Geography Flashcards
World & regional geography, interaction of physical and human systems, use of geography, and different cultures.
Through which of the following does the prime meridian not pass?
A. equator
B. middle of the Pacific Ocean
C. Greenwich, England
D. Tropic of Cancer
B: The prime meridian does not pass through the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is 0°, the line from which longitude is measured. There is no special reason why it passes through Greenwich, other than that the observatory there was one of the first to devise a system for measuring longitude and therefore put itself at the base of the system. The international date line is 180° longitude; it passes through the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Both the equator and the Tropic of Cancer are lines of latitude and therefore intersect the prime meridian. The equator circles the earth at its broadest circumference, equidistant from the North and South poles. The equator has a latitude of 0°. The Tropic of Cancer, 23°26’22? North latitude, represents the northernmost point at which the sun is directly above the earth. In other words, at no point during the year will the sun be directly above any point north of the Tropic of Cancer. This line is mirrored in the Southern Hemisphere by the Tropic of Capricorn.
. What is the name for a line that connects points with equal total rainfall?
A. isotherm
B. isoline
C. isobar
D. isohyet
D: An isohyet is a line that connects points with equal total rainfall. On an isohyetal map then, a series of lines will indicate areas of greater or lesser rainfall. This is a form of contour map, the most common of which uses a series of lines to indicate changes in elevation. The other answer choices represent lines used in other forms of contour maps. An isotherm connects points with the same temperature. An isoline connects points with an equal value, as, for instance, on a contour map illustrating iron production. An isobar connects points with identical atmospheric pressure.
The apparent distance between Greenland and Norway is greatest on a(n)
A. Mercator map.
B. conic projection map.
C. contour map.
D. equal-area projection map.
A: The apparent distance between Greenland and Norway will be greatest on a Mercator map. The Mercator map is a type of cylindrical projection map in which lines of latitude and longitude are transferred onto a cylindrical shape, which is then cut vertically and laid flat. For this reason, distances around the poles will appear increasingly great. The Mercator map is excellent for navigation because a straight line drawn on it represents a single compass reading. In a conic projection map, on the other hand, a hemisphere of the globe is transposed onto a cone, which is then cut vertically (that is, from rim to tip) and laid flat. The apparent distances on a conic projection will be smallest at the 45th parallel. A contour map uses lines to illustrate the features of a geographic area. For example, the lines on an elevation contour map connect areas that have the same altitude. An equal-area projection map represents landmasses in their actual sizes. To make this possible, the shapes of the landmasses are manipulated slightly, and the map is interrupted (divided into more than one part).
On a globe, the distance between Buenos Aires and Tokyo is 35 cm. If the globe has a scale of 1 cm for every 516 km, what is the real distance?
A. 18,060 km
B. 35 km
C. 21,080 km
D. 14,740 km
A: The distance between Buenos Aires and Tokyo is approximately 18,060 km. The process of converting a scaled distance to a real distance is fairly simple. In this case, multiply the number of centimeters by the number of kilometers represented by each of these centimeters. The calculation can be expressed as (35 cm) (516 km/1 cm). Because centimeters are in the numerator of the first term and the denominator of the second term, they cancel out, leaving kilometers as the unit.
The shortest distance between New York and Paris goes
A. over Florida and Spain.
B. along the 42nd parallel.
C. over Labrador and Greenland.
D. over Philadelphia and London.
C: The shortest distance between New York and Paris goes over Labrador and Greenland. This is not apparent on a projection map, in which a straight line drawn between the two cities would extend straight out across the Atlantic Ocean, roughly along the 42nd parallel. The illusion that this straight line is the shortest path is a result of the distortions inherent in projection maps. On a globe, it would be easier to see that a plane flying from New York to Paris would cover the least ground by carving an arc, first up through eastern Canada and Greenland and then back down through the British Isles and northern France. This sort of path is known as a great circle route because it looks like an arc when it is drawn on a projection map.
On which type of map are different countries represented in different colors, with no two adjacent countries sharing a color?
A. physical map
B. political map
C. climate map
D. contour map
B: On a political map, countries are represented in different colors, and countries that share a border are not given the same color. This is so that the borders between countries will be distinct. Political maps are used to illustrate those aspects of a country that have been determined by people: the capital, the provincial and national borders, and the large cities. Political maps sometimes include major physical features like rivers and mountains, but they are not intended to display all such information. On a physical, climate, or contour map, however, the borders between nations are more incidental. Colors are used on these maps to represent physical features, areas with similar climate, etc. It is possible that colors will overrun the borders and be shared by adjacent countries.
Which of the following is a possible absolute location for New Orleans?
A. 30° S, 90° E
B. 30° N, 90° E
C. 30° S, 90° W
D. 30° N, 90° W
D: The only answer choice that represents a possible absolute location for New Orleans is 30° N, 90° W. When a location is described in terms of its placement on the global grid, it is customary to put the latitude before the longitude. New Orleans is north of the equator, so it has to be in the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, it is west of the prime meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England, among other places. So, New Orleans must be in the Western Hemisphere. It is possible, then, to deduce that 30° N, 90° W is the only possible absolute location for New Orleans.
On a map of Africa, there is a small box around Nairobi. This city is depicted in greater detail in a box at the bottom of the map. What is the name for this box at the bottom of the map?
A. inset
B. legend
C. compass rose
D. key
A: A smaller box in which some part of the larger map is depicted in greater detail is known as an inset. Insets provide a closer look at parts of the map that the cartographer deems to be more important (for instance, cities, national parks, or historical sites). Often, traffic maps will include several insets depicting the roads in the most congested area of the city. Legends, also known as keys, are the boxes in which the symbols used in the map are explained. A legend, or key, might indicate how railroads and boundaries are depicted, for example. A compass rose indicates how the map is oriented along the north-south axis. It is common for cartographers to tilt a map for ease of display, such that up may not be due north.
Which map describes the movement of people, trends, or materials across a physical area?
A. political map
B. cartogram
C. qualitative map
D. flow-line map
D: A flow-line map describes the movement of people, trends, or materials across a physical area. The movements depicted on a flow-line map are typically represented by arrows. In more advanced flow-line maps, the width of the arrow corresponds to the quantity of the motion. Flow-line maps usually declare the span of time that is being represented. A political map depicts the man-made aspects of geography, such as borders and cities. A cartogram adjusts the size of the areas represented according to some variable. For instance, a cartogram of wheat production would depict Iowa as being much larger than Alaska. A qualitative map uses lines, dots, and other symbols to illustrate a particular point. For example, a qualitative map might be used to demonstrate the greatest expansion of the Persian Empire.
How many intermediate directions are there?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 8
D. 16
B: There are four intermediate directions. They are northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. The intermediate directions are midway between each set of adjacent cardinal directions. The cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. On a compass rose, the cardinal directions are typically indicated by large points, while the intermediate directions are represented by smaller points.
What major geographic feature in North America seperate the rivers and streams that flow toward the Pacific Ocean from those that flow toward the Atlantic Ocean?
A. The Appalachian Mountains
B. Continental Divide
C. Great Plains
D. St Andreas Fault
B. Continental Divide (the great divide) - extend from Alaska to Mexico
Which of the following is the United States’ largest lake, both in surface area and volume of water?
A. Lake Michigan
B. Lake Okeechobee
C. Red Lake
D. Lake Superior
E. Iliamna Lake
D: Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes located on the U.S.-Canadian border, is largest in both surface area, at 31,700 square miles, and volume of water, at 2,904 cubic miles.
All of the following are an example of natural resources EXCEPT:
A. steel
B. water
C. coal
D. air
E. animals
A: Steel is a man-made resource.
