Land features and how to read a topographic map

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Point P and point Q both sit on the contour line labeled 300 m on Ari's map. What is the elevation of point Q?

   • 300 m
   • 20 m
   • 280 m
   • 320 m

2. Read this first

   Use this

   Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Key: brown lines are contours; blue line is a stream. Contour interval 20 m. Closed loops around one hilltop: 100 m (labeled), 120 m, 140 m, 160 m (labeled, at the top). Lines are close on side A (east) and far apart on side B (west).

3. 2.

   On Bo's hill map, the top loop is labeled 160 m and the next loop out is 140 m. What is the contour interval?

   • 4 m
   • 20 m
   • 300 m
   • 160 m

4. Use this

   Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Key: brown lines are contours; blue line is a stream. Contour interval 10 m. A line labeled 50 m; point R on the next line uphill.

5. 3.

   The map key says the contour interval is 10 m. Point R sits on the first line above the 50 m line. What is R's elevation, Esme?

   • 40 m
   • 10 m
   • 60 m
   • 51 m

6. Use this

   Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Key: brown lines are contours; blue line is a stream. Contour interval 20 m. Closed loops around one hilltop: 100 m (labeled), 120 m, 140 m, 160 m (labeled, at the top). Lines are close on side A (east) and far apart on side B (west).

7. 4.

   On Jun's hill map, which side of the hill is steeper?

   • Neither: contour lines show trails
   • Side A, where the lines are close
   • Both sides are equally steep
   • Side B, where the lines are far apart
8. 5.

   Contour lines bunch tightly along one edge of a hill on Luz's map. What does that edge look like from the side?

   • A steep slope
   • A flat field
   • A stream
   • A gentle ramp

9. Use this

   Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Key: brown lines are contours; blue line is a stream. Contour interval 20 m. Closed loops around one hilltop: 100 m (labeled), 120 m, 140 m, 160 m (labeled, at the top). Lines are close on side A (east) and far apart on side B (west).

10. 6.

    Closed loops get smaller toward the middle, and each loop is higher than the one around it. Which landform is it, Milo?

    • A valley
    • A hill
    • A plain
    • A canyon

11. Use this

    Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Key: brown lines are contours; blue line is a stream. Contour interval 20 m. A wide flat top above the 400 m line, with lines from 300 m to 400 m packed tightly along its west side.

12. 7.

    A large area is high and flat on top, with tightly packed lines along one side. Which landform is it, Noah?

    • A canyon
    • A low plain
    • A plateau
    • A pointed peak
13. 8.

    Contour lines form sharp V shapes, and a blue stream runs through the V's. Which landform is it, Pia?

    • A plain
    • A plateau
    • A valley
    • A hilltop

14. Use this

    Contour map with a key (model data, not to scale). Key: brown lines are contours; blue line is a stream. Contour interval 20 m. Closed loops around one hilltop: 100 m (labeled), 120 m, 140 m, 160 m (labeled, at the top). Lines are close on side A (east) and far apart on side B (west).

15. 9.

    Some brown lines on Tala's map are wider and have elevations printed on them. What are those lines called?

    • Contour intervals
    • Index contours
    • Streams
    • Scale bars
16. 10.

    Where can Zee find the contour interval on a USGS map?

    • In the margin
    • Inside the blue streams
    • On the back of the map
    • On each trail