Geography Flashcards
7 cards from real MATRIC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Geography flashcards as text
On a topographic map, what does a contour line represent?
Answer: A line connecting points of equal altitude above sea level
Contour lines join all points on a map that are at the same height (altitude) above sea level, allowing the shape of the terrain to be read from a flat map.
On a 1:50 000 topographic map, two points are 4 cm apart. What is the actual ground distance between them?
Answer: 2 km
Ground distance = map distance × scale denominator: 4 cm × 50 000 = 200 000 cm = 2 000 m = 2 km.
What is the contour interval on a map?
Answer: The fixed difference in elevation between consecutive contour lines
The contour interval is the constant difference in height between two adjacent contour lines, determined by the map's scale and purpose.
Which of the following is a direct consequence of deforestation?
Answer: Increased soil erosion by wind and water
Without tree roots binding the soil, deforested land is highly vulnerable to erosion by rain and wind, leading to soil degradation and sedimentation of rivers.
What is the primary chemical cause of ozone layer depletion in the stratosphere?
Answer: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
CFCs release chlorine atoms when broken down by UV radiation in the stratosphere; each chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
On a standard South African topographic map (1:50 000), what colour is conventionally used to represent water features such as rivers and dams?
Answer: Blue
Blue is the internationally recognised cartographic convention for depicting water features, including rivers, lakes, dams, and the sea.
What concept describes development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?
Answer: Sustainable development
Sustainable development, defined in the 1987 Brundtland Report, balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection for long-term well-being.