1. Fill in the blanks:

1. GIS stands for ________.

2. GIS is a computer ________  system.

3. Large land mass on the Earth is called ________.

4. Model of Earth is called a _______.

Answer

1. Geographical Information System

2. Mapping

3. Continent

4. Globe

2. Match the following.

1. GIS                         a. Representation of the earth surface

2. Map                        b. Metal plate

3.  Babylonian            c. Clay tablet

4.  Egyptians              d. Database of geographically based information

Answer

1. d    2. a    3. c   4. b

3. State whether true or false.

1. Ptolemy is considered as the father of cartography.

2. Sign with a particular meaning used on a map is called conventional symbol.

3. Compass magnetic needle always points towards East-south direction.

4. Map shows great details of land forms, roads, railways, towns and villages. etc.

Answer

1. True

2. True

3. False

4. True

4. What is the importance of scale on a map?

Maps use scale to represent very large distances. The bottom of every map contains a scale. Scale can be used to measure the distance between two places.

5. Give the directions of the following states with respect to New Delhi.

 Assam, Orissa, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh.

6. What do you understand by GIS?

The short form of Geographical information system is GIS. The Geographical Information System, GIS is a computer mapping system that links database of geographically based information to maps that display the information.

7. Who is known as the father of cartography? Write a few lines about him/her.

Ptolemy is considered as the father of cartography. He was an Egyptian geographer who first represented the earth as a sphere. He was also the first to mark the north line on a map.

8. In ancient times, different materials were used to make maps. List at least three materials that were used to make maps in ancient times.

The Babylonians used clay tablets, the Egyptians used metal plates and the Eskimos used animal skin to make map.

9. What is map?

A map is a representation or drawing of the earth's surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.

                        World Map

10. What is a continent?

Large land mass on the Earth is called continent .

11. What is a conventional symbol?

Sign with a particular meaning used on a map is called conventional symbol.

12. What is a globe?

Model of Earth is called a globe.

13. Identify the given picture. Give its importance.

The given picture is of a compass. It is an instrument used to find out main directions. Its magnetic needle always points towards north-south direction.

14. Complete the given chart using suitable terms.

a) Political map
b) Physical map
c) Thematic map

15. What are the essential elements of maps?

Essential elements of maps are :

1. Title
2. Directions
3. Scale
4. Signs
5. Symbols
6. Latitudes
7. Longitudes

16. Why is globe considered the most accurate model of the Earth?

Globes are man-made models of the Earth. They are small but of the same shape as the earth. It is the most accurate model of the earth because:-

1. Earth is slightly flattened at the poles. Similarly a globe also appears to be slightly flattened at the poles.
2. It shows the exact shape of the Earth, directions, relative sizes and shapes of the oceans, continents, islands and seas.
3. It shows the correct location of different places and features in relation to one another.
4. Globes are useful in understanding how days and nights are caused and how we have different seasons over the year.
5. We can simulate the effects of rotation and revolution with the help of a globe.

17. Maps are useful to everyone today. Justify giving examples.

A map is representation of the Earth's surface or a part of it on a flat surface drawn according to scale. The word “map” is derived from the Latin word 'mappa' meaning cloth, as many of the earliest maps were drawn on skins; cloth or parchment. Maps are useful to everyone today because:

1. Map shows great details of land forms, roads, railways, towns and villages. etc.
2. Navigators and pilots use map to steer their ships and find their locations.
3. Town planners, geologist, miners and engineers need maps.
4. The army needs map for defense purpose.

Thus maps are very important part of our lives.

18. What happens, when the curved surface of the earth is represented on a flat surface on maps? Explain.

A round shape cannot be flattened completely. So, when we try to show parts of the world on a flat surface, the shapes and sizes of the continents and oceans get distorted. The maximum distortion is seen in the regions around the poles.