Locating Places on Earth – Short Answer Type Questions
Class 6
CBSE Class 6 Social Science — Chapter 1: Locating Places on Earth
CBSE Board Examinations: Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks), Map skills, Practical assessment, Internal evaluation.
Content Bank — Chapter 1 (Topic-wise)
Topics covered: Understanding the Earth; Continents & Oceans; Maps & Map Types; Symbols, Scale & Orientation; Grid System (Latitude & Longitude); Cardinal Directions & Compass; Practical Map Skills.
Topic 1 — Understanding the Earth
1. Explain the term 'globe'.
A globe is a scaled three-dimensional model of the Earth that accurately shows the shape, relative sizes and positions of continents and oceans.
2. Why is the Earth called an oblate spheroid?
A. The Earth is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator, making its shape an oblate spheroid rather than a perfect sphere.
3. State two reasons why globes are useful for studying Earth.
A. Globes show true shapes and relative positions without large distortions, and they help visualise Earth's rotation and tilt.
4. What do we mean by the terms 'landmass' and 'water body'?
A. Landmass refers to continuous areas of land such as continents, while water bodies refer to seas and oceans covering the Earth's surface.
5. Mention one limitation of using a globe.
A. Globes are not convenient for detailed local study and are difficult to carry compared to maps.
Topic 2 — Continents and Oceans
6. Define 'continent'.
A. A continent is a large continuous area of land, typically made up of countries and separated from others by oceans or distinct geographic features.
7. List the seven continents in order of size (largest to smallest).
A. Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia (approximate order by area).
8. What is an ocean and how is it different from a sea?
A. Oceans are vast continuous bodies of saline water covering large parts of the Earth; seas are smaller and often partially enclosed by land.
9. Explain why oceans are important for the planet.
A. Oceans regulate climate, provide habitats for marine life, support transportation and trade, and are a source of food and resources.
10. Name the five major oceans and one key fact about each.
A. Pacific (largest), Atlantic (separates Americas and Europe/Africa), Indian (warmest, located mainly in southern hemisphere), Southern/Antarctic (surrounds Antarctica), Arctic (smallest and coldest).
Topic 3 — Maps and Types of Maps
11. What is a map? Give a short definition.
A. A map is a two-dimensional representation of the Earth's surface that shows selected physical and human features in a simplified form.
12. Differentiate between physical and political maps.
A. Physical maps show natural features like mountains and rivers; political maps show boundaries of countries, states and cities.
13. What is a thematic map and when is it used?
A. A thematic map focuses on a single theme or topic, such as rainfall, population density or land use, and is used for specialised studies.
14. Why are maps considered simplified drawings?
A. Maps simplify the real world by showing only selected features and using symbols and colours to represent them clearly.
15. How do cartographers decide what to include on a map?
A. Cartographers choose features based on the map's purpose, scale and the audience's needs, using symbols and legends for clarity.
Topic 4 — Map Symbols, Scale and Orientation
16. What is a map symbol? Provide an example.
A. A map symbol is a sign used to represent a real feature, e.g., a blue line for rivers or a tree icon for forests.
17. Explain the purpose of a map legend.
A. A legend explains the meaning of symbols and colours used on a map so the reader can interpret the features correctly.
18. What does the scale 1 : 100,000 mean?
A. It means 1 unit on the map equals 100,000 units on the ground; for example, 1 cm on the map represents 1 km in reality if 1 cm = 1 km at that scale.
19. How does orientation help a map user?
A. Orientation shows direction (usually with a north arrow), helping users align the map with the real world and navigate accurately.
20. Give one example of how scale affects map detail.
A. Large-scale maps (e.g., 1:10,000) show more local details like buildings; small-scale maps (e.g., 1:10,000,000) show broader areas with less detail.
Topic 5 — Latitude (Parallels)
21. Define latitude.
A. Latitude refers to imaginary horizontal lines called parallels that run east–west and measure distances north or south of the Equator.
22. What is the Equator and why is it important?
A. The Equator is the 0° latitude dividing Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres; it is important for climate zones and solar position.
23. Mention two important parallels other than the Equator.
A. Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are important parallels marking the tropics; Arctic and Antarctic Circles are also key.
24. How are latitudes expressed?
A. Latitudes are expressed in degrees (°) north or south of the Equator, e.g., 20°N.
25. Explain how latitude affects climate.
A. Areas near the Equator (low latitudes) receive more direct sunlight and are warmer; higher latitudes receive less direct sunlight and are cooler.
Topic 6 — Longitude (Meridians)
26. Define longitude.
A. Longitude refers to imaginary vertical lines called meridians that run from the North Pole to the South Pole and measure degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.
27. What is the Prime Meridian?
A. The Prime Meridian is 0° longitude passing through Greenwich, UK, and serves as the reference for measuring east and west longitudes.
28. How are longitudes expressed?
A. Longitudes are expressed in degrees (°) east or west of the Prime Meridian, e.g., 77°E.
29. Why do meridians converge at the poles?
A. Meridians are great circles that meet at the poles because all vertical lines on a globe intersect at the North and South Poles.
30. How do latitude and longitude together help in locating a place?
A. Together they provide a unique coordinate pair (latitude, longitude) that pinpoints the exact location on Earth's surface.
Topic 7 — Cardinal Directions and Compass
31. List the four cardinal directions.
A. North, South, East and West are the four main cardinal directions.
32. What are inter-cardinal directions? Give examples.
A. Inter-cardinal directions lie between cardinal points, such as Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Northwest (NW), and Southwest (SW).
33. Describe one use of a compass in map reading.
A. A compass helps determine direction in the field and align the map with geographical north for accurate navigation.
34. How can you find east if you face south?
A. If you face south, east will be to your left and west to your right.
35. Why is knowing directions important for map work?
A. Directions help orient maps correctly, plan routes, and understand spatial relationships between places.
Topic 8 — Practical Map Skills
36. Explain how to use a map scale to find distance.
A. Measure the distance on the map, then use the scale (e.g., 1 cm = 50 km) to convert that map distance into actual ground distance.
37. What is an atlas and how is it useful?
A. An atlas is a collection of maps in book form, useful for finding locations, comparing regions and studying thematic information.
38. Give two tips for neat map labelling in exams.
A. Use a sharp pencil or fine pen, write labels close to features without overlapping, and use arrows for clarity when needed.
39. How would you mark the Equator and Prime Meridian on a blank world map?
A. Draw a horizontal line across the middle for the Equator (0° latitude) and a vertical line through Greenwich for the Prime Meridian (0° longitude).
40. What is the benefit of practising map skills regularly?
A. Regular practice improves speed, accuracy, understanding of scales and coordinates, and confidence during exams.
Topic 9 — Revision and Quick Concepts
41. What is meant by the term 'hemisphere'?
A. A hemisphere is half of the Earth divided by the Equator (Northern and Southern) or by a meridian (Eastern and Western).
42. Why is the study of continents important?
A. Studying continents helps understand regional similarities and differences in climate, resources, population and culture.
43. Give one example of a thematic map used in real life.
A. A population density map used by planners to decide where to build schools and hospitals.
44. How do ocean currents affect climate?
A. Ocean currents transport warm or cold water across regions, influencing coastal climates and weather patterns.
45. What is the significance of the Tropic of Cancer for India?
A. The Tropic of Cancer passes through India and helps define the tropical climate zones and seasons experienced in parts of the country.
Topic 10 — Practice Application Questions
46. How would you explain the difference between a map and a globe to a friend?
A. Explain that a globe is a true-to-scale 3D model showing accurate shapes, while a map is a flat, simplified representation used for detail and ease of carrying.
47. Describe a classroom activity to teach latitude and longitude.
A. Use string to draw parallels and meridians on a ball or printable map, mark the Equator and Prime Meridian, and have students find coordinates of cities.
48. Suggest a project to learn about continents and oceans.
A. Assign groups to create posters for each continent listing countries, major rivers, mountains and interesting facts, plus an ocean poster highlighting marine life and currents.
49. How can technology help in learning map skills?
A. Tools like digital maps, GPS, online atlases and interactive quizzes allow dynamic exploration of locations and immediate feedback for practice.
50. Provide one last exam tip for Chapter 1 revision.
A. Revise key terms, practise map labelling and scales, and solve previous year short-answer questions for confidence and speed.
Note: These Short Answer Questions with Answers are prepared strictly as per the NCERT syllabus and are ideal for CBSE Class 6 board exam preparation and classroom revision.