Worked example
A map legend says darker shading means more residents per square kilometer. What does the shading represent?
Answer & why
Answer: Population density
Residents per unit area is a density measure.
Grade 6 · Social studies
Choose maps for a particular question
Choose a map whose scale, projection or normalized measure fits a stated purpose.
6 authored questions + worked example
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All questions
All 6 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
A projection's description says it preserves relative area but distorts some shapes. Which task best fits that strength?
- Measuring every local angle exactly.
- Assuming all shapes remain unchanged.
- Comparing the relative areas of large regions.
- Finding every route's exact distance without a scale.
A hint
Read what the map measures and what its legend preserves before comparing places.
Answer & why
Answer: Comparing the relative areas of large regions.
Its stated strength is relative area, not undistorted shape or every distance.
Question 2
Map A covers a neighborhood in detail; Map B covers a continent on the same-size page. Which is more useful for finding a small local footpath?
- Map B
- Map A
- They must show identical detail.
- Neither can show any route.
A hint
Read what the map measures and what its legend preserves before comparing places.
Answer & why
Answer: Map A
The neighborhood map can devote more space to local detail.
Question 3
One map shows total farms; another shows farms per 100 km². Which is better for comparing how concentrated farms are?
- Only the total-farms map.
- A map showing no area information.
- The farms-per-100-km² map.
- A map of national flag colors.
A hint
Read what the map measures and what its legend preserves before comparing places.
Answer & why
Answer: The farms-per-100-km² map.
Dividing by area allows a concentration comparison.
Question 4
A map key gives circles for towns and lines for railways. What must be checked before interpreting a thick line as a larger railway?
- Whether the page is colorful.
- Whether circles are easy to draw.
- Whether a town name is short.
- Whether line thickness has that meaning in the key.
A hint
Read what the map measures and what its legend preserves before comparing places.
Answer & why
Answer: Whether line thickness has that meaning in the key.
Symbol meaning comes from the supplied legend, not appearance alone.
Question 5
A map legend says darker shading means more residents per square kilometer. What does the shading represent?
- Population density
- A country's total wealth
- Every resident's age
- Total land area
A hint
Read what the map measures and what its legend preserves before comparing places.
Answer & why
Answer: Population density
Residents per unit area is a density measure.
Question 6
Region A has 1,000 people in 10 km²; Region B has 2,000 in 100 km². Which is more densely populated?
- Region B
- Region A
- Both have equal density.
- The larger population must always be denser.
A hint
Read what the map measures and what its legend preserves before comparing places.
Answer & why
Answer: Region A
A has 100 people/km²; B has 20 people/km².