Geology Lab Exam II UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
A topographic map has a ratio scale of 1:250,000. One centimeter on the map equals _____
kilometers in the real world. - CORRECT ANSWER- 2.5
Assuming a contour interval of 50 feet, what is the elevation of the centermost contour line in
this figure? Please observe that the first contour line has an elevation of 100 feet above sea
level. - CORRECT ANSWER- 300 feet
Use the Public Land Survey System to locate the X out to three quarters. Assume that it is
located in Township 1N and Range 3E. - CORRECT ANSWER- NE 1/4, NE 1/4, NW 1/4,
Sec. 32, T1N, R3E
What information do contour lines provide? - CORRECT ANSWER- elevation above sea
level
Using the topographic map in the figure, follow along line X-X' and determine what the
topographic profile would look like. Choose the appropriate profile below. - CORRECT
ANSWER- Answer: B
On this map, what is the change in elevation between two adjacent index contour lines?
(Answer to the nearest foot.) - CORRECT ANSWER- 200 feet
What is the change in elevation across each contour interval (i.e., between successive
"regular" contours) on this map? - CORRECT ANSWER- 40 feet
Which of the following statements best describes the topography around placemark A and the
resulting appearance of the spacing of the contour lines on the map? - CORRECT ANSWER-
The land surface is relatively flat, and the contours are widely spaced.
In which direction do the Vs formed by the contour lines point as a stream crosses them? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Upstream
,What are the elevations of placemarks G and H respectively? - CORRECT ANSWER- 5540
feet; 5930 feet, respectively
Using the change in elevation from Part D, calculate the straight-line gradient between
placemarks G and H. Calculating the slope here is exactly the same as in geometry, divide
rise over run. - CORRECT ANSWER- 0.795
Which answer most correctly describes the landform at placemark I and the appearance of the
contour lines in the area? - CORRECT ANSWER- The landform is a ridge, and the contour
lines form Vs that point downslope.
Which answer most correctly describes the landform at placemark J and the appearance of the
contour lines in the area? - CORRECT ANSWER- The landform is a flat-topped hill, or peak,
called a butte. The contour lines form concentric closed loops around the high point.
Which was updated more recently, the topographic map or the satellite imagery? How can
you tell? - CORRECT ANSWER- The satellite imagery was updated more recently. This is
evidenced by roads and buildings that appear in the satellite imagery but not on the
topographic map.
The latitude-longitude coordinate system provides reference lines from which to measure the
location of a point on Earth's surface. For example, Point A is located at 20° north latitude
and 120° west longitude.
Now determine the latitude and longitude of Point B. - CORRECT ANSWER- 40 degrees
south; 20 degrees west
A common size of U.S. Geological Survey map is a 15-minute quadrangle map, which
measures 15 minutes of latitude by 15 minutes of longitude. Below you will use the latitude
and longitude of one corner of a 15-minute quadrangle map to determine the latitude and
longitude of another corner.
Point B is located at 40° south latitude and 20° west longitude. Assuming that Point B is at
the northwest corner of a 15-minute quadrangle map, what is the latitude and longitude of the
southeast corner of the map? - CORRECT ANSWER- 40 degrees 15' south latitude, 19
degrees 45' west longitude
Launch Google Earth™ by clicking on this link to locate the Starved Rock Lodge at Starved
Rock State Park, Illinois. If you do not have Google Earth installed, download it at
http:/www.google.com/earth/index.html and install it on your computer before you begin.
, In the Layers Panel on the lower right, make sure the Borders and Labels and Places boxes
are checked.
Using Placemark A, which of the following is the best estimate of the latitude and longitude
of the park in degrees, minutes and seconds? - CORRECT ANSWER- 41 degrees 18' 20 N,
88 degrees 58' 29 W
What is the elevation of the Starved Rock State Park, Illinois? Use Placemark A as reference
point. If your elevation in Google Earth™ is any unit besides feet, go to "Tools" > "Options"
and change the "Unit of Measurement" unit to "Feet, Miles". - CORRECT ANSWER- 635
feet
Locate the Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. Adjust the zoom so you can see both the lodge
and Plum Island, which is northwest of the lodge. What is the approximate distance between
the campground and the northwestern tip of Plum Island? - CORRECT ANSWER- 2.1 miles
In the Universal Traverse Mercator System, the distance measured in meters from the Equator
is the ____________ coordiante - CORRECT ANSWER- northing
The difference in degrees between due north and magnetic north for a location is that
location's ______________. - CORRECT ANSWER- declination
In the U.S. Public Land Survey System, the north-south squares are called __________ and
the east-west squares are called ____________. - CORRECT ANSWER- townships, ranges
A compass direction along a line from one point to another that is expressed in degrees east
or west or true north or south is a(n) _______________. - CORRECT ANSWER- quadrant
bearing
A compass direction along a line from one point to another that is expressed in degrees
between 0 and 360 is a(n) ______________. - CORRECT ANSWER- azimuth bearing.
The compass bearing from Point A to Point B on the map below is 232°. If the magnetic
declination is 14° west of true north, what is the bearing after it is corrected for magnetic
declination? - CORRECT ANSWER- 246 degrees
Questions and CORRECT Answers
A topographic map has a ratio scale of 1:250,000. One centimeter on the map equals _____
kilometers in the real world. - CORRECT ANSWER- 2.5
Assuming a contour interval of 50 feet, what is the elevation of the centermost contour line in
this figure? Please observe that the first contour line has an elevation of 100 feet above sea
level. - CORRECT ANSWER- 300 feet
Use the Public Land Survey System to locate the X out to three quarters. Assume that it is
located in Township 1N and Range 3E. - CORRECT ANSWER- NE 1/4, NE 1/4, NW 1/4,
Sec. 32, T1N, R3E
What information do contour lines provide? - CORRECT ANSWER- elevation above sea
level
Using the topographic map in the figure, follow along line X-X' and determine what the
topographic profile would look like. Choose the appropriate profile below. - CORRECT
ANSWER- Answer: B
On this map, what is the change in elevation between two adjacent index contour lines?
(Answer to the nearest foot.) - CORRECT ANSWER- 200 feet
What is the change in elevation across each contour interval (i.e., between successive
"regular" contours) on this map? - CORRECT ANSWER- 40 feet
Which of the following statements best describes the topography around placemark A and the
resulting appearance of the spacing of the contour lines on the map? - CORRECT ANSWER-
The land surface is relatively flat, and the contours are widely spaced.
In which direction do the Vs formed by the contour lines point as a stream crosses them? -
CORRECT ANSWER- Upstream
,What are the elevations of placemarks G and H respectively? - CORRECT ANSWER- 5540
feet; 5930 feet, respectively
Using the change in elevation from Part D, calculate the straight-line gradient between
placemarks G and H. Calculating the slope here is exactly the same as in geometry, divide
rise over run. - CORRECT ANSWER- 0.795
Which answer most correctly describes the landform at placemark I and the appearance of the
contour lines in the area? - CORRECT ANSWER- The landform is a ridge, and the contour
lines form Vs that point downslope.
Which answer most correctly describes the landform at placemark J and the appearance of the
contour lines in the area? - CORRECT ANSWER- The landform is a flat-topped hill, or peak,
called a butte. The contour lines form concentric closed loops around the high point.
Which was updated more recently, the topographic map or the satellite imagery? How can
you tell? - CORRECT ANSWER- The satellite imagery was updated more recently. This is
evidenced by roads and buildings that appear in the satellite imagery but not on the
topographic map.
The latitude-longitude coordinate system provides reference lines from which to measure the
location of a point on Earth's surface. For example, Point A is located at 20° north latitude
and 120° west longitude.
Now determine the latitude and longitude of Point B. - CORRECT ANSWER- 40 degrees
south; 20 degrees west
A common size of U.S. Geological Survey map is a 15-minute quadrangle map, which
measures 15 minutes of latitude by 15 minutes of longitude. Below you will use the latitude
and longitude of one corner of a 15-minute quadrangle map to determine the latitude and
longitude of another corner.
Point B is located at 40° south latitude and 20° west longitude. Assuming that Point B is at
the northwest corner of a 15-minute quadrangle map, what is the latitude and longitude of the
southeast corner of the map? - CORRECT ANSWER- 40 degrees 15' south latitude, 19
degrees 45' west longitude
Launch Google Earth™ by clicking on this link to locate the Starved Rock Lodge at Starved
Rock State Park, Illinois. If you do not have Google Earth installed, download it at
http:/www.google.com/earth/index.html and install it on your computer before you begin.
, In the Layers Panel on the lower right, make sure the Borders and Labels and Places boxes
are checked.
Using Placemark A, which of the following is the best estimate of the latitude and longitude
of the park in degrees, minutes and seconds? - CORRECT ANSWER- 41 degrees 18' 20 N,
88 degrees 58' 29 W
What is the elevation of the Starved Rock State Park, Illinois? Use Placemark A as reference
point. If your elevation in Google Earth™ is any unit besides feet, go to "Tools" > "Options"
and change the "Unit of Measurement" unit to "Feet, Miles". - CORRECT ANSWER- 635
feet
Locate the Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. Adjust the zoom so you can see both the lodge
and Plum Island, which is northwest of the lodge. What is the approximate distance between
the campground and the northwestern tip of Plum Island? - CORRECT ANSWER- 2.1 miles
In the Universal Traverse Mercator System, the distance measured in meters from the Equator
is the ____________ coordiante - CORRECT ANSWER- northing
The difference in degrees between due north and magnetic north for a location is that
location's ______________. - CORRECT ANSWER- declination
In the U.S. Public Land Survey System, the north-south squares are called __________ and
the east-west squares are called ____________. - CORRECT ANSWER- townships, ranges
A compass direction along a line from one point to another that is expressed in degrees east
or west or true north or south is a(n) _______________. - CORRECT ANSWER- quadrant
bearing
A compass direction along a line from one point to another that is expressed in degrees
between 0 and 360 is a(n) ______________. - CORRECT ANSWER- azimuth bearing.
The compass bearing from Point A to Point B on the map below is 232°. If the magnetic
declination is 14° west of true north, what is the bearing after it is corrected for magnetic
declination? - CORRECT ANSWER- 246 degrees
