Geography

Cartography and Geospatial Analysis

3,123 Questions

Cartography and geospatial analysis questions cover thematic maps, geographical information systems, and spatial modeling techniques. These concepts are essential for geography optional papers and general studies in UPSC and state PSC exams. Solve these questions to build a strong foundation in map reading and digital spatial analysis.

Thematic map elementsGIS analysis techniquesSpatial modeling conceptsLand use mappingMap accuracy factorsBehavioral geography trends

Cartography and Geospatial Analysis Questions

Multiple choice

What is a plan?

  1. It is a type of direction words like left and right.

  2. It is a kind of symbol used on maps.

  3. It is a drawing of a room or houses as seen from high up.

  4. It is a book of maps.

  5. It is a model of house or rooms made of wood.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A plan is a drawing of a room or houses as seen from high up.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a use of a map?

  1. It helps to find the location of a place.

  2. It helps to find the direction of a place in comparison to other place.

  3. It is helpful in finding the temperature of a place.

  4. It is helpful in deciding the geographical feature of a place.

  5. It is helpful in finding the approximate distance between two places.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Maps do not help in finding the temperature of a place.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.

Only the most naive scientist believes that the perfect model is the one that perfectly represents reality. Such a model would have the same drawbacks as a map as large and detailed as the city it represents, a map depicting every street, every park, every building, every tree, every pothole, every inhabitant. Were such a map possible, its specificity would defeat its purpose: to generalise and abstract.

What according to you would succeed the passage?

  1. Whatever their purpose, maps, and models must simplify as much as they mimic the world.

  2. However, only a map with the minutest of detail can be useful for detailed study.

  3. Such maps or models, therefore, do not reflect complete reality.

  4. The best maps, therefore, focus more on the abstraction of reality rather than on the accurate reproduction of human endeavour.

  5. The maps are, after all, only a reflection of reality.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The perfect representation of reality is not needed, nor even desirable. What is needed is simplification. 

Multiple choice

NC contouring is an example of

  1. continuous path positioning

  2. point-to-point positioning

  3. absolute positioning

  4. incremental positioning
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

NC contouring is a continuous path positioning system. Its function is to synchronize the axes of motion to generate a predetermined path. generally a line or a circular arc.

Multiple choice

With reference to contours used for mapping the terrain, consider the following statements :

  1. Contours are horizontal to the dip of the land and perpendicular to the direction in which the surface water runs.
  2. Steeper the slope, farther the contour.
  3. Contours bend up-stream while crossing a river.
  4. Contours do not show up minor relief features. which of the statements given above are correct ?

  1. 1,2 and 3

  2. 1,3 and 4

  3. 2,3 and 4

  4. 1,2 and 4

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Contours are perpendicular to the direction of water flow. They bend upstream when crossing a river (V-shape pointing upstream). They are spaced closer together for steeper slopes, not farther. They generally do not show minor relief features unless the contour interval is very small.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements :

  1. Radicalism in geography is critical of geography as a spatial science.
  2. Radicalism aimed at a general restructuring of capitalist society.
  3. Radicalism in geography relied heavily on empiricist methods. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 1 and 2 only

  3. 2 and 3 only

  4. 1,2 and 3

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Radical geography emerged as a critique of the 'spatial science' approach, arguing that it ignored social and political structures. It sought to address social inequality and restructure capitalist society. It was generally critical of the positivist/empiricist methods used by mainstream geographers at the time.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following projections is suitable for large maps of small area fitting on all sides ?

  1. Sinusoidal Projection

  2. Modified Polyconic Projection

  3. Conical Projection with one Standard Parallel

  4. Lambert?s Projection

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Polyconic projection is well-suited for mapping small areas because it maintains scale along the central meridian and each parallel, minimizing distortion for large-scale maps of limited extent.