Map Symbols, Legend & Keys — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A compass rose shows north, south, east, and west.
A compass rose is the little star-shaped drawing on a map that points to north, south, east, and west.
2. A red cross on a map can mean a hospital.
Hospitals are often marked with a red cross because the red cross is a well-known sign for medical help.
3. The map key helps us read the symbols.
Symbols are like a secret code, and the map key helps us read them by telling us what each one means.
4. An airplane symbol can mean an airport.
Airports are places where airplanes take off and land, so a tiny airplane is a clear symbol for an airport.
5. Maps use symbols to stand for real things.
Real things like rivers and buildings are too big to draw, so maps use small symbols to stand for them.
6. A book symbol on a map might mean a library.
Libraries are full of books, so a book picture is an easy way to show where a library is.
7. We check the legend before reading a new map.
Before reading a new map, we check the legend so we know what every symbol on the map means.
8. East is to the right on most maps.
When you face the top of a map, east is on your right side, just like the sun rises in the east.
9. A flag on a map can show a school.
Schools sometimes fly a flag, so a flag symbol on a map can point out where a school is located.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
envelope
→ post office
post office
cross
→ hospital
hospital
book
→ library
library
airplane
→ airport
airport
Each symbol matches the place where you would use it: an envelope goes with the post office because mail is sent there, a cross goes with the hospital because it marks medical help, a book goes with the library because libraries hold books, and an airplane goes with the airport because planes fly from there.