Reading a Landscape Off a Map · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Reading a Landscape Off a Map

Geography · Physical Geography · ages 12-13
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. You see a V shape pointing uphill on a contour map. What is it?

    • A valley with a stream
    • The top of a hill
    • A flat plain

  2. What do closely spaced contour lines tell you about the ground?

    • The ground is flat and easy to walk
    • The ground is steep and climbs fast
    • The ground is covered in deep water

  3. Contour lines join places that sit at the same height.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. How do you check that you read a slope the right way?

    • Guess from the colour of the paper
    • Sketch a cross-section between two points
    • Count how many rivers there are

  5. A map shows looping bends with flat land beside them. What landform is it?

    • A sea cliff
    • A mountain peak
    • A river plain

  6. Rings of contour lines that close into circles always mark a deep valley.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Two valleys sit side by side with different V shapes. How do you tell which one is steeper?

    • Both valleys are always the same
    • Pick the valley with the wide round V
    • Pick the valley with the narrow sharp V

  8. Zoe plans a walk straight through ground where the lines merge into one. What is wrong with her plan?

    • Merged lines mean a cliff, which is unsafe
    • Merged lines mean flat meadow, which is boring
    • Merged lines mean a lake, which needs a boat
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_MWlY_e59Rg-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Reading a Landscape Off a Map W1-mt_MWlY_e59Rg-s1

  1. A valley with a stream · A V pointing uphill marks a valley, with water leaving through the open end.
  2. The ground is steep and climbs fast · Lines close together mean the height changes a lot over a short walk.
  3. True · That is what the lines are for: one line, one height.
  4. Sketch a cross-section between two points · Reading the height at two points and sketching between them shows the rise and fall.
  5. A river plain · Bends and loops with flat land beside them are the mark of a river.
  6. False · Closed rings mark a hill or a peak, not a valley.
  7. Pick the valley with the narrow sharp V · Sharp narrow bends mean the height changes fast, so that valley is steeper.
  8. Merged lines mean a cliff, which is unsafe · Lines packed into one mark a cliff face, no place for a walk.
Worksheet · LightMySky