Global Studies
Introduction: Map Skills
Name: _____________________________
Due Date: __________________________
How to Use the Atlas
Use the text and pictures on pp. 4-5 of the atlas in order to fill in the blanks with the correct
information.
On physical maps, different _________________________ and ____________________________ are
shown by different ____________________. Major _______________________________, such as the
Colorado River are named.
Two rivers shown on the physical map are the ___________________ and the ____________________.
The tallest individual mountain shown with a triangle is ________________________. The highest
elevations are shown with the color ________________.
Political maps show _____________________________, areas under one government, such as
_______________________, states, provinces, territories, and _____________________. Countries,
states and provinces are shown in different __________________. Cities are shown in different sizes of
___________________ and have different ____________________ to show their populations.
The political map labels countries with ____________________ letters. Capital cities are marked with
___________________.
A ___________________ explains symbols used on the map. The color ____________________
indicates land elevation near sea level. The color __________________ is used for the highest
elevation. The deepest bodies of water are shaded with a ________________ blue color.
The ____________________________ in the legend shows how much smaller the map is than the
_______________________ it represents. In the example given, one inch represents about
______________________.
The physical and political maps have _____________________________________. The four arrows
together are called a ____________________________.
The blue lines drawn east-west across the maps are lines of _____________________, or
________________. The blue lines drawn north-south are lines of _________________________, or
meridians.
CLASSWORK
PAGE 1
Use the fill-in-the-blank information to match each of the terms with the correct definition.
______1. physical map
A. used to mark capital cities
______2. political map
B. explains symbols on a map
______3. capital letters
C. lines drawn east-west across maps, also known as parallels
______4. stars
D. shows land elevations, ocean depths, and physical features
______5. map legend
E. used to show the names of countries
______6. scale bar
F. tells how much smaller the map is than the real area
______7. directional arrows
G. shows political units such as countries, states, and cities
______8. compass rose
H. lines drawn north-south across maps, also known as meridians
______9. lines of latitude
I. show the direction of north, south east, OR west
______10. lines of longitude
J. show the direction of north, south, east, AND west
Political Map
Physical Map
Compass Rose
CLASSWORK
PAGE 2
Map Skills Handbook
Use the introduction to the textbook, pp. xvi-xxi, to complete this assignment.
Using Globes and Maps (pp. xvi-xvii)
1. What is the best way to show the Earth?
2. Match each of the terms with the definition.
_____ hemispheres
_____ equator
A. imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern
and Southern Hemispheres
B. halves of the Earth
_____ prime meridian
C. imaginary lines that measure distance from the equator
and the prime meridian
_____ latitude and longitude
D. imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Eastern
and Western Hemispheres
3. What are cartographers?
4. What is the problem with all maps?
5. Describe these map projections in complete sentences. Be sure to include what they show correctly
and what they show incorrectly.
Mercator- ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Robinson- ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Why would a mapmaker choose to use a Robinson projection instead of a Mercator projection?
Answer in compete sentences. (THINK ABOUT IT!)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
CLASSWORK
PAGE 3
Reading a Map (pp. xviii-xix)
1. What are the main parts of a map?
2. What are the two kinds of general purpose maps?
3. Describe a political map in complete sentences. Be sure to include what determines the features
shown and the types of things it shows.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Use the West Africa Political Map on p. xviii to answer these questions.
a. What does the locator show?
b. What symbols are explained in the key?
c. What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
5. Describe a physical map in complete sentences. Be sure to include the main thing it shows and the
other types of things it shows.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Use the West Africa Physical Map on p. xix to answer these questions.
a. What does the elevation key show?
b. What shows the main four directions: north, south, east, and west?
c. What shows how the map compares in size to the area it shows?
d. What color represents land between 0 and 650 feet?
e. What is the longest river in West Africa?
HOMEWORK
PAGE 4
Reading Graphs and Charts (pp. xx-xxi)
1.What is a circle graph good at showing?
2. Use the World Labor Force graph to answer these questions.
a. What color represents the industry labor force?
b. What percent of the labor force is in services?
3. How can you compare a set of facts in a bar graph?
4. Use The Largest Countries in the World graph to answer these questions.
a. What is the largest country in the world?
b. Which country is larger: the United States or Brazil?
c. Approximately how big is Kazakhstan? Be sure to include the units.
5. What else can a chart be called?
6. Use the World Facts chart to answer these questions.
a. What is the world’s largest island?
b. How tall is Mount Everest? Be sure to include the units.
7. How can you get a quick idea of a trend from a line graph?
8. Use World Population Growth: Historical graph to answer these questions.
a. What was the world’s population in 1950?
b. What will be the world’s population in 2050?
HOMEWORK
PAGE 5
Study Guide
Each Friday, we’ll have a quiz on the week’s material. Use this guide to focus your studying.
1. How to Use the Atlas
a. Define the following terms:
i. political map
ii. physical map
iii. map legend
iv. scale bar
v. compass rose
vi. lines of latitude
vii. lines of longitude
2. Map Skills Handbook
a. Identify the best way to show the Earth.
b. Define the following:
i. hemisphere
ii. equator
iii. prime meridian
iv. cartographers
c. Identify the different types of graphs and charts:
i. circle graph or pie chart
ii. bar graph
iii. chart
iv. line graph
STUDY GUIDE
PAGE 6