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Topographic Maps Trivia Quiz

A mapping revolution ! From hand-drawn to computer-generated...how much do you know about this indispensable tool ??

A multiple-choice quiz by catnippin. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
catnippin

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
46,102

Updated
Mar 16 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
3089

Last 3 plays: Guest 47 (6/10), Guest 207 (4/10), Guest 173 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what year was the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map created? Hint

1901

1875

1879

1882

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Question 2 of 10

2. What feature most distinguishes topographic maps from other types of maps? Hint

they show political boundaries

they show manmade features

they show contour lines to portray the shape and elevation of the land

they show vegetation

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Question 3 of 10

3. The most common scale for a USGS topographic map is 1:24,000. What would one inch on the map represent on the earth's surface? Hint

1.6 miles

2,000 feet

4 miles

5280 feet

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Question 4 of 10

4. We can't forget Alaska ! What is the primary topographic mapping scale here? Hint

1:25,000

1:100,000

1:62,500

1:63,360

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Question 5 of 10

5. What led to a revolution in mapmaking in the 1940s? Hint

planetable surveying

aerial photography and photogrammetry

satellite imagery

men finally asked for directions...

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Question 6 of 10

6. Aerial photography used by the USGS's topographic mapping program is obtained through NAPP. What does NAPP stand for?

Answer: (Four Words (three of the words, or form of the words, are found within the question!))

7. Topographic map features use different colors - green areas are woodlands, brown is for contour lines....what color shows features that are added from aerial photographs and other sources, but are not field checked? Hint

yellow

red

orange

purple

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Question 8 of 10

8. Contours lines can cross over each other. True or False?

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the name for contours which are generally offshore and show the shape and slope of the ocean bottom? Hint

depth curves

soundings

hydrographic

bathymetric

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Question 10 of 10

10. Enter the computer age ! What is the format for the USGS's digital representation of information typically found on a topographic map (point locations, lines, and area outlines)? Hint

DEM

DRG

GIS

DLG

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 19 2024 : Guest 47: 6/10
Apr 03 2024 : Guest 207: 4/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 173: 5/10
Mar 26 2024 : AndySed: 6/10
Mar 22 2024 : snhha: 10/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 112: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year was the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map created?

Answer: 1879

The first map was produced in 1882.

2. What feature most distinguishes topographic maps from other types of maps?

Answer: they show contour lines to portray the shape and elevation of the land

Topographic maps render the 3-dimensional ups and downs of the terrain on a 2-dimensional surface....how elevating !

3. The most common scale for a USGS topographic map is 1:24,000. What would one inch on the map represent on the earth's surface?

Answer: 2,000 feet

These are also known as 7.5-minute quadrangles. There are more than 54,000 maps in this series covering the 48 contiguous States and Hawaii...who wants to join them end to end with me ??

4. We can't forget Alaska ! What is the primary topographic mapping scale here?

Answer: 1:63,360

Each of the 2,700 Alaska quadrangles covers 15 minutes of latitude, and varies from 20 to 36 minutes of longitude, depending on location. Our largest state is at a smaller scale!...one inch represents one mile.

5. What led to a revolution in mapmaking in the 1940s?

Answer: aerial photography and photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the science of obtaining reliable information by measuring and interpreting photographs...better than carrying around a portable drawing board on a tripod with a sighting device! Aerial photography had been around for a while, but it exploded in the '40s.

6. Aerial photography used by the USGS's topographic mapping program is obtained through NAPP. What does NAPP stand for?

Answer: National Aerial Photography Program

NAPP (National Aerial Photography Program) flights are flown in a north-south direction along carefully determined flight lines. It takes ten precisely positioned NAPP aerial photographs to provide the stereoscopic coverage needed for each 7.5-minute quadrangle map !

Answer: purple

Working over a light table, scribers use engraving instruments to etch the map's lines and symbols. All features to be printed in the same color on the map are etched onto separate scribed sheets. A map can have 10 or more different layers !

8. Contours lines can cross over each other. True or False?

Answer: True

Contour lines can cross if there is an overhang."

9. What is the name for contours which are generally offshore and show the shape and slope of the ocean bottom?

Answer: bathymetric

Bathymetric contours are shown in meters at intervals appropriate to map scale and coastal profile.

10. Enter the computer age ! What is the format for the USGS's digital representation of information typically found on a topographic map (point locations, lines, and area outlines)?

Answer: DLG

Digital line graphs ! DEM's (digital elevation models) are matrices of elevations for ground points spaced at regular distances. GIS (geographical information systems) makes it possible to combine layers of digital data from different sources. DRG (digital raster graphics) are scanned USGS quadrangle maps. Remember...a map is your friend!

Source: Author catnippin

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
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