NCERT Class 6 Geography Chapter 4 - Maps

Chapter 4 - Maps

Question and Answers
Question 1: Answer the following questions briefly.
a) What are the three components of a map?
b) What are the four cardinal directions?
c) What do you mean by the term ‘the scale of the map’?
d) How are maps more helpful than a globe?
e) Distinguish between a map and a plan.
f) Which map provides detailed information?
g) How do symbols help in reading maps?
Answer:
a) There are three components of a map. They are Distance, Direction and Symbol.

b) The four cardinal directions are North, South, East and West.

c) The term ‘the scale of the map’ means the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.

d) Maps provide more information than a globe. A globe can be useful when we want to study the earth as a whole. But when we want to study only a part of the earth, as about a country or a state, globe is of little help. In such a situation only maps are useful.

e)
• Map - We can study a part or whole of the Earth with the help of a map. A map contains a lot of information. A map shows only the very important features of the area.
• Plan - A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale. A large-scale map gives lot of information, but there are certain things which we may sometimes want to know for example the length and breadth of a room, which can’t be shown in a map. At that time, we can refer drawings drawn to scale called a plan.

f) Large scale maps provide detailed information because large scale maps are drawn on big-sized papers. Maps are of very large size. They have more space to depict more information.

g) It is not possible to draw on a map the actual shape and size of different features such as buildings, roads, bridges, trees, railway lines or a well. So, they are shown by using certain letters, shades, colours, pictures and lines. These symbols give a lot of information in a limited space. With the use of these symbols, maps can be drawn easily and are simple to read. Even if you don’t know the language of an area and therefore cannot ask someone for directions, you can collect information from maps with the help of these symbols.

Question 2: Tick the correct answers.
a) Maps showing distribution of forests are
i) Physical map
ii) Thematic Map
iii) Political map
Answer: ii) Thematic Map

b) The blue colour is used for showing
i) Water bodies
ii) Mountains
iii) Plains
Answer: i) Water bodies

c) A compass is used -
i) To show symbols
ii) To find the main direction
iii) To measure distance
Answer: ii) To find the main direction

d) A scale is necessary
i) For a map
ii) For a sketch
iii) For symbols
Answer: i) For a map