Educational worksheet on cartographic projections with maps and questions.
Worksheet titled "Cartographic Projections" featuring four world map projections with blank spaces for naming and questions about map projections.
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Step-by-step solution for: Geography: Cartographic Projections Exercise - ESL worksheet by ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Geography: Cartographic Projections Exercise - ESL worksheet by ...
Let’s go step by step to solve this cartography worksheet.
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Part 1: Name each map according to its classification and projection
We have four maps shown. Let’s identify them one by one:
1. Top-left map: This is a rounded oval shape, with meridians curving inward toward the poles but not meeting at a point. It’s an *interrupted* projection that tries to show the whole world with less distortion in land areas. This is the Goode Homolosine Interrupted Projection (often called “Goode’s Interrupted” or “Interrupted Goode”).
2. Top-right map: This is a rectangular map with straight, parallel lines for both latitude and longitude. The grid is uniform — this is classic Mercator Projection.
3. Bottom-left map: This shows two separate lobes (like two halves of a globe split apart). It’s designed to minimize distortion by interrupting the oceans. This is also a version of the Goode Homolosine Interrupted, but sometimes called the “Interrupted Mollweide” or just “Interrupted Equal-Area”. But since it’s visually distinct from the top-left, and matches common textbook examples, it’s likely the Interrupted Goode Homolosine again — wait, actually, looking again: the bottom-left has two distinct “peanut-shaped” lobes — that’s actually the Mollweide Projection (an equal-area pseudocylindrical projection), often used as an alternative to Mercator for showing true area.
Wait — let’s double-check standard school-level projections:
Actually, in many textbooks:
- Top-left: Robinson Projection — it’s oval, smooth, compromises between shape and area.
- Top-right: Mercator Projection — rectangular, straight grid, exaggerates polar regions.
- Bottom-left: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine — looks like two peanut halves, interrupts oceans to preserve land shapes.
- Bottom-right: Conic Projection — especially if it’s centered on North America/Europe, with curved meridians converging at a pole. But looking at the image, it’s actually a Polar Azimuthal Equidistant? No — wait, the bottom-right map shows North America and Eurasia with meridians radiating from a point near the top — that’s likely an Azimuthal Projection (specifically, Polar Azimuthal Equidistant) or possibly a Conic Projection.
But let’s look more carefully at the actual images (based on common worksheets):
Actually, based on standard ESL/Geography worksheets:
✔ Top-left: Robinson Projection
✔ Top-right: Mercator Projection
✔ Bottom-left: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
✔ Bottom-right: Conic Projection (or sometimes called “Albers Conic” or “Lambert Conformal Conic”, but for school level, just “Conic”)
Wait — another possibility: bottom-right might be Polar Stereographic? But no, it shows continents across hemispheres.
Actually, let me recall: In many such worksheets, the bottom-right is the Conic Projection, often used for mid-latitude regions.
But here’s a better way — let’s match based on visual features:
- Top-left: Oval, smooth curves → Robinson
- Top-right: Rectangular, straight grid → Mercator
- Bottom-left: Two separate lobes, interrupted → Goode’s Interrupted
- Bottom-right: Curved meridians converging toward top → Conic Projection
Yes, that’s standard.
So:
→ Top-left: Robinson Projection
→ Top-right: Mercator Projection
→ Bottom-left: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
→ Bottom-right: Conic Projection
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Part 2: Answer the questions
1. In what cartographic projection, Europe looks bigger?
In the Mercator Projection, high-latitude areas (like Europe) are stretched vertically and horizontally, making them appear much larger than they really are. So answer: Mercator Projection
2. In which cartographic projection does Europe look smaller?
In projections that preserve area (equal-area projections), like Goode’s Interrupted or Mollweide, Europe appears closer to its true size — which is smaller compared to how big it looks on Mercator. So answer: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine (or any equal-area projection)
3. Write what Greenland looks like in the Mercator cylindrical projection and the interrupted Goode projection.
- In Mercator: Greenland looks HUGE — almost as big as Africa (even though Africa is 14 times bigger in reality).
- In Goode’s Interrupted: Greenland looks much smaller and closer to its true relative size.
So answer:
*In Mercator, Greenland looks very large — almost as big as Africa. In Goode’s Interrupted, it looks much smaller and more accurate.*
4. In which projection, the meridians do not separate and they all arrive at the poles?
This describes a Conic Projection or Azimuthal Projection — but specifically, in Conic Projections, meridians converge at the pole (the apex of the cone). Also, in Polar Azimuthal, they radiate from the pole.
But the question says “do not separate and they all arrive at the poles” — that sounds like Conic Projection, where meridians are straight lines converging at the pole.
Actually, in Mercator, meridians are parallel — they don’t meet. In Robinson, they curve but don’t meet. In Goode, they’re interrupted. In Conic, they converge at the pole.
So answer: Conic Projection
5. Which projection shows the countries and continents of a more real size, although a little more elongated?
This is describing an equal-area projection that distorts shape slightly to preserve area. That’s the Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine — it preserves area well, but shapes are a bit stretched or elongated.
Answer: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
6. Who is considered the "father of modern cartography"?
That’s Gerardus Mercator — he created the famous Mercator projection and was a pioneer in mapmaking.
Answer: Gerardus Mercator
7. What do cartographers do?
Cartographers make maps. They collect geographic data, design maps, choose projections, add labels, and ensure maps are accurate and useful.
Answer: Cartographers make and design maps. They study geography, use tools to draw maps, and choose how to represent the Earth on paper or screen.
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Now, let’s compile the final answers clearly.
Final Answer:
Top-left map: Robinson Projection
Top-right map: Mercator Projection
Bottom-left map: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
Bottom-right map: Conic Projection
1. Mercator Projection
2. Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
3. In Mercator, Greenland looks very large — almost as big as Africa. In Goode’s Interrupted, it looks much smaller and closer to its true size.
4. Conic Projection
5. Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
6. Gerardus Mercator
7. Cartographers make and design maps. They study geography, use tools to draw maps, and choose how to represent the Earth on paper or screen.
---
Part 1: Name each map according to its classification and projection
We have four maps shown. Let’s identify them one by one:
1. Top-left map: This is a rounded oval shape, with meridians curving inward toward the poles but not meeting at a point. It’s an *interrupted* projection that tries to show the whole world with less distortion in land areas. This is the Goode Homolosine Interrupted Projection (often called “Goode’s Interrupted” or “Interrupted Goode”).
2. Top-right map: This is a rectangular map with straight, parallel lines for both latitude and longitude. The grid is uniform — this is classic Mercator Projection.
3. Bottom-left map: This shows two separate lobes (like two halves of a globe split apart). It’s designed to minimize distortion by interrupting the oceans. This is also a version of the Goode Homolosine Interrupted, but sometimes called the “Interrupted Mollweide” or just “Interrupted Equal-Area”. But since it’s visually distinct from the top-left, and matches common textbook examples, it’s likely the Interrupted Goode Homolosine again — wait, actually, looking again: the bottom-left has two distinct “peanut-shaped” lobes — that’s actually the Mollweide Projection (an equal-area pseudocylindrical projection), often used as an alternative to Mercator for showing true area.
Wait — let’s double-check standard school-level projections:
Actually, in many textbooks:
- Top-left: Robinson Projection — it’s oval, smooth, compromises between shape and area.
- Top-right: Mercator Projection — rectangular, straight grid, exaggerates polar regions.
- Bottom-left: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine — looks like two peanut halves, interrupts oceans to preserve land shapes.
- Bottom-right: Conic Projection — especially if it’s centered on North America/Europe, with curved meridians converging at a pole. But looking at the image, it’s actually a Polar Azimuthal Equidistant? No — wait, the bottom-right map shows North America and Eurasia with meridians radiating from a point near the top — that’s likely an Azimuthal Projection (specifically, Polar Azimuthal Equidistant) or possibly a Conic Projection.
But let’s look more carefully at the actual images (based on common worksheets):
Actually, based on standard ESL/Geography worksheets:
✔ Top-left: Robinson Projection
✔ Top-right: Mercator Projection
✔ Bottom-left: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
✔ Bottom-right: Conic Projection (or sometimes called “Albers Conic” or “Lambert Conformal Conic”, but for school level, just “Conic”)
Wait — another possibility: bottom-right might be Polar Stereographic? But no, it shows continents across hemispheres.
Actually, let me recall: In many such worksheets, the bottom-right is the Conic Projection, often used for mid-latitude regions.
But here’s a better way — let’s match based on visual features:
- Top-left: Oval, smooth curves → Robinson
- Top-right: Rectangular, straight grid → Mercator
- Bottom-left: Two separate lobes, interrupted → Goode’s Interrupted
- Bottom-right: Curved meridians converging toward top → Conic Projection
Yes, that’s standard.
So:
→ Top-left: Robinson Projection
→ Top-right: Mercator Projection
→ Bottom-left: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
→ Bottom-right: Conic Projection
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Part 2: Answer the questions
1. In what cartographic projection, Europe looks bigger?
In the Mercator Projection, high-latitude areas (like Europe) are stretched vertically and horizontally, making them appear much larger than they really are. So answer: Mercator Projection
2. In which cartographic projection does Europe look smaller?
In projections that preserve area (equal-area projections), like Goode’s Interrupted or Mollweide, Europe appears closer to its true size — which is smaller compared to how big it looks on Mercator. So answer: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine (or any equal-area projection)
3. Write what Greenland looks like in the Mercator cylindrical projection and the interrupted Goode projection.
- In Mercator: Greenland looks HUGE — almost as big as Africa (even though Africa is 14 times bigger in reality).
- In Goode’s Interrupted: Greenland looks much smaller and closer to its true relative size.
So answer:
*In Mercator, Greenland looks very large — almost as big as Africa. In Goode’s Interrupted, it looks much smaller and more accurate.*
4. In which projection, the meridians do not separate and they all arrive at the poles?
This describes a Conic Projection or Azimuthal Projection — but specifically, in Conic Projections, meridians converge at the pole (the apex of the cone). Also, in Polar Azimuthal, they radiate from the pole.
But the question says “do not separate and they all arrive at the poles” — that sounds like Conic Projection, where meridians are straight lines converging at the pole.
Actually, in Mercator, meridians are parallel — they don’t meet. In Robinson, they curve but don’t meet. In Goode, they’re interrupted. In Conic, they converge at the pole.
So answer: Conic Projection
5. Which projection shows the countries and continents of a more real size, although a little more elongated?
This is describing an equal-area projection that distorts shape slightly to preserve area. That’s the Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine — it preserves area well, but shapes are a bit stretched or elongated.
Answer: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
6. Who is considered the "father of modern cartography"?
That’s Gerardus Mercator — he created the famous Mercator projection and was a pioneer in mapmaking.
Answer: Gerardus Mercator
7. What do cartographers do?
Cartographers make maps. They collect geographic data, design maps, choose projections, add labels, and ensure maps are accurate and useful.
Answer: Cartographers make and design maps. They study geography, use tools to draw maps, and choose how to represent the Earth on paper or screen.
---
Now, let’s compile the final answers clearly.
Final Answer:
Top-left map: Robinson Projection
Top-right map: Mercator Projection
Bottom-left map: Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
Bottom-right map: Conic Projection
1. Mercator Projection
2. Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
3. In Mercator, Greenland looks very large — almost as big as Africa. In Goode’s Interrupted, it looks much smaller and closer to its true size.
4. Conic Projection
5. Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine
6. Gerardus Mercator
7. Cartographers make and design maps. They study geography, use tools to draw maps, and choose how to represent the Earth on paper or screen.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of map projections worksheet.