Why every flat map stretches something

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Kira studies a Mercator world map. Where does it stretch land the most?

   • Near the equator
   • In the middle of the oceans
   • By the same amount everywhere
   • Near the North and South Poles
2. 2.

   Canada lies mostly north of 49° N. Indonesia lies between about 6° N and 11° S. Which one does Luz's Mercator map make look too big by more?

   • Both by the same amount
   • Canada
   • Indonesia
   • Neither; Mercator keeps sizes

3. Read this first

   Use the table

   Place	Real area (million km²)
   Antarctica	14
   Australia	7.7

   Data: Wikidata and Wikipedia, read Nov 11, 2026, rounded.

4. 3.

   Pia checks the table. About how many times as big as Australia is Antarctica?

   • About 6 times as big
   • About 10 times as big
   • About 2 times as big
   • About the same size
5. 4.

   Ren checks the table again. About how many times as big as Australia is Africa?

   • About 22 times as big
   • About the same size
   • About 4 times as big
   • About 8 times as big
7. 5.

   Tala's report shows which countries cover the most land. Which map would show those sizes fairly?

   • A compromise map such as the Robinson
   • An equal-area map
   • A Mercator map
   • A city street map
8. 6.

   A ship's navigator in Zee's story wants to steer one compass direction across the ocean. Which map shows that path as a straight line?

   Use the picture in question 5.

   • A compromise map such as the Robinson
   • An equal-area map
   • A Mercator map
   • A city street map
9. 7.

   Ari wants a classroom poster of the whole world where shapes and sizes are each only a little off. Which map fits best?

   Use the picture in question 5.

   • A compromise map such as the Robinson
   • A Mercator map
   • An equal-area map
   • A city street map
11. 8.

    Bo looks at two world maps side by side. On which map would Canada look bigger than it really is?

    • Both maps, by the same amount
    • Map Y, which keeps sizes
    • Neither map
    • Map X, which keeps shapes
12. 9.

    Esme sees two world maps side by side. On which map can Africa's size be compared fairly with Russia's?

    Use the picture in question 8.

    • Map X, where shapes stay true
    • Map Y, where sizes stay in proportion
    • Neither map; use a city street map
    • Either map, since both are maps of Earth
13. 10.

    Jun sees Antarctica drawn as a huge band across the bottom of one map. Which map is that most likely?

    Use the picture in question 8.

    • Map Y, which squashes land near the poles
    • Map X, which stretches land near the poles
    • Neither; flat maps leave Antarctica as it is
    • Map Y, which stretches land near the equator