities.

Question 7

Physical map

Answer 7

Shows the physical landscape features of a place. Water shown in blue. Elevation changes shown with different colours, green being lower and brown being higher.

Question 8

Thematic map

Answer 8

Focuses on a particular theme. Natural and political features included as background information.

Question 9

Topographic map

Answer 9

Similar to a physical map, shows different physical landscape features. However, uses contour lines instead of colours to show elevation changes. Lines closer together when terrain is steep.

Question 10

Road map

Answer 10

One of the most widely used maps, show highways, roads, airports, city locations, and points of interest like parks, campgrounds, and monuments. Major highways are red, minor roads are a lighter colour, more narrow.

Question 11

Mapping rules

Answer 11

• 1 cm border
• North arrow
• Legend box, heading all caps not underlined
• Source box, heading all caps not underlined
• Title not underlined
• Name and date in bottom right hand corner
• Place names not underlined
• No arrows when labelling
• Label to right of location, then counterclockwise
• Only print horizontally when labelling, unless it’s a river or stream, then follow the shape of the river
• Do not colour water blue
• Label map in black ink or pencil only

Question 12

Point symbols

Answer 12

Simple icons used to show the location of places, services, and data. Can be used to show distribution and proportion.

Question 13

Line symbols

Answer 13

Represents routes, direction of movement, connect areas of equal value (contour lines) and indicate quantity by thickness.

Question 14

Area symbols

Answer 14

Use colours and patterns to represent large features, such as green for a park and blue for lakes.

Question 15

What is the most accurate way of looking at the Earth’s land and sea area?

Answer 15

Globe

Question 16

Is it possible to flatten the curved surface of the Earth without stretching or cutting part of it?

Answer 16

No

Question 17

Equal area projection

Answer 17

Area is shown in correct size proportion to other areas

Question 18

Conformal projection

Answer 18

Shape is shown correctly

Question 19

Polar projection

Answer 19

Gives a good view of the poles

Question 20

Mercator projection

Answer 20

Conformal projection, used by Google Maps

Question 21

Eckert IV

Answer 21

Equal area projection

Question 22

Gall

Answer 22

Compromise between equal area and conformal

Question 23

Parallels of latitude

Answer 23

Run east to west, used to determine locations north or south of the equator.

Question 24

Meridians of longitude

Answer 24

Run north to south, used to determine locations east or west of the prime meridian

Question 25

Equator

Answer 25

Imaginary line at 0 degrees latitude

Question 26

Prime meridian

Answer 26

Imaginary line at 0 degrees longitude

Question 27

International date line

Answer 27

Imaginary line at 180 degrees longitude

Question 28

Scale statement

Answer 28

1 cm to 5 km

Question 29

Representative fraction

Answer 29

1: 500,000

Question 30

Linear scale

Answer 30

0---5---10---15 km

Question 31

Direction

Answer 31

North, south, east, west

Question 32

Bearings

Answer 32

0 to 360 degrees

Question 33

GPS

Answer 33

Global positioning system. A satellite-based system that provides location data.

Question 34

GIS

Answer 34

Geographic information system. Computer system that manages and analyzes geographic information.

Question 35

Remote sensing

Answer 35

Seeing or measuring something from a considerable distance, often from a satellite.

Question 36

Telematics

Answer 36

Any technology that involves the long-distance transmission of digital information.

Question 37

Critical thinking

Answer 37

Using or involving careful judgement

Question 38

Relative location

Answer 38

The location of something in relation to other geographic features

Question 39

Absolute location

Answer 39

The location of something in absolute terms of latitude and longitude

Question 40

Large scale map

Answer 40

Shows a smaller area with more detail

Question 41

Small scale map

Answer 41

Shows a larger area with less detail

Question 42

Cardinal points

Answer 42

North, south, east, west

Question 43

Ordinal points

Answer 43

NE, SE, NW, SW