Maps and Map Keys — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A map legend shows a green tree symbol. What does that symbol most likely stand for?
A) A hospital
B) A park or forest
C) A parking lot
D) A swimming pool
A little green tree naturally pictures a place full of real trees, so the symbol most likely points to a park or a forest on the map.
2. Why do mapmakers use symbols instead of drawing real pictures of every building?
A) Because they do not know how to draw
B) Because symbols save space and keep the map clear
C) Because maps are only for adults
D) Because buildings are too small to see
Drawing every single building in detail would crowd the map and make it messy. Small symbols fit in less space and make the map easier to read.
3. Two maps show the same town but use different symbols. How can you still read both maps?
A) Guess what each symbol means
B) Only look at one map
C) Check each map's legend to learn its symbols
D) Ask a friend to draw a new map
Every map comes with its own legend to explain the symbols on that map, so you just read each legend before trying to use that map.
4. A map shows brown shading in one area and green shading next to it. What might the brown area be?
A) A lake
B) A mountain or desert
C) A school playground
D) A cloudy sky
Green usually shows land covered with plants, while brown shows dry or rocky land, so a brown patch next to green likely marks a mountain or desert.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A map legend and a map key are the same thing.
Some maps say 'legend' and others say 'key,' but both words point to the exact same little box that tells you what the symbols mean.
2. A small envelope symbol on a map could stand for a post office.
People mail letters in envelopes, and those letters go to the post office, so a tiny envelope is a natural symbol for a post office on a map.
3. Maps use colors, shapes, and lines to share information.
Along with colors and shapes, mapmakers draw lines to show roads, rivers, and borders, so lines are the third main tool used to share information.
4. A cross or plus symbol on a map often shows a hospital.
The plus sign, or red cross, is the worldwide sign for medical help, so mapmakers use that shape to mark where a hospital is located.
5. Before reading any map, you should first look at the legend.
The legend explains what every symbol and color means, so checking it first saves you from guessing wrong about the rest of the map.