1. Measurements taken from space show the Earth to be
A)
B)
C)
D)
greatest in diameter at the Equator
greatest in diameter at the poles
a perfect sphere
pear shaped
2. The diagram below represents an observer measuring
the altitude of Polaris.
At which latitude is this observer located?
A) 16° N B) 37° N C) 53° N D) 90° N
3. Which New York State city is located at 42°39' N
73°45' W?
A) Buffalo
C) Ithaca
B) Albany
D) Plattsburgh
4. According to astronomers, the age of the universe is
estimated to be
A) 1.3 billion years
C) 7.9 billion years
B) 4.6 billion years
D) 13.8 billion years
5. Which evidence best supports scientists' inferences
about the origin and age of the universe?
A)
B)
C)
D)
the existence of planets
cosmic background radiation
formation of star constellations
similar composition of Earth and the Moon
6. Four locations, A, B, C, and D, are represented on the topographic map below.
Which lettered location has the highest elevation?
A) A
B) B
C) C
7. The topographic map below shows a stream crossing
several contour lines and passing through points X
and Y. Elevations are measured in feet.
What is the approximate gradient between point X
and point Y?
A) 10 ft/mi
C) 40 ft/mi
B) 20 ft/mi
D) 80 ft/mi
D) D
8. Base your answer to the following question on the contour map below, which shows a hill formed by
glacial deposition near Rochester, New York. Letters A through E are reference points. Elevations are
in feet.
Which description best compares the gradients of this hill?
A) AE and EB have the same gradient.
C) CE has a steeper gradient than ED.
B) AE has a steeper gradient than EB.
D) CE and AE have the same gradient.
9. The topographic map below shows locations X and Y.
10. The topographic map below shows part of a stream.
In which general direction is the stream flowing?
What is the approximate gradient between X and Y?
A) 15 ft/mi
C) 30 ft/mi
B) 20 ft/mi
D) 60 ft/mi
A) northeast
C) southeast
B) northwest
D) southwest
11. The topographic map below shows a lake and two rivers.
In which direction does each of the rivers flow?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The Sapphire River and the Garnet River both flow east.
The Sapphire River and the Garnet River both flow west.
The Sapphire River flows east and the Garnet River flows west.
The Sapphire River flows west and the Garnet River flows east.
Base your answers to questions 12 through 14 on the topographic map below. Points A, B, C, D, and
X represent locations on the map. Elevations are measured in feet.
12. Which cross section best represents the profile along straight line AB?
A)
B)
C)
D)
13. What is the average gradient of the slope along straight line CD?
A) 100 ft/mi
B) 250 ft/mi
C) 500 ft/mi
D) 1,000 ft/mi
14. What is the highest possible elevation of point X on Rock Mountain?
A) 1,599 ft
B) 1,600 ft
C) 1,601 ft
D) 1,699 ft
15. A topographic map of Mt. Rainier in Washington
State is shown below.
17. The topographic map below shows the island of
Hawaii. Elevations are measured in feet.
What is the contour interval of the map?
A) 20 ft
C) 100 ft
B) 40 ft
D) 200 ft
16. A contour map is shown below. Elevations are
shown in feet.
Which side of Amethyst Hill has the steepest slope?
A) north B) south C) east
D) west
What is the approximate average gradient along line
XY?
A) 200 ft/mi
C) 800 ft/mi
B) 400 ft/mi
D) 1,000 ft/mi
Base your answers to questions 18 through 21 on the
topographic map below. Points A, B, C, D, E, F, X,
and Y are locations on the map. Elevation is
measured in feet.
18. The gradient between points A and B is closest to
A) 20 ft/mi
C) 80 ft/mi
B) 40 ft/mi
D) 200 ft/mi
19. Between points C and D, Rush Creek flows toward
the
A) north
C) east
B) south
D) west
20. Which locations have the greatest difference in
elevation?
A) A and D
C) C and F
B) B and X
D) E and Y
21. What is the contour interval used on this map?
A) 20 ft
C) 100 ft
B) 50 ft
D) 200 ft
Base your answers to questions 22 through 24 on the contour map below. Points A through F
represent locations on the map.
22. If no elevation values were given, which general rule could be used to establish that Cedar River
flows into Sunfish Lake?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Rivers shown on maps generally flow southward.
Rivers always flow toward large bodies of water.
Contour lines bend upstream when crossing a river.
A large body of water is generally the source of water for a river.
23. Which statement about hill C is best supported by the map?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Hill C is located approximately 2 km west of Cedar River.
The steepest slope of hill C is on the western side.
Hill C has been shaped by glaciers.
The highest possible elevation of hill C is 179 m.
24. What is the most likely elevation of the surface of Sunfish Lake?
A) 151 m
B) 140 m
C) 55 m
D) 28 m
25. The map below represents an elevation field.
26. What is the elevation of the highest contour line
shown on the map below?
What is the approximate gradient between point A
and point B?
A) 0.5 m/km
C) 3.0 m/km
B) 2.0 m/km
D) 4.0 m/km
A) 10,000 feet
C) 10,700 feet
B) 10,688 feet
D) 10,788 feet
Answer Key
topo2016
1.
A
2.
C
3.
B
4.
D
5.
B
6.
B
7.
C
8.
B
9.
C
10.
C
11.
A
12.
A
13.
B
14.
D
15.
B
16.
D
17.
B
18.
B
19.
A
20.
A
21.
C
22.
C
23.
B
24.
C
25.
B
26.
C