geography beginner 10 sample questions

Reading Topographic Maps MCQ Practice Test

Interpret contour lines to understand elevation and terrain features.

Q1. A topographic map shows a valley with a stream and a contour interval of 20 meters. If the contour lines are spaced at 50 meters apart, what is the slope of the valley?

Explanation: To determine the slope, we need to calculate the change in elevation between two consecutive contour lines. Since the contour interval is 20 meters and the contour lines are spaced at 50 meters apart, the change in elevation is 20 meters. The slope is then calculated as (change in elevation / horizontal distance) x 100 = (20 / 50) x 100 = 40%. This is a steep slope, greater than 30%.

Q2. A topographic map shows a valley with two rivers, River A and River B. River A flows into River B, but River B changes direction and flows back towards River A before continuing its course. Which of the following symbols would be used to represent this change in direction on the map?

Explanation: On a topographic map, a sharp bend symbol is used to indicate a change in direction of a river or stream. This symbol is typically used when the river changes direction abruptly, such as in this case where River B flows back towards River A before continuing its course.

Q3. A topographic map uses a contour interval of 20 meters. How many contour intervals are crossed when climbing from 300 m elevation to 400 m elevation?

Explanation: The elevation gain is 100 m; with a 20 m contour interval, that spans 100/20 = 5 contour intervals.

Q4. On a topographic map, what do closely spaced contour lines indicate about the terrain?

Explanation: Elevation changes quickly over a short horizontal distance where contours bunch together, which is the signature of steep terrain.

Q5. On a topographic map, what does a closed contour line marked with small hachures (ticks) on its inner side represent?

Explanation: Hachured contours point downslope inward and mark closed depressions, distinguishing them from the plain closed contours that indicate hilltops.

Q6. A survey benchmark gives the elevation of Peak A as 1,240 meters and Peak B as 1,180 meters. What is the elevation difference between the two peaks?

Explanation: The difference is 1,240 - 1,180 = 60 meters.

Q7. A topographic map shows a valley with a contour interval of 20 meters. If a contour line is labeled as '200m', what does this indicate about the elevation of the land surface in relation to the map's datum?

Explanation: Contour lines on a topographic map represent equal elevation above or below the map's datum. A contour line labeled as '200m' indicates that the land surface is 200 meters above the datum.

Q8. A topographic map shows a section of a river with a meandering course. The map indicates a "re-entrant" symbol near a bend in the river. What does this symbol indicate?

Explanation: A re-entrant symbol on a topographic map indicates a point where a meandering river is curving back towards itself, potentially forming a loop or oxbow lake. It signifies the beginning of a bend in the river's course.

Q9. A topographic map shows a valley with two rivers, Étang and Dordogne, which meet at a point. The map legend indicates that contour lines are drawn at 50-meter intervals. If the contour lines cross between the two rivers four times, what is the approximate elevation difference between the two rivers?

Explanation: The contour interval is 50 meters. The question states that the contour lines cross between the two rivers four times. This means there are four contour intervals between the rivers. Therefore, the elevation difference is 4 intervals * 50 meters/interval = 200 meters.

Q10. A topographic map shows a valley with a contour interval of 20 meters. A stream flows through the valley and is shown as a dashed blue line. The map also shows a contour line that is labeled as a 'ridge' and has a contour interval of 40 meters. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the stream and the ridge?

Explanation: On a topographic map, contour lines represent the shape and elevation of the land. A contour interval of 40 meters indicates a more significant change in elevation than a contour interval of 20 meters. Since the stream is shown as a dashed blue line flowing through the valley, it is likely that the stream flows through the valley below the ridge, which is indicated by the higher contour interval.

That was just a sample. Sign up to unlock the full question bank with timed tests and certificates.

Sign Up Free
Reading Topographic Maps MCQ Practice Test | Mind Hustle