Map Projections and Coordinates Quiz

Grade 4 · Social Studies · Quiz

Test your knowledge of latitude, longitude, map projections, and how to find locations on Earth.

Questions

1. What is a cartographer?

   1. A person who explores new lands
   2. A person who makes maps
   3. A person who studies weather
   4. A person who studies stars
   Show answer

   Answer: A person who makes maps

   A cartographer is a mapmaker — someone who creates and designs maps, charts, and other geographic representations.

2. Which line is at 0 degrees longitude?

   1. The equator
   2. The International Date Line
   3. The prime meridian
   4. The Arctic Circle
   Show answer

   Answer: The prime meridian

   The prime meridian is at 0 degrees longitude and runs through Greenwich, England. It is the starting point for measuring east and west.

3. Lines of latitude run in which direction on a map?

   1. Vertically (up and down)
   2. Diagonally
   3. Horizontally (side to side)
   4. In circles around the poles
   Show answer

   Answer: Horizontally (side to side)

   Lines of latitude run horizontally (east to west) across a map and tell us how far north or south a place is from the equator.

4. The Mercator projection shows the sizes of countries near the poles accurately.

   Show answer

   Answer: False

   The Mercator projection greatly exaggerates the size of areas near the poles. Greenland, for example, appears much larger than it actually is.

5. What do latitude and longitude create when used together?

   1. A time zone
   2. A coordinate that identifies any location on Earth
   3. A map scale
   4. A compass rose
   Show answer

   Answer: A coordinate that identifies any location on Earth

   Together, latitude (north-south) and longitude (east-west) form a coordinate system that can pinpoint any location on Earth precisely.

6. The equator divides Earth into which two halves?

   1. Eastern and Western Hemispheres
   2. Northern and Southern Hemispheres
   3. Arctic and Antarctic regions
   4. Tropical and Temperate zones
   Show answer

   Answer: Northern and Southern Hemispheres

   The equator at 0 degrees latitude divides Earth into the Northern Hemisphere (north of the equator) and the Southern Hemisphere (south of it).

7. Every map projection involves some amount of ____, because Earth is curved and a map is flat.

   Show answer

   Answer: distortion

   Because Earth is a three-dimensional sphere, flattening it into two dimensions always causes some distortion of shape, size, distance, or direction.

8. The prime meridian runs through which city?

   1. Paris, France
   2. Washington, D.C.
   3. Greenwich, England
   4. Cairo, Egypt
   Show answer

   Answer: Greenwich, England

   The prime meridian passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, and was established there in 1884 as the world's standard for 0 degrees longitude.

Get a personalized course on Map Projections and Coordinates built around your child.