Map Symbols, Legend & Keys — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. What is another name for a map key?
A) A map title
B) A map legend
C) A map border
D) A map color
A map legend is another name for a map key. Both words mean the box that lists each symbol and tells you what it stands for.
2. A tree symbol on a map most likely shows a what?
A) Store
B) Park or forest
C) Hospital
D) School
Trees grow in groups in parks and forests, so a tree symbol most often shows a park or a forest, not a building like a store or school.
3. Which symbol might stand for a hospital?
A) A star
B) A flag
C) A red cross
D) A circle
A red cross has long been used as a sign for doctors and medical help, so on a map it usually marks a hospital.
4. If you move down on a map, which direction do you go?
A) North
B) East
C) South
D) West
On a map, the top is north and the bottom is south, so moving down on the map means heading south.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Every map should have a key to explain its symbols.
Without a key, the symbols on a map would be a mystery. Every map should have a key to explain what each symbol means.
2. The compass rose has four main directions.
A compass rose points to north, south, east, and west, which is four main directions.
3. A small airplane symbol can mean an airport.
A small airplane symbol stands for the place where airplanes land and take off, which is an airport.
4. A black line on a map often means a road.
Roads on maps are usually drawn as black lines so they stand out clearly against the colored land.
5. We use maps to find our way to new places.
Maps are tools that guide us, so we use them to find our way to new places we have never been before.