Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 7 Geography Chapter 1 Topographical Sheets Colours Signs and Symbols

THINK AND ANSWER

Question 1: If maps were only black and white, will they be difficult to read ?

Answer: If the maps were only black and white it would be difficult to understand as we would be unable to know the natural and man-made features of the region e.g. the rivers, roads, railways, sand dunes, jungles, etc.
Colours act as a visual code that helps our brain distinguish between different types of land and water at a single glance. Without these colours, a map would look like a confusing jumble of lines that would require much more time to interpret correctly.
Teacher's Tip: Think of colours on a map like the lights on a traffic signal; they tell you exactly what is happening without using any words!
Exam Tip: Always mention at least two examples of features (like rivers or roads) to show why black and white maps are confusing.

VALUES AND LIFE SKILLS

Question 1: Using colours and symbols is an intelligent way of providing information. It helps cartographers to make beautiful and easy-to-read maps. Can you think of a situation where you can use this method in your day-to-day life ?

Answer: Yes, we use different colours and symbols while preparing notes. We use green or black colour pen for writing questions and blue colour pen for writing answers. We also use symbols like Q. for questions and Ans. for Answers.
Using different highlighter colours can also help in categorizing important dates, definitions, and names in your textbooks. Symbols like stars or exclamation marks can quickly show which parts of your notes are most likely to appear in an exam.
Teacher's Tip: Try using "Red" for things you find difficult and "Green" for things you have mastered in your study planner.
Exam Tip: When answering "Life Skills" questions, try to give an example related to your school life to make the answer more relatable.

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks

1. Mountains, hills, rivers, etc. are natural features shown on a map.
2. Roads, rail tracks, wells, etc. are man-made features on a map.
3. Contour lines on a map join points of equal height on the surface or the earth above or below a reference point.
4. The colour white is used to show barren land on topographical sheets.
5. The colour yellow is used to show cultivated land on topographical sheets.

B. Match the following

Question 1: Match the following terms in Column A with their symbols in Column B.
1. Camping Ground
2. Seasonal streams
3. Palms
4. River
5. Footpath

Answer:
1. Camping Ground - (iv) CG
2. Seasonal streams - (iii) Black squiggly line
3. Palms - (ii) Symbols of palm trees
4. River - (v) Blue lines with arrows indicating flow
5. Footpath - (i) Dotted line . . . . . . . . . .
These symbols are standardized so that anyone from any part of the world can understand what is on the map. Learning these symbols is like learning the alphabet of geography.
Teacher's Tip: "CG" is the short form for Camping Ground, making it the easiest symbol to remember!
Exam Tip: Use a ruler to draw lines when matching columns to keep your answer sheet neat and easy for the teacher to grade.

C. Write True or False. Correct the false statements.

Question 1: The distance between the two tracks in broad gauge is 1 m.

Answer: False. The distance between the two tracks in broad gauge is 1.67m.
Broad gauge is the widest track system used for heavy trains and long-distance travel. The standard 1 m distance actually refers to "Metre Gauge" tracks.
Teacher's Tip: Just remember the name "Broad" means wide, so it must be more than 1 metre!
Exam Tip: For "True or False" questions, always write the full word "False" instead of just "F".

Question 2: A metalled road is shown by two blue lines.

Answer: False. A metalled road is shown by two Red parallel lines.
On topographical maps, blue is strictly reserved for water features like rivers and lakes. Red is used for human constructions like roads and buildings to make them stand out against the natural background.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Red as the colour of "Refined" or "Road" to remember metalled roads.
Exam Tip: If a statement is false, you must provide the correct version to get full marks.

Question 3: Settlements can either be temporary or permanent.

Answer: True.
Temporary settlements are often built by people who move frequently, such as nomads or construction workers. Permanent settlements are houses where people live for many years and are usually made of strong materials.
Teacher's Tip: Most of us live in permanent settlements, while a camping tent is a great example of a temporary one.
Exam Tip: Even if the answer is "True", it is good practice to mentally recall an example of each type.

Question 4: In permanent settlements, houses are build for a short period of time.

Answer: False. In permanent settlements, houses are build for a long period of time.
The word "permanent" implies that something is meant to stay in one place indefinitely. These buildings are usually made of bricks and stone to withstand the weather over many decades.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a "Permanent Marker" compared to a pencil; one is meant to stay forever and the other is not!
Exam Tip: Look closely at keywords like "short" or "long" in the question as they often change the whole meaning.

Question 5: Terrace farming is undertaken on hilly slopes.

Answer: True.
Terrace farming involves cutting "steps" into a mountain to create flat land for growing crops. This also helps in preventing soil erosion during heavy rains on steep slopes.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine "Terrace" like the "Stairs" in your house; it makes climbing and working on hills much easier.
Exam Tip: If you are asked where terrace farming is done, always include "hilly or mountainous regions" in your answer.

Question 6: Land use refers to the way a piece of land is used in the area.

Answer: True.
Land can be used for many things such as building houses, growing food, or creating parks for recreation. Studying land use helps planners decide where to build new schools or factories.
Teacher's Tip: "Land Use" is just a fancy way of saying "What is happening on this ground?".
Exam Tip: Use simple examples like "agriculture" or "settlements" if you need to explain land use in detail.

D. Answer the following questions briefly.

Question 1: What are topographical maps ?

Answer: Topographical maps are large-scale maps that show both natural features such as mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, plateaus, cliffs, etc., and man-made features such as settlements, roads, railway tracks, wells, and embankments.
These maps provide a very detailed view of a small area, showing even individual buildings and tiny streams. They are used by explorers, engineers, and the military for precise navigation and planning.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a topographical map as a "Zoomed-in" photo of the Earth that shows every little detail.
Exam Tip: Make sure to include both "natural" and "man-made" in your definition to show the map covers everything.

Question 2: What is a contour line ?

Answer: A contour line is an imaginary line on a map connecting points at the same height above sea level.
These lines help us visualize the 3D shape of the land on a 2D piece of paper. If the lines are very close together, it means the hill is very steep.
Teacher's Tip: If you walked along a contour line on a real mountain, you would never go up or down; you would stay at the exact same level!
Exam Tip: Drawing a small diagram of concentric circles to represent a hill can help support your written answer.

Question 3: Explain why colours are used in topographical maps.

Answer: The colours are used to represent certain physical, economic and cultural features. In the absence of colour it would become impossible to interpret the map so colour are integeral part of topographical maps.
Colors provide an immediate understanding of the environment, such as green for forests and yellow for farms. They help prevent the map from becoming a cluttered mess of text labels that would be hard to read.
Teacher's Tip: Colours are like the "Universal Language" of maps that everyone can understand quickly.
Exam Tip: Use the word "standardized" to explain that these colours are the same on every topographical map.

Question 4: Name the features shown in blue, green and brown colours on a map.

Answer: Blue colour depicts all perennial water bodies like rivers, wells, tanks, ponds, lakes, seas, etc.
Green shows all forests and jungle areas including woodlands are shown in green.
All contour lines are brown in colour. The figures denoting the height of the contour line are also in the some colour as the contour lines, eg. Sand hills, sand dunes etc. And shifting sands are also indicated by brown colour
These specific colours are used globally so that symbols for water or vegetation remain consistent. Brown is specifically used for anything related to the relief or shape of the earth's surface.
Teacher's Tip: Just remember: Blue for Bathing (Water), Green for Grass (Forest), and Brown for Bare Ground (Contours).
Exam Tip: Mention "perennial" when talking about blue water bodies to show you know they contain water all year round.

Question 5: How would you recognize a metalled road and an unmetalled one on a topographical map ?

Answer: A metalled road means a tarred road. It is shown by two red parallel lines. A metalled road indicates that the region is developed.
Unmetalled roads (or Kutcha roads) are shown by a set of ! broken parallel lines in red on the map. They indicate that the area is underdeveloped.
The type of road shown on a map gives us a big clue about the economy and accessibility of that region. Smooth parallel lines mean easy travel, while broken lines mean the path might be rough and dusty.
Teacher's Tip: Solid lines = Solid road (Metalled); Broken lines = Broken road (Unmetalled).
Exam Tip: Drawing the two types of lines next to your answer makes it much clearer for the examiner.

Question 6: What do you understand by settlements ?

Answer: Settlements are groups of houses, usually in villages or towns, where people live. The size of settlements depends on the availability of roads, railways, hospitals, police stations, administrative buildings, rest houses and so on. Settlements grow over a period of time. The location and type of settlements are determined by various factors such as the terrain, presence of water, suitable climate, presence of employment opportunities, etc.
Settlements can be as small as a single hut or as large as a mega-city with millions of people. They usually form in places where it is easy to find food, water, and work.
Teacher's Tip: Settlements are basically "Human Hives" where we live, work, and stay safe together.
Exam Tip: Mention at least two "determining factors" like climate or water to explain why people choose to live in certain places.

Question 7: Distinguish between a temporary settlement and a permanent settlement.

Answer: Temporary Settlement
1. These settlements are built and occupied for a short period of time.
2. People practice hunting, gathering, shifting, cultivation.
3. Due to climatic conditions or circumstances, people need to change their homes.
Permanent Settlement
1. These settlements have permanent houses.
2. People practice manufacture, trading and other services.
3. People build permanent house
Temporary settlements are often seen in remote forests or deserts where resources might run out. Permanent settlements are found where there are stable jobs and strong infrastructure like roads and electricity.
Teacher's Tip: Temporary = Moving people; Permanent = Staying people.
Exam Tip: Present your answer in two clear blocks or use a line to separate the two types for better presentation.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs.

Question 1: How can the occupation of people be inferred directly from a topographical sheet ?

Answer: OCCUPATIONS — Occupations of people can be inferred directly from a topographical map. The type of settlements in the region as well as the way in which the local people use the land can give you an idea in this regard. Some of the common ways by which the local inhabitants use the land are:
1. Agriculture: If large tracts of land indicate cultivation of crops then most of the people are farmers or cultivators.
2. Mining : If there are indications of mines and quarries (especially marble and stone quarries) then mining or working in quarries can be inferred as the main occupation.
3. Fishing: If a settlement is near a large river or the sea coast, fishing will obviously be the main occupation of the inhabitants.
4. Manufacturing: Large settlements such as towns will indicate the presence of factories and hence manufacturing will be the main occupation.
5. Trading: A large settlement with many cart tracks, roads and railway lines converging will indicate that the town is a market town with access to trade and commerce.
Topographical sheets show symbols like yellow wash for farming or blue for water, which directly tell us what people do for a living. By observing these symbols, geographers can predict the economic life of a community without visiting it.
Teacher's Tip: Look for the "Yellow colour" on the map—if you see a lot of it, the main job is definitely farming!
Exam Tip: Mention at least three different occupations and their map evidence to get full marks for a paragraph answer.

Question 2: How can topographical maps help us to know about the transport and communication of an area ?

Answer: TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION — When we look at a topographical map we will notice many different red lines of varying width running all across it There are also some black lines that go across the map. These lines are symbols of roadways and railway tracks. These lines indicate the type of communication present in the area. They also reflect file various modes of transport that are being used in the area.
The presence of thick red lines (National Highways) suggests high-speed travel and heavy trade. In contrast, narrow dotted lines (pack tracks) show that the area is likely remote and only accessible by foot or animals.
Teacher's Tip: Red lines represent roads, while black lines with cross-marks represent railways. Easy to spot!
Exam Tip: Be sure to mention that different "widths" of lines show different "levels" of transport, like highways vs small lanes.

Question 3: How does relief of an area affect land use ?

Answer: Land use refers to the way a piece of land is used in the area. The relief of the land determines the type of activity that takes place on the land. In highlands, such as hills, mountains and plateaus, where the slope of the land is generally steep, the land is used for grazing sheep and goats.
Most of the land is covered by forests which facilitates economic activities such as forest harvesting and lumbering. Terrace farming is also undertaken on hilly slopes to grow crop such as rice, barley and tea. Various agricultural activities take place on lowlands since cultivation of crops is easier on a flat surface than on a sloping surface.
The physical shape of the land acts as a natural limit for what humans can do. While mountains are great for forests and tourism, flat plains are almost always converted into massive farms because they are easy to plough.
Teacher's Tip: Relief is just the "Physical Shape" of the ground. Flat ground = Farms; Steep ground = Forests/Grazing.
Exam Tip: Use the examples of "Highlands" vs "Lowlands" to show a clear contrast in your answer.

F. Draw a sketch map of your neighbourhood using different colours for different areas, for example, red for residential areas, green for parks and playgrounds, and yellow for commercial areas. Use symbols to mark out roads and special places like temples, post offices, old monuments, or railway stations. Make a proper key for it.

Answer: [Students are required to draw their own neighborhood map based on the specific colours and symbols provided in the question. Refer to the sample diagram in the textbook showing houses, trees, a well, and a dispensary.]
This activity helps you apply the standard map colours and symbols to a place you know well. It turns you into a junior cartographer by letting you represent your real world on paper.
Teacher's Tip: Don't worry about being a great artist; focus on using the CORRECT colours for the correct areas!
Exam Tip: A "Key" or "Legend" is the most important part of a sketch map; without it, your symbols don't have any meaning.

G. Picture study

Look at the symbols given here and answer the questions that follow.
(Image shows a solid black square labeled 1 and an empty outlined square labeled 2)

Question 1: What does symbols 1 and 2 show?

Answer: Symbol 1 shows a Permanent Hut. Symbol 2 shows a Temporary Hut.
A permanent hut is shown as a solid block because it is a fixed, sturdy structure. The empty square for the temporary hut represents a structure that is less substantial and may be removed.
Teacher's Tip: Filled = Fixed (Permanent); Empty = Easy to move (Temporary).
Exam Tip: Draw the symbols exactly as they appear in the book to avoid confusion.

Question 2: How do the features shown by these two symbols differ?

Answer: Temporary huts that could be pulled down at any time in the foreseeable future. Permanent huts will not be taken down in the foreseeable future and has been built on a permanent basis.
Permanent huts are usually constructed with bricks, cement, and stones for long-term living. Temporary huts are often made of light materials like mud, straw, or tin that can be easily dismantled.
Teacher's Tip: The main difference is the "Duration" of time the house is expected to last.
Exam Tip: Use words like "dismantled" or "durable" to improve the quality of your geographical descriptions.

LET’S DO SOMETHING

Question 1: Form a group in your class and obtain a topo sheet from the Geography Department of your school. Look at it carefully and identify the following features :
1. settlements
2. railway lines
3. agricultural fields
4. roads

Answer: Do it Yourself
Handling a real topographical sheet is the best way to see how all these colours and symbols work together in real life. You will be surprised at how much information is packed into a single large sheet of paper.
Teacher's Tip: Use a magnifying glass if you have one; some symbols on real topo sheets are very tiny!
Exam Tip: Practice identifying symbols on different parts of the map so you don't get used to just one layout.