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Quiz: Introduction to Geography

Test your understanding of the foundational concepts of geography with these questions.

1. What is geography?

  1. The study of numbers and equations
  2. The study of places and what makes them different
  3. The study of ancient languages
  4. The study of cooking and recipes
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Geography is the study of places and how they are different from each other. It helps us understand mountains, rivers, climate, cities, and how people live in different locations around the world.

Concept Tested: Geography Definition

2. What are the four cardinal directions?

  1. Up, down, left, right
  2. Northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest
  3. North, south, east, west
  4. Forward, backward, sideways, diagonal
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. The four cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. You can remember them by starting at the top and going clockwise: N-E-S-W, or "Never Eat Soggy Waffles!"

Concept Tested: Cardinal Directions

3. What is a compass rose used for?

  1. Growing flowers in a garden
  2. Showing directions on a map
  3. Measuring temperature
  4. Counting population
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The correct answer is B. A compass rose is a symbol on maps that shows directions. It looks like a star with points showing north, south, east, and west, and often includes the in-between directions like northeast and southwest.

Concept Tested: Compass Rose

4. What does a map scale tell you?

  1. How heavy the map is
  2. How old the map is
  3. How distances on the map compare to real distances
  4. What colors are used on the map
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The correct answer is C. A map scale tells you how distances on the map compare to distances in the real world. For example, 1 inch on the map might equal 100 miles in real life.

Concept Tested: Map Scale

5. What does a map legend explain?

  1. Stories about the map's creation
  2. What the symbols and colors on a map mean
  3. Who owns the map
  4. How to fold the map correctly
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. A map legend (also called a map key) explains what the symbols and colors on a map mean. For example, a star might represent a capital city, and blue lines might represent rivers.

Concept Tested: Map Legend

6. How many hemispheres does Earth have?

  1. Two
  2. Four
  3. Six
  4. Eight
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Earth has four hemispheres: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western. "Hemisphere" means "half-sphere," and different dividing lines create different halves.

Concept Tested: Hemispheres

7. Which hemispheres is the United States located in?

  1. Northern and Eastern
  2. Southern and Western
  3. Northern and Western
  4. Southern and Eastern
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The correct answer is C. The United States is located in both the Northern Hemisphere (above the equator) and the Western Hemisphere (west of the Prime Meridian).

Concept Tested: Hemispheres, United States Location

8. How many continents are there on Earth?

  1. Five
  2. Six
  3. Seven
  4. Eight
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. There are seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Concept Tested: Continents

9. Which two countries share land borders with the United States?

  1. Canada and Cuba
  2. Mexico and Brazil
  3. Canada and Mexico
  4. Russia and Mexico
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. Canada borders the United States to the north, and Mexico borders the United States to the south. The US-Canada border is the longest border between any two countries in the world!

Concept Tested: US Borders

10. How many main time zones does the continental United States have?

  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Four
  4. Six
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. The continental United States has four main time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii have additional time zones.

Concept Tested: Time Zones

11. What is the difference between weather and climate?

  1. Weather is in summer, climate is in winter
  2. Weather is what's happening now, climate is the pattern over many years
  3. Weather is outdoors, climate is indoors
  4. There is no difference between weather and climate
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Weather is what's happening in the atmosphere right now (today's temperature, rain, etc.). Climate is the average weather pattern over many years (what a place is usually like over decades).

Concept Tested: Climate Definition, Weather vs Climate

12. Which ocean borders the east coast of the United States?

  1. Pacific Ocean
  2. Arctic Ocean
  3. Indian Ocean
  4. Atlantic Ocean
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. The Atlantic Ocean borders the entire eastern coast of the United States, from Maine to Florida. The Pacific Ocean is on the west coast.

Concept Tested: Oceans